Musk was in flattery mode in his pre-recorded appearance at the World New Energy Vehicle Congress, taking place in the southern Chinese island of Hainan. China is the world’s biggest EV market and of critical importance to Tesla, particularly after a rocky few months that dented its reputation in the country.
Tesla is also facing fiercer competition in China from local EV startups including Xpeng Inc, Li Auto Inc and Nio Inc. Musk also spoke about data security during his appearance Friday, saying it is the cornerstone of the industry as it develops.