Elon Musk was among more than a dozen CEOs and top executives accompanying US President Donald Trump to Beijing for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on May 13, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The delegation included Apple's Tim Cook and Nvidia's Jensen Huang.

After the events at the Great Hall of the People, Musk told reporters he hoped to accomplish "many good things" in China [1, 2, 3, 4]. His business interests in China cover electric vehicles, autonomous driving, AI, humanoid robots, brain-computer interfaces, and satellite technology, all areas that align closely with Beijing's technology priorities, according to analyst Kyle Chan [1, 2, 3, 4].

Tesla has been operating in China since 2018, when it became the first foreign carmaker allowed to run a factory without a local partner [1, 2, 4]. The company sold about 626,000 vehicles in China in 2025, ranking fifth among EV and plug-in hybrid automakers there [1, 2, 4]. China accounted for roughly 20% of Tesla's total revenue that year [1, 4].

Tesla’s self-driving technology remains the industry standard in China, but the company's market position faces increasing pressure as domestic EV makers narrow the gap on both price and technology [1, 2, 3, 4]. Chery, a major Chinese electric automaker, draws inspiration from Tesla’s innovation and Toyota’s quality focus, with plans to expand in Europe, said company executive Yin Tongyue [1, 2, 4]. Felipe Munoz, an industry specialist, called Tesla’s battery and software design approach "one of the biggest inspirations for many Chinese carmakers" [1, 4].

At the summit, Chinese social media users praised Musk’s enthusiasm when he spun around to capture a 360-degree photo during a ceremonial event [2]. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun took a selfie with Musk at the state banquet; Musk showed mild exasperation but complied [3].

Musk has also faced criticism from Chinese regulators and the public over alleged mishandling of Tesla customer complaints, while China’s People’s Liberation Army has raised concerns about SpaceX's satellite unit Starlink [1, 2, 3, 4].

The meeting marked a high-profile effort to build business ties amid complex perceptions in China. Public and official attitudes toward Musk range from admiration for his vision to scrutiny of his companies’ actions on the ground.

Further talks and meetings involving Musk’s companies and Chinese officials are expected in coming months to advance cooperation and address ongoing challenges [1, 2, 3, 4].