Elon Musk's Upcoming Visit to China: A Boon for Tesla's Future Growth

Elon Musk is planning a visit to China next month

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Tesla's CEO Elon Musk is reportedly planning a visit to China as early as April, with intentions to meet China's Premier Li Qiang, according to sources familiar with the matter. This marks Musk's first visit to the country since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and since President Xi Jinping secured a third term in office.

Although Tesla and China's State Council Information Office have not yet commented on the matter, the potential benefits of Musk's visit to Tesla are significant.

Strengthening Government Relations for Preferential Treatment

China is Tesla's second-largest market, following the United States, and the Shanghai Gigafactory is the company's largest production hub. As the Chinese government continues to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in its bid to reduce carbon emissions and tackle air pollution, the country represents an increasingly lucrative market for Tesla. Musk's visit can potentially strengthen Tesla's position in the Chinese EV market by fostering closer ties with the government and exploring further collaboration opportunities.

Firstly, a meeting between Musk and Premier Li Qiang could pave the way for preferential treatment and greater support for Tesla in China. This may translate to additional incentives for the company, such as tax breaks, subsidies, or streamlined regulatory approval processes, which would, in turn, encourage further investment and expansion in the Chinese market.

Enhancing Supply Chain Management and Supplier Relations

Secondly, the visit may provide opportunities for Tesla to enhance its supply chain management and improve relationships with local suppliers. As the global chip shortage continues to impact the automotive industry, strengthening relationships with Chinese suppliers could help Tesla secure a more stable supply of essential components, mitigating production delays and ensuring timely delivery of vehicles to customers.

Collaborating with Chinese Tech Giants for Innovation

Thirdly, Musk's visit could lead to increased collaboration between Tesla and Chinese tech giants, such as Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba, which are actively investing in the EV space. Joining forces with these companies could drive innovation, particularly in the realms of autonomous driving, battery technology, and charging infrastructure, ultimately boosting Tesla's competitive advantage in the market.

Lastly, by establishing a more robust presence in China, Tesla may be able to tap into the country's growing talent pool of engineers and researchers in the EV industry. Access to this skilled workforce could accelerate research and development initiatives and further solidify Tesla's position as a leader in electric vehicle technology.

In conclusion, Elon Musk's anticipated visit to China carries the potential for numerous benefits for Tesla. By fostering closer ties with the Chinese government, local suppliers, and tech giants, the company can strengthen its position in the market and accelerate its growth. As the world's largest EV market, China's importance to Tesla's future success cannot be overstated, making Musk's upcoming visit a critical juncture for the electric automaker.

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A Closer Look at Tesla's Ambient Lighting Feature in the New Model 3 and Cybertruck [Video]

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3

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If you look up ambient lights for Tesla, you'll see several ads for third-party light kits. Perhaps this is why Tesla added its own Ambient Lights feature to the new Model 3. So, let's get enlightened.

Tesla's ambient lights are thin light strips that are embedded in each of the vehicle's doors near the top edge. It also curves around the dashboard near the windshield, giving passengers a near 360-degree light effect.

Supported Models

Tesla new ambient light feature is available on the new Model 3 (2024+), and will be available on the Cybertruck in a similar manner. With a refresh ongoing for the Model Y, known as Juniper, it will likely also have ambient lights. That just leaves out the most luxurious flagship vehicles, the Model S and X, for now.

The Model S and Model X could be due for a minor refresh that would not only add ambient lighting, but also include a front-bumper camera that the Cybertruck has and the new Model 3 is expected to have in the near future.

Customization

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3

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The ambient light settings allow you to light up the interior in a color that reflects your mood or preference. Under Controls > Lights > Accent Lights, you are handed the freedom to choose virtually any color to adorn the interior of your Tesla.

You have control over whether the ambient lights are on, off, or set to an "Auto" setting, though not fully clarified, seems to promise intelligent lighting adjustments akin to our control over dome lights, offering a reduction in reflections during drives.

While the ability to control the brightness level seems missing, Tesla did include color presets, letting you curate a series of your favorite colors.

It should be noted that the changes are confined to the light strips on the doors and dash, steering clear of the footwell lights and other interior lighting.

Future Enhancements

With Tesla, we can be assured there will be enhancements to this feature in a future update. In fact, the Tesla community is already busy coming up with useful suggestions. Some owners thought Tesla should take advantage of the lighting to provide driver feedback, such as automatically changing the ambient lighting to a red hue when there's a vehicle in your blind spot. Tesla could also glow the light strip on a door if it's not closed properly, or use the lighting to provide feedback when Sentry Mode is enabled.

Other uses could be more fun, such as cycling the light through various colors when the 'Rainbow Road' easter egg is activated.

Ambient Lighting in Action

While the possibilities are endless and Tesla engineers will surely have fun coming up with creative uses for the feature, the biggest improvement we can hope for in the near future is the ability to adjust the light intensity.

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Tesla Model 3 'Highland' Performance Details Discovered in European Documents

Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades

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Tesla outdid itself with the refreshed Model 3, known as the Highland. Despite all the fantastic upgrades, something is missing - the Performance version or perhaps the Plaid. The letter "T" has shown up on vehicle certificates in Europe, and despite Elon Musk's sense of humor, it is unlikely this is a Mr. T reference.

Deciphering the 'T'

A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor

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Diligent scrutiny of the European Type Certificate, issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW and shared on the TFF Forum, revealed a subtle yet pivotal alteration — including the letter 'T' in the eighth digit of the Model 3 Performance's VIN.

This seemingly minor detail, indicative of the vehicle's motor/drive unit type, sparked curiosity and speculation on the forum. Could it be a tri-motor setup to usher in a new Plaid version of the Model 3? This vehicle has already got endless amounts of zip, but three motors? May The Schwartz Be With You!

This could also explain the Model 3+ badging that was spotted during the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China inspection of the refresh. However, the regulatory filings highlighted just two distinct variants of the car: a rear-wheel drive (RWD) with a 194 kW motor and an all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor setup that combines to deliver a formidable 331 kW of maximum power.

Initial conjectures leaned towards the possibility of a tri-motor setup, drawing parallels with the Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X. However, a deeper dive into the certification document clarified that the Model 3 Performance retained its Dual Motor setup, dispelling the possibility of a tri-motor upgrade.

Strategic Enhancements: A Glimpse into Potential Upgrades

Given the documented specifications, it becomes plausible that Tesla has strategically enhanced one of the dual motors, potentially aligning it with the advanced motor found in the Model S/X Plaid. This modification is poised to augment the top-end speed and acceleration of the Model 3 Performance, addressing its comparative limitations in extended races against traditional gas-powered supercars.

Meanwhile, the Model 3 refresh has become the new Bigfoot of the roads of North America, with rare sightings posted on social media. However, it appears the continent is excluded from the initial launch of the Model 3 Highland. Internal communications within Tesla suggest North American enthusiasts might have to exercise patience until 2024.

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