China has few allies in Donald Trump’s future government. Marco Rubio, the next Secretary of State, is known for his critical positions against Beijing. Mike Waltz, chosen to be National Security Advisor, has repeatedly declared that the United States is “in a cold war with China.” The next defense minister, Pete Hegseth, sees Beijing as aiming for world domination. As for Jamieson Greer, who will be in charge of Foreign Trade, he has already implemented Donald Trump’s tariff war policy against China during the latter’s first term.
In this group, Elon Musk seems very isolated. The richest man in the world, who described himself as being “sort of pro-China” during an interview on alienate the Middle Kingdom. Elon Musk indeed maintains special ties with China. He owes much of his success to the country, and in particular to a few close friends, who helped him make Tesla the giant it is today.
The underside of Tesla’s success in China
The manufacturer depends on its gigafactory in Shanghai, where almost half of the cars it produces each year come from. “The factory is very advanced in the use of robots and digital technology,” explains Michael Valentin, co-founder of the consulting firm Opeo and specialist in the electric car market. Nearly 300 data engineers There are working to improve manufacturing processes, an exceptionally high figure. “The Shanghai gigafactory also benefits from the porosity with the big names in Chinese tech, installed nearby,” specifies the expert.
Above all, it enjoys unique advantages in China. In 2018, when Tesla sought to expand into the country, the company benefited from two important backers: Robin Ren, one of Elon Musk’s best friends, whom he met while studying at the University of Pennsylvania, and Li Qiang, the current Chinese Prime Minister, at the time general secretary of the Communist Party in Shanghai. Robin Ren’s mission was to convince the government to relax its rules. Until then, all car manufacturers that have established themselves in China have had to create a joint venture with local partners. A nightmare for Elon Musk who loves being the only master on board. Robin Ren’s efforts pay off. After months of patient lobbying, Tesla wins its case and the green light to set up without joint venture.
Elon Musk and China
© / afp.com/STR
With the support of the local government, Elon Musk also obtained “the rights to use the land as well as low-interest loans from Chinese banks”, specifies Chunyan Li, founder of Feida Consulting and specialist in business development in China . By accomplishing what was considered impossible, Robin Ren laid the foundations for the success of the car manufacturer, helped by Li Qiang, also very involved in the project.
Tesla came knocking on the door of the Chinese government at the right time. “In 2009, China set for the first time a goal of reducing carbon emissions and developing the electric vehicle sector,” recalls Chunyan Li. The government saw, in Tesla, the opportunity to be open to foreign investors and to boost its own automobile industry, as well as that of batteries, essential to electric cars.
But Elon Musk knows that he must show his credentials if he wants to continue doing business there. Hence this natural desire “to calm the relationship with China”, indicates Mathieu Duchâtel, director of international studies and the Asia program at the Institut Montaigne. Elon Musk’s interest in China goes even further. “Whether in space or cars, only China is on the scale of development that it aims for. We can quite imagine that it has a very strong attraction for the Chinese model,” analyzes the expert.
Elon Musk has thus increased his attention to China. In 2022, to Taiwan’s dismay, he declared that in his eyes the island was an integral part of the country. The following year, he praised China’s space program on. To show his attachment to China, he even created an account on Weibo, where he is followed by more than 2.7 million people, and on which he regularly publishes videos or photos about Tesla, in English and Chinese.
The Musk family adored in China
His strategy works. “There is a very strong link between Elon Musk and Internet users in the country,” says Sonia Szczerbinski, founder of The V Factory, a marketing consultancy specializing in Chinese social networks. People think that, because he is American, Elon Musk is going to be hated there, but that’s not true. They are very admiring of his success, he is considered an idol. Discussions about Elon Musk generally trigger very positive comments on all Chinese platforms, Douyin – the Chinese parent company of TikTok -, XiaoHongShu and even Weibo.
For Gilles Giheux, professor of sociology of China at Paris Cité University, this enthusiasm is not surprising. “Businessmen are celebrated as heroes, because they contribute to the development of the country. Elon Musk fits perfectly into the box of successful genius.” It also embodies the wildest technological fantasies, with the driverless car and the colonization of space. “His speech fits perfectly with Chinese public policies, which place innovation as a vector of growth for China,” continues Gilles Giheux.
Musk is not the only one to excite China. Her mother, Maye, is also a local social media star. Followed by more than 570,000 people on XiaoHongShu, the equivalent of Instagram, this former model is a true influencer. “She is very popular because she embodies the liberated, modern businesswoman who raised her children alone,” explains Sonia Szczerbinski. An ideal that appeals to the female public, in a country where professional trajectory and the education of children are important marks of success. “Internet users often ask her how she managed to raise such a genius,” observes the expert. “And how she manages to age with such grace.”
SpaceX, Neuralink, X: angry subjects
For now, the good image of the Musk family is enough to make us forget Elon’s association with Donald Trump, and his libertarian leanings, the opposite of the Party’s ideals. But all is not rosy. His neural implant company Neuralink and his social network X are seen as threats and are not welcome in the country.
As for SpaceX, its hegemony is increasingly worrying the Chinese government. In 2023, the leaders of the national space agency called it an “unprecedented challenge”, and called on all players in the industry to redouble their efforts to make up for the accumulated delay. More recently, it is the Starlink satellite constellations, capable of bringing an Internet connection to the most remote places, which have worried the Chinese government. Their weight in the war in Ukraine opened the eyes of Beijing, which urged local industry to create a competing system. Hence the launch, in August, of the first low-orbit Qianfan satellites.
The biggest threat to Elon Musk’s love affair with China is, of course, Donald Trump. If Washington follows through on its threats of tariff increases, it could turn sour. “Elon Musk will try to moderate the American president,” predicts Michael Valentin. Because the entrepreneur still has big projects in China. He wants to set up a second Tesla factory in Shanghai. And knows that its construction will only start with the approval of the government.
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