Overview

• Elon Musk abruptly canceled a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce a new Tesla factory, instead visiting China unexpectedly.
• During his visit to Beijing, Musk secured approval for Tesla's self-driving technology and struck a deal with Baidu for navigational data, underscoring the importance of the Chinese market.
• Indian media and opposition leaders reacted with surprise and criticism, viewing the cancellation as a snub and a sign of diminishing confidence in India's business environment under Modi.
• The incident comes amidst a contentious parliamentary election in India, with opposition parties using Musk's decision to critique Modi's economic policies.
• Tesla's deepening ties with China reflect a broader trend of American tech giants leveraging the vast Chinese market, despite ongoing trade tensions with the U.S.