A jet belonging to Tesla CEO Elon Musk took off from Shanghai on Thursday, Chinese flight tracking data showed, as the tycoon wrapped up a tour of China that has made him the world leader in electric vehicles. has seen hopes of expanding business in its largest market.
Musk’s private jet took off from Shanghai’s Hongqiao airport shortly after 11 a.m. (0300 GMT), data from Umetrip, which is backed by China’s major state-owned airlines, showed.
It was bound for Austin, Texas, where Tesla is headquartered.
The Mercury tycoon, one of the world’s richest men, is wrapping up his first trip to China in more than three years.
On Wednesday night he visited Tesla’s factory on the outskirts of Shanghai and met with employees, a post by the car company’s global vice president Grace Tao on China’s Weibo social media showed.
Earlier in the day he met with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing, praising China’s “vitality and promise” and expressing “full confidence in China’s market,” according to a readout.
Musk and Tesla have not released a statement on the trip, or responded to JEE News requests for comment.
The billionaire has extensive business interests in the country and told Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Tuesday that his firm is “ready to expand its business in China,” according to the Foreign Ministry.
Musk’s work in China has raised eyebrows in Washington, with President Joe Biden saying in November that the Twitter owner’s ties to foreign countries were “worthy” of scrutiny.
The tycoon has also courted controversy by suggesting the autonomous island of Taiwan should become part of China – a stance welcomed by Chinese officials but which has angered Taipei.
Musk is one of several Western executives to visit China since the country lifted strict Covid controls that shut it off from the world for nearly three years.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said this week that Beijing welcomed visits by international executives “to better understand China and promote mutually beneficial cooperation.”
In March, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Beijing and said his company enjoyed a “symbiotic” relationship with China.
