Tesla Inc chief Elon Musk has contributed a column for the official publication of the Cyberspace Administration of China, the powerful agency that oversees data security for companies from Alibaba to Tencent and works with other government organs to censor online content.<\/p>\n
The billionaire laid out a familiar vision for using technology to ensure humanity\u2019s future for the July edition of the CAC\u2019s official magazine, joining local industry luminaries including Ant Group Co. Chairman Eric Jing, who offered his thoughts on responsible tech development that promotes inclusiveness.<\/p>\n
Those echo the broader goals of President Xi Jinping\u2019s administration, which for more than a year has worked to curtail the power of tech leaders like Tencent Holdings Ltd and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. That crackdown, which wiped out more than $1 trillion of market value, began when regulators halted Ant\u2019s record IPO in 2020 and peaked around the time Didi Global Inc delisted – an effort the CAC drove.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to do everything we can to maximize the use of technology to help achieve a better future for humanity,\u201d Musk wrote. \u201cTo that end, any area that contributes to a sustainable future is worthy of our investment.\u201d<\/p>\n
China is the world\u2019s biggest market for electric vehicles and home to Tesla\u2019s Shanghai Gigafactory, a centerpiece of the EV maker\u2019s growth plans. The biggest supplier of EV batteries, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., is based in Fujian province. But Chinese consumers have in the past attacked Tesla for allegedly unfair practices, while others have protested the extent of its domestic data collection.<\/p>\n
Musk, who has drawn criticism for his close ties to Beijing, last year joined Xi\u2019s World Internet Conference to extol the virtues of international cooperation. A representative for Tesla China confirmed Musk had written the article but declined further comment.<\/p>\n
Musk said in the column that the magazine, whose inaugural edition was published this year, had reached out to him for the article.<\/p>\n
The entrepreneur touched on his businesses, including Space Exploration Technologies Corp, which he calls the first step toward settling a city on Mars. He also talked up the Neuralink Corp brain-machine interface and the humanoid Tesla Bot announced last year, which is set for its first prototype this year. He addresses his audience as his \u201cChinese friends\u201d while putting the focus on larger themes of transport electrification.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy greatest hope is that humans create a self-sustaining city on Mars,\u201d Musk said, a familiar refrain. \u201cTesla Bots are initially positioned to replace people in repetitive, boring, and dangerous tasks. But the vision is for them to serve millions of households, such as cooking, mowing lawns, and caring for the elderly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nCongrats Giga Shanghai on making millionth car! Total Teslas made now over 3M. pic.twitter.com\/2Aee6slCuv<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n