Musk's visit to China was a much-needed win for both sides — and a snub to India

Musk notably skipped a recent visit to India, underscoring how important China is for Tesla. Elon Musk's two-day trip to Beijing looks like a mutually beneficial win for Tesla and China - and a snub for India. China's search-engine giant Baidu agreed to grant Tesla access to its mapping license so Tesla could collect data on China's roads, Reuters reported. Musk needs China, but China also needs Musk as a sign that the country is open for business with high-profile US companies. BYD beat Tesla as the best-selling EV maker last year, and Musk said in January that Chinese EVs would "Pretty much demolish" other American carmakers if allowed to enter the US. Tesla's work in China may help the country court foreign investment. "Unfortunately, very heavy Tesla obligations require that the visit to India be delayed, but I do very much look forward to visiting later this year," Musk posted on X. A key Tesla executive who was helping to lead the company's entrance into India left this month, Reuters reported. Musk's India visit would have been a win for Modi, who's seeking to boost India's status as a manufacturing hub, especially as businesses leave China.