Tesla CEO Elon Musk is currently in Beijing, China, where he is reportedly discussing the possibility of enabling Full Self Driving (FSD) on Tesla cars in the country. FSD is already available in countries like the US, but not in China. Musk is interested in transferring data collected in China to train Tesla's algorithms. This visit comes after a US report linked Tesla's autonomous driving modes to several crashes, including one fatality. During a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Musk expressed Tesla's willingness to cooperate with China for mutual benefits. Li assured Musk that the Chinese market will always be open to foreign-funded firms.
China is Tesla's second-largest market, and other car manufacturers, such as Xpeng, have been trying to compete with Tesla by introducing similar self-driving features in their cars. Musk himself has praised Chinese car companies, calling them the most competitive in the world. To address concerns about FSD in China, Tesla has taken steps to reassure Chinese authorities, including establishing a data center in Shanghai to process Chinese consumer data in compliance with local laws.
This visit comes shortly after the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced an investigation into whether a recall effectively addressed safety concerns related to Tesla's driver assistance system. The NHTSA found that drivers involved in the crashes were not sufficiently engaged, despite requirements to remain focused on the road and be prepared to take control when autonomous driving is enabled. Tesla's software is designed to ensure that drivers are paying attention and that the feature is only used in appropriate conditions, such as on highways.
Elon Musk has long promised that Teslas will eventually be capable of acting as autonomous "robotaxis." However, critics accuse him of exaggerating the prospects of full autonomous driving to boost Tesla's stock price. Tesla has faced challenges such as falling demand for electric vehicles globally and competition from cheaper Chinese manufacturers. Musk denies these accusations. In response to these challenges, Tesla has been reducing car prices in China and other markets to stimulate demand. The company recently reported a 13% decline in automotive sales for the first quarter of this year, along with a 9% drop in overall sales and a significant decrease in profits compared to the same period last year. Tesla's share price has also fallen by 32% in 2024.
Original news source: Musk in China to discuss enabling Full Self Driving (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article. Then, ask each group to write a summary of the article, highlighting the main points and key details. Afterward, have each group share their summary with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the class to form pairs or small groups. Assign each group a statement related to the article, such as "Autonomous driving technology is the future of transportation" or "Tesla should prioritize safety over self-driving features." Give the groups a few minutes to discuss and form their opinions on the statement. Then, conduct a class poll by asking each group to share their opinion and reasoning. Encourage respectful discussion and debate.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of key vocabulary words from the article, such as "autonomous," "algorithm," or "recall." Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a vocabulary word and ask them to draw a quick sketch that represents the word. The other groups must guess the word based on the drawing. Afterward, discuss the meanings and usage of the vocabulary words as a class.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Ask the class to form pairs or small groups. Assign each group a topic related to the article, such as "Pros and Cons of Tesla's Full Self Driving technology" or "Advantages and Disadvantages of Tesla's presence in China." Give the groups a few minutes to discuss and list the pros and cons of their assigned topic. Then, have each group share their lists and facilitate a class discussion on the different perspectives.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask the class to form pairs or small groups. Instruct each group to discuss and make predictions about the future of autonomous driving and Tesla's role in it. Encourage them to consider factors such as technology advancements, regulations, and market trends. Afterward, have each group share their predictions with the class and facilitate a discussion on the various possibilities.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is currently in Beijing, China, where he is reportedly discussing the possibility of enabling Full Self (FSD) on Tesla cars in the country. FSD is already available in countries like the US, but not in China. Musk is interested in transferring data collected in China to train Tesla's algorithms. This visit comes after a US report linked Tesla's autonomous modes to several crashes, including one fatality. During a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Musk expressed Tesla's willingness to cooperate with China for mutual . Li assured Musk that the Chinese will always be open to foreign-funded firms. China is Tesla's second-largest market, and other car manufacturers, such as Xpeng, have been trying to compete with Tesla by introducing self-driving features in their cars. Musk himself has Chinese car companies, calling them the most competitive in the world. To address concerns about FSD in China, Tesla has steps to reassure Chinese authorities, including a data center in Shanghai to process Chinese consumer data in compliance with local laws. This visit comes shortly after the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced an investigation into whether a recall effectively addressed safety concerns related to Tesla's driver assistance system. The NHTSA found that drivers involved in the crashes were not sufficiently engaged, despite requirements to remain focused on the road and be prepared to take control when autonomous driving is enabled. Tesla's software is designed to ensure that drivers are paying attention and that the is only used in appropriate conditions, such as on highways. Elon Musk has long that will eventually be of acting as autonomous "robotaxis." However, critics accuse him of exaggerating the prospects of full autonomous driving to boost Tesla's stock price. Tesla has faced challenges such as demand for electric vehicles globally and competition from cheaper Chinese manufacturers. Musk denies these accusations. In response to these challenges, Tesla has been reducing car prices in China and other to stimulate demand. The company recently reported a 13% decline in sales for the quarter of this year, along with a 9% drop in overall sales and a significant decrease in profits compared to the same period last year. Tesla's share price has also fallen by 32% in 2024.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) feature?
2. How would you feel if Tesla's FSD was available in your country?
3. Do you think it is important for Tesla to cooperate with China for mutual benefits? Why or why not?
4. What do you think about the competition between Tesla and other car manufacturers in China?
5. How do you think the establishment of a data center in Shanghai will address concerns about FSD in China?
6. What is your opinion on the investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into Tesla's driver assistance system?
7. How do you think Tesla can ensure that drivers remain engaged and focused on the road when using autonomous driving features?
8. What are your thoughts on Elon Musk's promise of Tesla cars acting as autonomous "robotaxis"?
9. Do you believe Elon Musk is exaggerating the prospects of full autonomous driving to boost Tesla's stock price? Why or why not?
10. How do you think falling demand for electric vehicles globally and competition from Chinese manufacturers have affected Tesla?
11. What do you think about Tesla's strategy of reducing car prices to stimulate demand?
12. How would you feel if you were a Tesla shareholder and saw a significant decrease in profits and share price?
13. What are your thoughts on the decline in automotive sales for Tesla in the first quarter of this year?
14. Do you think Tesla will be able to overcome the challenges it is currently facing? Why or why not?
15. How do you think the availability of FSD in China will impact Tesla's position in the market?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!












