The appointment, announced shortly after Trump’s election victory in November, comes after years of Musk building successful business operations in China, including a significant April 2024 visit to Beijing, where he met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss Tesla’s autonomous driving technology and data transfer permissions.

Tesla Cybertruck sales appear to be slowing, but CEO Elon Musk has found a humanitarian use for the vehicles as wildfires continue to rage across California. Three separate fires in the Los Angeles metro area have killed at least 25 people and burned through more than 16,000 hectares, devastating the region.