Tesla boss in the flesh at Vivatech 2023

[vc_row njt-role=”people-in-the-roles” njt-role-user-roles=”administrator,editor,author,armember”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Elon Musk is the surprise guest at the latest edition of Viva Technology (Vivatech). The iconoclastic boss of Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter and Neuralink will speak at a conference hosted by Maurice Lévy, on the afternoon of Friday June 16, 2023.

 

This impromptu visit to France is not without ulterior motives, with the possible opening of a Tesla factory in the country.

 

The tech rockstar at Vivatech

 

A veritable showcase for tech innovation in the startup and corporate ecosystems, the Viva Technology (Vivatech) trade show takes place from June 14 to 17 at the Parc des Expositions in Paris.

 

While Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, and Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L’Oréal, have already been announced as keynote speakers at the press conference on June 7, 2023, Elon Musk’s name had not yet leaked.

 

The man who ceded his title of world’s number one fortune to Bernard Arnault at the start of the year, before reclaiming it at the beginning of June (with assets worth $192 billion), will be there in the flesh on the Vivatech stage on Thursday afternoon, June 16, 2023, according to Le Point. Maurice Levy, founder of the event and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Publicis Groupe – one of the world’s leading advertising groups – will be giving the talk.

 

One month after his visit to France and his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Choose France event – aimed at attracting foreign investment – the serial entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, Neuralink and The Boring Company will be taking part in France’s innovation mecca.

 

In 2022, Vivatech succeeded in attracting 91,000 visitors over the four days of the event, and this year is expecting 100,000. This will provide an unrivalled sounding board for any announcement by the Tesla boss.

 

A possible Tesla factory in France

 

In recent days, rumors have circulated as to the real reason for this whirlwind visit, with some media outlets seeing it as a likely sign of the opening of a Tesla factory on French soil.

 

After his meeting with Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the Choose France summit, Elon Musk said he wanted to make “a major investment in the country”.

 

With its four battery factories, France has everything it takes to convince the world’s leading manufacturer of electric cars to set up operations in the country and strengthen its industrial base.

 

© Tesla

 

The news, however good it may be, needs to be tempered. As the French Minister of the Economy, Bruno Lemaire, told BFM TV, “All the investments that are being made today are the fruit of months, even years of negotiations”. And Elon Musk praised the country’s efforts: “I’m confident that, in the future, Tesla will make significant investments in France”. Reuters points out, however, that France is not the only country in the running.

 

On June 8, the European news agency reported on talks between Tesla and Spain to set up a gigafactory near Valencia, a statement corroborated by the business newspaper Cinco Dias. A “gigafactory” judging by the size of the typical Nevada plant – 500 km² – and the number of employees required (7,000).

 

Cervantes’ homeland has the advantage of lower labor costs than France, and has already hosted several electric car projects. On the strength of these advantages, Inovev predicts that Spain will be Europe’s biggest producer of electric cars by 2030, ahead of Germany and France.

 

India is also a favorite to host a Tesla factory, having become the world’s third-largest automotive market in 2022, ahead of Japan.

 

Whatever the case, Tesla is optimizing its production facilities outside the USA and its Californian base.

 

In March, Tesla opened its seventh assembly plant in Mexico, affirming its goal – deemed unrealistic by many professionals – of producing 20 million vehicles a year. Tesla currently has only three production sites outside the USA, the other two being in Shanghai and Berlin.

 

Producing more than it sells, the automaker also faces increasing competition in the electric car segment, with manufacturers such as Toyota and Lucid offering ever more attractive prices. Between 2021 and 2022, its market share in electric vehicles fell from 17% to 12% worldwide, and from 72% to 65% in the US. Experts believe that the choice of Mexico, where workers’ wages are 10 to 20 times lower than in the USA, will enable the development of a new electric car model with a price tag of less than $30,000 (27,784 euros): the Model 3 Highland. A market segment that would enable Tesla to compete with the Ford Mach E, Kia and Hyundai.

 

Its Model Y, voted the world’s best-selling car in the first quarter of 2023, is currently sold in France at 45,990 euros for the rear-wheel drive version and 52,999 euros for the long-range version.

 

A strong opinion on artificial intelligence?

 

For its 7th edition, Vivatech promises to tackle four major themes, including the one that has undoubtedly been the most talked-about in recent months: artificial intelligence. In other words, in its simplest form, artificial intelligence is a computer tool programmed to imitate human behavior.

 

The artificial intelligence market is estimated to be worth 127 billion euros by 2022, according to data collected by the organizers of the Vivatech trade show.

 

A technology that the general public has been able to discover through so-called “generative” applications such as Chat GPT, a brain-machine interface capable of writing text. Graphics applications such as DALL-E and Midjourney are also available.

 

While Tesla’s initial press release didn’t go into much detail on the subject of Elon Musk’s talk, referring only to “a conversation on technology and innovation”, a second dated June 12 addressed more specific topics, such as the future of artificial intelligence and social network moderation.

 

On this last point, there’s also something to be said for the erratic management of Twitter, which led to Elon Musk being replaced at its head by Linda Yaccarino last April.

 

At the same time, Musk voiced his reservations about the Chat GPT generative artificial intelligence, which he felt could “destroy civilization”. While Armageddon may not be around the corner, according to the investment bank Goldman Sachs, artificial intelligence could well destroy 300 million jobs worldwide.

 

At the end of March, Elon Musk was one of a thousand experts to sign an open letter calling for a six-month moratorium on its development.

 

His comments are all the more intriguing given that he has been an investor in the OpenAI project since 2018. Contrary to his initial pledge of $1 billion, however, he was “content” to inject $100 million. In the end, he walked away after the CEO at the time refused to hand over the reins of the company to him. In the end, it was Microsoft that provided the billions of dollars of funding needed to develop the OpenAI startup.

 

If Musk defines himself as “a free speech absolutist”, he is above all known for his unpredictability. His behavior over the last few months shows that he is not always so clear-cut when it comes to AI. In March, he set up a new company specializing in this field, called X.AI and based in Nevada.

 

On April 17, scalded by the unilateral decision of Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI – the parent company of Chat GPT – to withdraw Twitter from its advertising platform, causing its advertising revenues to plummet, the businessman announced on FoxNews that he wanted to launch his own artificial intelligence: TruthGPT. According to him, it would be tasked with “searching for the maximum truth”.

 

Alongside his advances in the field of AI, Elon Musk is not without concerns in the world of health, having obtained authorization in recent days from the American health authorities to test his company’s Neuralink brain implants on humans. Until now, the tests have been carried out on pigs and monkeys, earning him an accusation of animal abuse in the process.

 

The tech magnate pleads the usefulness of this brain-implanted chip intended (for the time being) to ease the daily lives of people suffering from paralysis or neurological diseases linked to the brain and spinal cord.

 

These words do not, however, dispel certain concerns about the future of civilization.

 

Read also >A pink diamond offered at auction for $35 million

 

Featured photo : © Press[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row njt-role=”not-logged-in”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Elon Musk is the surprise guest at the latest edition of Viva Technology (Vivatech). The iconoclastic boss of Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter and Neuralink will speak at a conference hosted by Maurice Lévy, on the afternoon of Friday June 16, 2023.

 

This impromptu visit to France is not without ulterior motives, with the possible opening of a Tesla factory in the country.

 

The tech rockstar at Vivatech

 

A veritable showcase for tech innovation in the startup and corporate ecosystems, the Viva Technology (Vivatech) trade show takes place from June 14 to 17 at the Parc des Expositions in Paris.

 

While Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, and Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L’Oréal, have already been announced as keynote speakers at the press conference on June 7, 2023, Elon Musk’s name had not yet leaked.

 

The man who ceded his title of world’s number one fortune to Bernard Arnault at the start of the year, before reclaiming it at the beginning of June (with assets worth $192 billion), will be there in the flesh on the Vivatech stage on Thursday afternoon, June 16, 2023, according to Le Point. Maurice Levy, founder of the event and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Publicis Groupe – one of the world’s leading advertising groups – will be giving the talk.

 

One month after his visit to France and his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Choose France event – aimed at attracting foreign investment – the serial entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, Neuralink and The Boring Company will be taking part in France’s innovation mecca.

 

In 2022, Vivatech succeeded in attracting 91,000 visitors over the four days of the event, and this year is expecting 100,000. This will provide an unrivalled sounding board for any announcement by the Tesla boss.

 

A possible Tesla factory in France

 

In recent days, rumors have circulated as to the real reason for this whirlwind visit, with some media outlets seeing it as a likely sign of the opening of a Tesla factory on French soil.

 

After his meeting with Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the Choose France summit, Elon Musk said he wanted to make “a major investment in the country”.

 

With its four battery factories, France has everything it takes to convince the world’s leading manufacturer of electric cars to set up operations in the country and strengthen its industrial base.

 

© Tesla

 

The news, however good it may be, needs to be tempered. As the French Minister of the Economy, Bruno Lemaire, told BFM TV, “All the investments that are being made today are the fruit of months, even years of negotiations”. And Elon Musk praised the country’s efforts: “I’m confident that, in the future, Tesla will make significant investments in France”. Reuters points out, however, that France is not the only country in the running.

 

On June 8, the European news agency reported on talks between Tesla and Spain to set up a gigafactory near Valencia, a statement corroborated by the business newspaper Cinco Dias. A “gigafactory” judging by the size of the typical Nevada plant – 500 km² – and the number of employees required (7,000).

 

Cervantes’ homeland has the advantage of lower labor costs than France, and has already hosted several electric car projects. On the strength of these advantages, Inovev predicts that Spain will be Europe’s biggest producer of electric cars by 2030, ahead of Germany and France.

 

India is also a favorite to host a Tesla factory, having become the world’s third-largest automotive market in 2022, ahead of Japan.

 

[…][/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”This article is reserved for subscribers.” h2_font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:16|text_align:left” h2_use_theme_fonts=”yes” h4=”Subscribe now !” h4_font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:left|line_height:bas” h4_use_theme_fonts=”yes” txt_align=”center” color=”black” add_button=”right” btn_title=”I SUBSCRIBE !” btn_color=”danger” btn_size=”lg” btn_align=”center” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” use_custom_fonts_h4=”true” btn_button_block=”true” btn_custom_onclick=”true” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fluxus-plus.com%2Fen%2Fsubscriptions-and-newsletter-special-offer-valid-until-september-30-2020-2-2%2F”]Get unlimited access to all articles and live a new reading experience, preview contents, exclusive newsletters…

Already have an account ? Please log in.

[/vc_cta][vc_column_text]Featured photo : © Press[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row njt-role=”people-in-the-roles” njt-role-user-roles=”subscriber,customer”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Elon Musk is the surprise guest at the latest edition of Viva Technology (Vivatech). The iconoclastic boss of Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter and Neuralink will speak at a conference hosted by Maurice Lévy, on the afternoon of Friday June 16, 2023.

 

This impromptu visit to France is not without ulterior motives, with the possible opening of a Tesla factory in the country.

 

The tech rockstar at Vivatech

 

A veritable showcase for tech innovation in the startup and corporate ecosystems, the Viva Technology (Vivatech) trade show takes place from June 14 to 17 at the Parc des Expositions in Paris.

 

While Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, and Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L’Oréal, have already been announced as keynote speakers at the press conference on June 7, 2023, Elon Musk’s name had not yet leaked.

 

The man who ceded his title of world’s number one fortune to Bernard Arnault at the start of the year, before reclaiming it at the beginning of June (with assets worth $192 billion), will be there in the flesh on the Vivatech stage on Thursday afternoon, June 16, 2023, according to Le Point. Maurice Levy, founder of the event and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Publicis Groupe – one of the world’s leading advertising groups – will be giving the talk.

 

One month after his visit to France and his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Choose France event – aimed at attracting foreign investment – the serial entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, Neuralink and The Boring Company will be taking part in France’s innovation mecca.

 

In 2022, Vivatech succeeded in attracting 91,000 visitors over the four days of the event, and this year is expecting 100,000. This will provide an unrivalled sounding board for any announcement by the Tesla boss.

 

A possible Tesla factory in France

 

In recent days, rumors have circulated as to the real reason for this whirlwind visit, with some media outlets seeing it as a likely sign of the opening of a Tesla factory on French soil.

 

After his meeting with Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the Choose France summit, Elon Musk said he wanted to make “a major investment in the country”.

 

With its four battery factories, France has everything it takes to convince the world’s leading manufacturer of electric cars to set up operations in the country and strengthen its industrial base.

 

© Tesla

 

The news, however good it may be, needs to be tempered. As the French Minister of the Economy, Bruno Lemaire, told BFM TV, “All the investments that are being made today are the fruit of months, even years of negotiations”. And Elon Musk praised the country’s efforts: “I’m confident that, in the future, Tesla will make significant investments in France”. Reuters points out, however, that France is not the only country in the running.

 

On June 8, the European news agency reported on talks between Tesla and Spain to set up a gigafactory near Valencia, a statement corroborated by the business newspaper Cinco Dias. A “gigafactory” judging by the size of the typical Nevada plant – 500 km² – and the number of employees required (7,000).

 

Cervantes’ homeland has the advantage of lower labor costs than France, and has already hosted several electric car projects. On the strength of these advantages, Inovev predicts that Spain will be Europe’s biggest producer of electric cars by 2030, ahead of Germany and France.

 

India is also a favorite to host a Tesla factory, having become the world’s third-largest automotive market in 2022, ahead of Japan.

 

[…][/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”This article is reserved for subscribers.” h2_font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:16|text_align:left” h2_use_theme_fonts=”yes” h4=”Subscribe now !” h4_font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:left|line_height:bas” h4_use_theme_fonts=”yes” txt_align=”center” color=”black” add_button=”right” btn_title=”I SUBSCRIBE !” btn_color=”danger” btn_size=”lg” btn_align=”center” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” use_custom_fonts_h4=”true” btn_button_block=”true” btn_custom_onclick=”true” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fluxus-plus.com%2Fen%2Fsubscriptions-and-newsletter-special-offer-valid-until-september-30-2020-2-2%2F”]Get unlimited access to all articles and live a new reading experience, preview contents, exclusive newsletters…

Already have an account ? Please log in.

[/vc_cta][vc_column_text]Featured photo : © Press[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Tags

Picture of The editorial team
The editorial team
Thanks to its extensive knowledge of these sectors, the Luxus + editorial team deciphers for its readers the main economic and technological stakes in fashion, watchmaking, jewelry, gastronomy, perfumes and cosmetics, hotels, and prestigious real estate.
Luxus Magazine Automne/Hiver 2024

Luxus Magazine N°9

Available now

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sign up now to receive sneak previews of our programs and articles!

Special offer

Subscription from 1€ for the first month

Luxus Plus Newsletter