Musk in China
Tesla boss Elon Musk (L) walks with Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong during the ground-breaking ceremony for a Tesla factory in Shanghai on January 7, 2019.
  • Tesla is facing an uphill battle in China, the world's largest auto market. 
  • The EV ecosystem Tesla built may help catapult that competition to success.
  • Elon Musk appears focused on reinforcing Tesla's China business.

Tesla is facing tougher years ahead in the Chinese market, and it couldn't come at a worse time for the company.