A stop sign appears in the forefront of a Tesla factory.
China is outpacing Tesla in one key area, a new study found.
  • Tesla is struggling to maintain its lead in the EV industry.
  • A report from ITIF found that China is rivaling or beating Tesla when it comes to innovation.
  • Tesla has been slow to release new vehicles and update existing models.

Tesla is fighting to keep its EV crown, and Chinese automakers are already challenging Elon Musk's company in one crucial area: Innovation.