Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk flew into Australia on Sunday with girlfriend Amber Heard, prompting speculation on whether the visit will mix business with pleasure.
Mr Musk spent Sunday visiting Currumbin Bird Sanctuary and dining at Moo Moos restaurant on the Gold Coast with actor Heard, who is filming Aquaman at Village Roadshows studios.
It is understood Mr Musk's visit is non-official.
But that has not stopped speculation that the Paypal co-founder may tend to his growing business interests in Australia while here.
Having moo moo at Moo Moo Gold Coast with amberheard, @CreepyPuppet and @CowanFilms https://t.co/SUM2RYYN7O
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 23, 2017
Tesla's electric vehicles are becoming a more common sight on Australia's roads - even if the manufacturer just had to recall two-thirds of the cars it made in 2016 to fix a parking brake problem - while Mr Musk made national headlines in March with his offer of a 100 megawatt battery farm to solve South Australia's energy crisis.
Accepting an offer from Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes to assist with the $200 million build cost, Mr Musk pledged the farm would be free to the South Australian Government if not operational within 100 days of contract signature. However 50-odd days on from that pledge, little more has been heard of the proposal.
Tesla Australia said the company had participated in the SA Government's expressions-of-interest process for a 100 megawatt battery farm, part of the state's $550 million plan to stabilise its energy supply after several major blackouts, and the decision was "now with the Government". It is unclear whether it would be too late for some in-person lobbying from Mr Musk.
— Amber Heard (@realamberheard) April 24, 2017
Welcome to Australia, @elonmusk & @realamberheard. As the President of @teslaownersau, can I invite you to meet a local Tesla owner or 2?
— Jude Burger (@JudeBurger) April 24, 2017
