Elon Musk set to visit Israel this month following earlier delay

Elon Musk is set to visit Israel later this month to take part in a major mobility conference in Tel Aviv, after plans for an earlier trip were postponed due to the war with Iran.

The Tesla and X owner will speak at the Smart Mobility Summit, due to take place on May 18 at Expo Tel Aviv, with organisers reviving the event following its delay earlier this year amid the security situation.

His visit comes as Israel continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in artificial intelligence. Recent data from Anthropic’s Economic Index shows the country ranks first in the world for per-capita AI usage, operating at around 4.9 times its expected share relative to population.

Musk had originally been due to attend the conference in March, but escalating regional tensions forced a last-minute postponement, raising uncertainty over whether the high-profile visit would go ahead.

The rescheduled summit will bring together senior figures from across the automotive, technology and infrastructure sectors, with a focus on autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence and the future of transport.

Among those expected to appear alongside Musk are Amnon Shashua, the founder of Mobileye, which was acquired by Intel and Dror Bin, chief executive officer at the Israel Innovation Authority.

Musk’s participation is likely to draw significant attention, both for its commercial implications and for what it signals about continued global engagement with Israel’s technology sector at a sensitive time.

The event will also provide a platform for startups working in areas such as autonomous vehicles, fleet management and smart infrastructure to connect with investors and international partners.

His visit is expected to reignite discussions around autonomous driving and the role Israeli technology could play in shaping the future of the industry.