Elon Musk tells China Tesla cars will never be used to spy for the US after Beijing 'banned them from military bases over fears their cameras could be recording sensitive information'

 Elon Musk has told China his Tesla cars would never be used to spy for the US, insisting his company would be shut down if the vehicles were ever used in espionage around the world.

The billionaire insisted there was a 'very strong incentive for us to be very confidential with any information' as he spoke via video link to the China Development Forum in Beijing on Saturday.

His remarks came a day after reports surfaced that China's military had banned Tesla cars from its facilities over fears their cameras could be used for espionage.

China is the largest market for Tesla after the US and accounted for around a quarter of the auto company's global sales in 2020. 

Elon Musk has told a Chinese forum that his company would be shut down if its cars were used to spy on China

Elon Musk has told a Chinese forum that his company would be shut down if its cars were used to spy on China

On Friday, Reuters news agency reported that the Chinese military had banned Tesla cars from entering its complexes, citing security concerns over cameras installed on the vehicles. 

The directive - which was said to have come from top Chinese military officials - advised Tesla owners to park their cars outside military property. 

The restrictions surfaced as the top Chinese and U.S. diplomats held a contentious meeting in Alaska, the first such in-person interaction since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January. 


On Friday, Reuters news agency reported that the Chinese military had banned Tesla cars from entering its complexes, citing security concerns over cameras installed on the vehicles. Pictured: A man walks past a Tesla Model S is pictured in Beijing

On Friday, Reuters news agency reported that the Chinese military had banned Tesla cars from entering its complexes, citing security concerns over cameras installed on the vehicles. Pictured: A man walks past a Tesla Model S is pictured in Beijing 

The U.S. has also been distrustful of some Chinese companies, effectively blacklisting communications giant Huawei and threatening to ban popular app TikTok over concerns that users' data could be given to the Chinese government. 

Musk downplayed the fears on Saturday, saying: 'Even if there was spying, what would the other country learn and would it actually matter?'  

Musk urged greater mutual trust between the world's two biggest economies in his remarks to the China Development Forum, a high-level business gathering hosted by a foundation under the State Council.

Musk was speaking at the China Development Forum, a high-level business gathering hosted by a foundation under the State Council

Musk was speaking at the China Development Forum, a high-level business gathering hosted by a foundation under the State Council

He was speaking with Xue Qikun, a Chinese quantum physicist who heads the Southern University of Science and Technology.  

As the world's biggest car market, the country is a key battleground for electric vehicles.  

Tesla sold 147,445 vehicles last year, 30 per cent of its global total but this year, the company is facing more competition from domestic rivals, including Nio Inc and Geely.  

The Chinese military's apparent concerns about Tesla underscore a broader issue for automakers as they equip more vehicles with cameras and sensors that capture images of a car's surroundings.

Who controls how those images are used and where they are sent and stored is a fast-emerging challenge for the auto industry and regulators around the world.

Musk is scheduled to speak online on Saturday at a state-hosted annual global economic gathering in Beijing called the China Development Forum. China has become an important market for the U.S. carmaker. Musk is pictured in Shanghai in January 2020

Musk is scheduled to speak online on Saturday at a state-hosted annual global economic gathering in Beijing called the China Development Forum. China has become an important market for the U.S. carmaker. Musk is pictured in Shanghai in January 2020

2020: Elon Musk pulls off his best moves on stage in Shanghai
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Tesla cars have several external cameras to assist with parking and self-driving and Chief Executive Elon Musk has often spoken about the value of the data Tesla vehicles capture that can be used to develop autonomous driving.

Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y also have cameras in the rear view mirror for driver safety that are disabled by default. 

Musk has made several high-profile appearances in China, where his company makes as well as sells its cars.  

In 2019, he discussed Mars and artificial intelligence with Alibaba's outspoken founder Jack Ma.

At a delivery event last year for China-made Model 3 sedans, Musk danced enthusiastically on stage, stripping off his jacket in what became a viral social media moment. 

Elon Musk tells China Tesla cars will never be used to spy for the US after Beijing 'banned them from military bases over fears their cameras could be recording sensitive information' Elon Musk tells China Tesla cars will never be used to spy for the US after Beijing 'banned them from military bases over fears their cameras could be recording sensitive information' Reviewed by CUZZ BLUE on March 22, 2021 Rating: 5

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