Tesla chief executive Elon Musk says his company would be shut down if their cars were used to spy, his first comments on news that Chinese weapons have banned Teslas from its resources.
“We are strongly encouraged to keep any information confidential,” Musk told a well-known forum in China during a heated debate on Saturday. “If Tesla used cars to drive in China or anywhere, we would be shut down. ”
Sources told Reuters on Friday that the Chinese military has banned Tesla cars from entering its premises, citing security concerns regarding cameras installed on the vehicles.
Those restrictions that emerged as a major Chinese and U.S. diplomacy held a controversial meeting in Alaska, the first personal interaction since U.S. President Joe Biden began in January.
Musk urged greater mutual trust between the two largest economies in the world, in his comments to the China Development Forum, a high-level business gathering is held with a foundation under the Council of State.
He was holding a discussion panel with Xue Qikun, a quantum physics expert in charge of the Southern University of Science and Technology.
In China, the world’s largest car market and a major battleground for electric vehicles (EVs), Tesla sold 147,445 vehicles last year, 30% of its global total. However, there is more competition this year from domestic competitors from Nio Inc to Geely.
Musk has made several high-profile appearances in China, where Tesla does as well as sells EVs. In 2019, he discussed Mars and artificial intelligence with Alibaba’s famous founder, Jack Ma.
At a delivery event last year for Model 3 sedans made in China, Musk danced willingly on stage, taking off his jacket in a storm that hit social media.