Tesla cars can be sold very well in China, but do not tell the country’s government. Reuters and Bloomberg sources say the Chinese military has banned Tesla vehicles from its military facilities for fear the EVs’ cameras pose a security risk. While the drivers themselves will not be in trouble, they will have to park outside the premises.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that China restricts the use of Tesla cars by military employees and ‘major state-owned enterprises’. It has told some agencies to ask staff to stop driving their cars to work, and not to drive into homes for families of people in sensitive fields.
The concern, as you would guess, is that a spy can use the enormous amount of cameras on a vehicle like the Model Y to outline the facilities and their activities. The Dashcam feature records up to ten minutes of videos from the front, and there is a one-hour loop buffer. Sentry Mode, meanwhile, will record incidents around the car from ten minutes before it occurred. Newer vehicles such as the Y and Model 3 also have an interior camera aimed at the driver. Although not entirely 24-hour recording, it is theoretically possible to map a base or capture troop movements.
Tesla has so far refused to comment officially, other than to tell the report WSJ that its privacy policy complies with Chinese laws and regulations. However, chief operating officer Elon Musk denied the allegations in a virtual forum. Tesla would ‘stand still’ if it used cars for espionage in China or any other country, Musk said, adding that there was motivation to keep data confidential.
Whether the demands are earned or not, it can play a political role. China is still frustrated because the US labeled Huawei and other companies as security threats. Restrictions on Tesla cars can serve as a form of retaliation, especially with Chinese and U.S. officials holding tense talks.