Billionaire Elon Musk pledges to close his company in this case

Billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of “Tesla” electric vehicles, said today, Saturday, that his company will shut down if its cars are used for spying, in his first comment on news that the Chinese military has banned “Tesla cars” in its facilities.

“There is a very strong incentive for us to be very confidential in dealing with any information. If Tesla used cars to spy in China or anywhere, we would close our doors,” Musk said at a prominent Chinese forum during a virtual discussion.

Sources told “Reuters” on Friday that the Chinese army prevented “Tesla” cars from entering its compounds, citing security concerns about the cameras installed on the vehicles.

The restrictions emerged as senior Chinese and US diplomats were holding a controversial meeting in Alaska, the first personal interaction since US President Joe Biden took office in January.

Musk urged increased mutual trust between the world’s two largest economies in his remarks to the China Development Forum, a high-level meeting of business leaders hosted by an institution under the State Council (government).

In China, the world’s largest auto market and a major battleground for electric vehicles, Tesla sold 147,445 cars last year, 30% of its total global sales. However, it faces more competition this year from domestic competitors.

Tesla has production lines for its cars in China, and the market is getting Musk’s attention. At last year’s handover of “Model 3” sedans made in China, the billionaire danced excitedly on stage, taking off his jacket in what became a storm on social media.