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Tesla electric car maker Elon Musk has said it could shut down the company if the cars it produces are used for spy operations.
Musk’s comments on Saturday came after the Chinese military banned Tesla cars from entering its facilities.
“There is a very strong incentive for us to be very confidential about any information,” Musk added during a virtual Chinese forum, according to Reuters. “If Tesla used cars to spy on China or anywhere else, we would shut down (the company).”
Sources told Reuters on Friday that the Chinese military had banned Tesla cars from entering its compounds, due to security concerns over the cameras installed on the cars.
And the restrictions were issued as US and Chinese diplomats met in the US state of Alaska, according to “Reuters.”
During the virtual forum, Musk emphasized the need for mutual trust between the world’s two largest economies.
And Musk held a panel discussion with Chinese quantum physicist Xiu Kikuan, who heads Southern University of Science and Technology in China.
China is the world’s largest auto market and is a major battleground for electric cars, as Tesla sold around 147,445 cars last year, or 30% of its total global sales.
However, the US company is facing increased competition this year from local Chinese competitors, such as Geely and Niu.
This isn’t the first time Musk has appeared at Chinese events, in 2019 Musk led a discussion with Chinese businessman Jack Ma about artificial intelligence.
At a ceremony last year to hand over Tesla sedans made in China, Musk enthusiastically danced on stage, removing his jacket, and then becoming the subject of controversy on social media.
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