Tesla boss Elon Musk praises China’s carmakers and calls for concerted efforts to ensure data security after run-ins with regulators, customers

Earlier this year, Tesla was forced to soothe tensions with officials and customers in China over concerns about the quality and safety of its cars

The US giant recently built a data centre in Shanghai after Beijing pushed for data gathered by smart vehicles in the country to be stored locally

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Vehicles on an assembly line at Tesla’s gigafactory in Shanghai. Photo: AP

Published: 7:00pm, 17 Sep 2021Updated: 10:32pm, 17 Sep 2021

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has given the thumbs-up to China’s carmakers, less than three months after he praised the country’s economic development following a series of run-ins with regulators and customers.

In a pre-recorded speech at the World New Energy Vehicle Congress taking place on China’s southern island of Hainan, he also called for a concerted effort by automotive companies and governments to ensure data security. Musk’s company was the focus of concern among mainland officials earlier this year over the storage and security of the vast troves of data produced by so-called connected vehicles.

“I have a great deal of respect for the many Chinese carmakers,” he said. “Public sentiment and support for electric vehicles is at an [unprecedented] inflection point because they know it is the future.

“With the rapid growth of autonomous driving technologies, data security of vehicles is drawing more public concern than ever before.” It is not the responsibility of one single company, he added.

The billionaire said Chinese carmakers are particularly strong when it comes to the software needed to make vehicles smarter on their way to full autonomy. He stopped short of mentioning any vehicle manufacturers by name.