Tesla cars banned by Chinese military over safety concerns

Tesla cars have been banned from Chinese military complexes and housing compounds due to the concerns about sensitive data being collected by cameras built into automobiles.

The order, issued by the military, advises Tesla owners to park their vehicles outside of the military property, according to people knowledgeable about the directive who asked not to be identified as the information is private.

The ban, relayed to residents of military housing and others this week, was caused by concerns that the world’s biggest electric automakers are collecting sensitive data via the cars’ in-built cameras in a way the Chinese government can’t see or control, one of the sources said.

Pictures of what was purported to be a notice about the ban were also circulating on Chinese social media. Multi-direction cameras and ultrasonic sensors in Tesla cars may “expose locations” and the automobiles are being banned from military residences to ensure the safety of confidential military information, the notice said.

None of the in-car cameras in Tesla cars sold in China are turned on or part of the FSD beta trial, the Tesla representative said. Tesla’s privacy policies adhere to national laws and local regulations in the country, the person said.