Photo: Tesla_Asia
In a move that underscores the ongoing tension between Tesla and Chinese authorities, the electric vehicle manufacturer’s cars have been barred from certain parts of Chengdu, a major city in southwest China. The ban comes as the city prepares for a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping for the commencement of the World University Games on Friday.
The directive to block Tesla vehicles from specific areas related to the event and Xi’s visit was issued by Chengdu authorities, according to sources who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information, reports Fortune.
This is not the first time Tesla vehicles have faced restrictions in China. In recent years, Teslas have been prohibited from entering Chinese military complexes and housing compounds, as well as a district that hosts Communist Party summer retreats. These restrictions have been attributed to concerns about sensitive data being collected by cameras built into the vehicles. Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have repeatedly pledged to comply with local data rules.
China is a crucial market for Tesla, with its Shanghai factory accounting for over half of the company’s global output. A representative for Tesla, which is based in Austin, Texas, did not respond to a request for comment on the Chengdu ban.
A video that circulated on the Chinese social network Douyin showed a Tesla driver being denied entry to a venue in Chengdu. The traffic officer in the video explained that he was following an official order related to the World University Games. The video has since been removed, and Bloomberg News was unable to independently verify its content.
In addition to the Tesla ban, Chengdu is implementing broader traffic restrictions during the sports event, which runs until August 8. Some streets will be closed off to civilian drivers.
President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the World University Games and host leaders including Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo. The summer version of the games last took place in the Italian city of Naples in 2019 and was postponed due to the pandemic.