Tesla quick to show support for China’s new data collection rules after sharp decline in April sales

Tesla says on microblogging platform Weibo that it supports the standardisation of the car industry in China. The US electric vehicle maker faced a backlash after a Model 3 owner staged a protest at the Shanghai Auto Show. — SCMP

After suffering a huge decline in sales in China last month following a series of publicity crises, US electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla took to social media on May 12 to voice its support for newly proposed government rules on how data can be collected in the country.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s central Internet regulator, released a set of draft rules on car data regulation on its website on May 12 that include provisions meant to strengthen personal data protection and protect national security.