Last year, Teslas were China’s best-selling electric cars. Now a potentially dangerous problem has prompted the government to order software repairs to almost 300,000 of those vehicles. Officials say drivers can accidentally engage the autopilot, triggering acceleration. Bad news for the US electric car maker creates opportunities for fast-growing local rivals.
Foreign automakers have become a formidable presence in China, accounting for 57 per cent of all new-energy vehicle sales this year. Tesla, which earns almost a third of its sales in China, has the lion’s share.
That success attracts critical attention from officials, already sensitive of the influence of homegrown tech giants. The cars have reportedly been banned from entering government complexes. The government has drafted new regulations controlling how vehicles collect data with cameras and sensors. Tesla has responded by setting up a local data centre.