China accuses foreign company of illegal mapping, prompting denials from some EV firms
The foreign company had outsourced the job to a Chinese firm licensed for mapping, according to China’s State Security Ministry
Chinese authorities have accused an unnamed foreign company of conducting illegal mapping activities under the guise of intelligent driving research, triggering denials from several smart driving and electric vehicle (EV) firms, including Tesla, Mobileye, Geely, Didi Chuxing and Navinfo.
In a post on its official WeChat account Wednesday, China’s State Security Ministry said the foreign company, described as a contractor for “sensitive national projects” of another country, had outsourced the geographic mapping work to a Chinese company licensed for mapping. The ministry alleges that the company illegally obtained mapping data and transferred sensitive information classified as state secrets out of the country.
According to the ministry, the foreign firm purchased multiple vehicles and installed high-precision radar, GPS, and optical lenses, then directed, managed and “manipulated” the Chinese company into conducting the mapping and data transfer.
“In response, national security authorities, in cooperation with other departments, carried out joint law enforcement actions. The company involved, along with responsible personnel, has faced legal consequences,” the statement said.
The announcement prompted a swift response from several companies late Wednesday, distancing themselves from the controversy.
Tesla’s vice-president, Grace Tao Lin, posted a statement on social media platform Weibo, saying, “Compliance is the bottom line for corporate operations. Tesla firmly believes that only compliant intelligence is sustainable intelligence.”
