Tesla Inc recently faced increased pressures in China earlier this week from regulators and local media after a video of a customer staging a protest at the Shanghai auto show went viral in the region, which forced the company into giving out an apology.
According to a Reuters report, the pressure that the popular electric vehicle maker is currently faces arrives amid the on going US and China trade tensions that have worsened in recent times. Notably, China accounts for 30 percent of Tesla’s global sales, with the company also producing vehicles through its own factory that is situated in Shanghai. As per the Global Times, “China will continue to open up its market to foreign business, but that does not mean foreign companies will be offered any privilege.”
For those unaware, a disgruntled Tesla customer climbed on top of a car at the auto show in a protest over the method of how the company was handling her complaint over a malfunctioning brake earlier this week. This caused local market regulators to urge the automobile manufacturer to ensure product quality in the country. Global Times further added that “The arrogant and overbearing stance the company exhibited in front of the public is repugnant and unacceptable, which could inflict serious damage on its reputation and customer base in the Chinese market.”
Unfortunately, Tesla has declined to comment on the matter but did state that it would share data on the brake incident with the regulators, after being demanded to declare the information. While the company did offer an apology, it has been criticized for not being sincere, with Xinhua news agency saying that “A big company should have the responsibility of being a big company, no company can do whatever it wants.”
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