China asks automakers to apply for licences to map data in smart cars

China asks automakers to apply for licences to map data in smart cars

A Tesla Inc. Model S electric vehicle is displayed at the company's showroom in Newport Beach, California, U.S. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg

China has said that automakers must apply for licences to collect geographic data using sensors on their intelligent vehicles, highlighting Beijing’s security concerns about the growing sophistication of smart cars mapping capabilities.