Tesla CEO Elon Musk was accused of ‘economical support for genocide’ following the opening of a showroom in China’s Xinjiang, despite China having detained potentially millions Uyghur Muslims.

Tesla’s announcement immediately attracted the criticism of rights and trade group, becoming the latest foreign firm to get caught up in tensions regarding the Chinese area.

U.N. specialists and rights groups have estimated that more than one million Uyghurs, and other Muslim minorities, were held in these camps.

As a result, Xinjiang has become a significant point of conflict between Western governments and China in recent years, with a London tribunal ruling last month that China was carrying out genocide of Uyghur Muslims in the region. 

Despite these tensions the U.S. electrical car maker, announced on its official Weibo page last Friday that the showroom was opening in Urumqi (Xinjiang’s regional capital), despite the tensions.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk (pictured) has been accused of 'economic support for genocide' after the company opened a new showroom in China's Xinjiang region, despite the country's detention of potentially millions of Uyghur Muslims

Tesla CEO Elon Musk (pictured), was accused of ‘economical support for genocide’ following the opening of a showroom in China’s Xinjiang, despite China detaining potentially millions Uyghur Muslims.

Tesla wrote in the blog, “On the last day in 2021 we meet at Xinjiang,” “Let’s get started on Xinjiang’s all electric journey!”

The Times reports that the country has long planned to open the showroom in order to provide sales and delivery services to customers.

American organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, urged Tesla’s chairman, Elon Musk, Monday to shut down its showroom.

Ibrahim Hooper (communications director for the group) stated that no American company should do business in the region where a genocide campaign is taking place. 

America has also called China’s treatment Uyghurs in Xinjiang and of other Muslims there genocide. Over the matter, the United States and some other countries have planned a diplomatic boycott against the Beijing Winter Olympics.

China rejected allegations of forced labour and other abuses in China, stating that camps offer vocational training. Companies should also respect the policies. 

“Elon Musk must close Tesla’s Xinjiang showroom,” Council on American-Islamic Relations said on Twitter. It also referred to Tesla’s founder.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing in the U.S. and Marco Rubio, a U.S. senator, also voiced similar criticisms.

A receptionist works at a Tesla showroom in Beijing, China, Jan. 4, 2022. American-based activists are appealing to Tesla Inc. to close a new showroom in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang, where officials are accused of abuses against mostly Muslim ethnic minorities

January 4, 2022, Beijing: A Tesla showroom receptionist. American-based activists appeal to Tesla Inc. that it close a new showroom, located in China’s northern region of Xinjiang. This is where officials have been accused of abuses of mostly Muslim ethnic minority minorities.

Rubio tweeted that “Nationless corporations help the Chinese Communist Party cover-up genocide in the region” 

Executive director of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth wrote: ‘What is @Tesla thinking, choosing to open a showroom in Xinjiang as the Chinese government, through its mass detention and persecution, is committing crimes against humanity there against Uyghur/Turkic Muslims.’ 

Tesla has not yet responded to Reuters news agency’s request for comment. Tesla has a Shanghai factory and plans to increase production amid rising sales in China.

There has been an increase in pressure on foreign corporations to position themselves on Xinjiang Tibet Taiwan, and other politically sensitive issues. 

Companies are pushed by the ruling Communist Party to follow its lead in advertising and web design. Clothing and brands who express concern about forced labour or other abuses in Xinjiang have been attacked by the Communist Party. 

These tensions between China and the West over Xinjiang have tripped up a number of foreign companies in recent months as they attempt to reconcile China’s market power and China’s supply-base importance.

Xinjiang has become a significant point of conflict between Western governments and China in recent years, with a London tribunal ruling last month that China was carrying out genocide of Uyghur Muslims in the region

Xinjiang is a key point of contention between China and Western governments in recent years. A London tribunal ruled last month that China had committed genocide against Uyghur Muslims living in the area. 

Walmart Inc. was threatened with a boycott by the government’s disciplinary agency on Friday after some customers complained that they could not find products from Xinjiang at its Sam’s Club and Walmart stores.

After being attacked by the state media and online comments calling for a boycott, Intel Corp. (the world’s largest maker of computer chips) apologised to its suppliers for not sourcing products from Xinjiang.

The United States bans imports from Xinjiang unless it can be proven that they are not made using forced labor. 

Other international brands, such as General Motors, Nissan Motor Co. and Volkswagen have showrooms located in Xinjiang. These are managed by Chinese joint-venture partner automakers. VW has a Urumqi factory.

In July, Swedish fashion retailer H&M reported a 23 percent drop in local currency sales in China for its March-May quarter after it was hit by a consumer boycott in March for stating publicly that it did not source products from Xinjiang. 

Many foreign companies have stores in the area, even though some are trying to decrease their exposure to the region’s supply chains, particularly since Washington has banned imports of Xinjiang cotton and blacklisted Chinese companies it claims have aided Beijing. 

China is Tesla’s most important market. In 2019, the company opened its first overseas factory in Shanghai.

Meanwhile, it was reported on Tuesday that Tesla founder Elon Mask has added $32.6 billion to his net worth, bringing his fortune to $304.2 billion.

Musk’s new fortune saw him surpass the $300 billion mark he temporarily reached in November. This made him the first person ever to achieve this milestone.

Forbes claims that SpaceX’s founder SpaceX, an controversial billionaire who has mastered social media and is also well-known for his wealth, remains at the top of the rich world list heading into 2019.

Bernard Arnault (CEO of LVMH), is second, $103.6 billion ahead Musk. Forbes reported that Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon and the former-CEO. 

South Africans’ growing wealth can again be attributed to Tesla’s skyrocketing stock price.  

Tesla sold a record 936172 electric cars in 2021, despite the supply chain problems

Tesla sold more than 936,000 cars last year, which is a record despite many challenges the electric vehiclemaker has faced in the past year. 

Austin-based Company announced fourth quarter production and delivery results on Sunday. This comes just days after recalling nearly half a Million Model 3 and Model S vehicles to fix issues that could lead to crashes.

Tesla informed workers last February it had stopped production temporarily at California’s auto assembly plant because of a shortage in semiconductors.

A person who was familiar with the situation told Bloomberg News that workers on Fremont’s Model 3 sedan manufacturing line were informed their lines would shut down between February 22 and March 7. 

Even with the many challenges Elon Musk’s electric vehicle empire has faced over the last year, including chip shortages as well whistleblower scandals, the demand for futuristic and sleek cars continues to grow.

Last year’s delivery volume was greater than company numbers for 2020 (when 499,550 cars were sent to customers).

Of the sales made last year, Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y rides accounted for 911,208 – or 97 percent – of the 936,172 vehicles delivered. Model 3 sedans start at around $46,490 while mid-sized SUVs like the Model Y are priced between $61,000 and $56,490.

It delivered 24,964 of its pricier Model S and Model X vehicles; its only full-sized SUV, the Model X is tagged about $110,000 while the flagship Model S starts about $100,000.

Tesla in 2020 delivered 57,039 of its Model S and X vehicles in 2020, and 442,511 Model 3 and Model Y cars.

The company delivered over 112,000 vehicles in 2019

Daniel Ives, analyst at Wedbush Securities said that the most recent numbers were ‘jaw-dropping’ considering the continuing global shortage of chips affecting the auto industry. 

Ives indicated that increased demand in China from Chinese buyers and greater enthusiasm for electric vehicles were likely to have influenced the growth of production.

Musk tweeted: “Great work Tesla team around the world!”

Tesla’s brand image took some hits last year, most recently last week when it recalled 356,309 Model 3 vehicles made between 2017 and 2020 due to problems with the rearview camera and 119,009 Model S vehicles due to front trunk problems.

Tesla advised that the Model 3 cars could have their trunks opened and closed, which can cause damage to the cable harness connecting the rearview camera. This would lead to the camera suddenly failing.

Model S could prevent the front trunk latching from happening, which would allow the trunk to open while the vehicle’s in motion.

Tesla claims that only 1% of Model 3 vehicles have this flaw, while 14% of Model S cars do.