(Yicai Global) May 26 -- US electric automaker Tesla has set up a data center in China to store locally all the information generated by vehicles it sells in the country ahead of tighter industry regulation.

Tesla did not disclose the location of the first site in its statement yesterday, but the California-based company did say it planned to open more data centers in the country. Tesla also plans to create a vehicle information database for car owners, it added.

Chinese regulators, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, released a draft bill on vehicle data security management on May 12, seeking public feedback. According to the document, auto companies need to seek permission from buyers before collecting personal information and storing data in China.

After recent accidents involving Tesla cars in China, the firm may be looking to buoy confidence and sales, which fell a record 67 percent last month from March. Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory sold just 11,671 locally produced vehicles in China in April.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi