(Yicai Global) Dec. 15 -- Chinese new energy vehicle maker Xpeng Motors claimed that it was collecting more than 431,600 store visitors' facial data in the first half to improve its customer experience after receiving a CNY100,000 (USD15,712) fine for the illegal practice.

A sales unit in Shanghai collected and analyzed the photos to enhance its services but was wrong to use video monitoring firm Ulucu Electron Technology's products, the Guangzhou-based automobile manufacturer said in a statement yesterday.

The fine underlines the issue of data privacy in future driving as an increasing number of smart car models carry in-vehicle cameras, including cars of Tesla, Nio, and Great Wall Motors.

Xpeng Motors had deleted all the data and removed the facial recognition equipment from stores before local authorities’ examination in March, the firm added.

The sales unit in the eastern city had installed 22 facial recognition cameras in the stores to analyze visitors' age and gender without their consent, which violated China's consumer protection law, according to corporate data inquiry platform Tianyancha.

Facial features are considered private information, and can only be collected with personal consent and used for public security purposes, according to the Law on the Protection of Personal Information, so having such equipment at stores is illegal, You Yunting, senior partner of Shanghai-based DeBund Law Offices, said to Yicai Global.

Editor: Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi