Tesla gears up to launch full self-driving technology in China
Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, is preparing to introduce its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in China, a significant market for the company. Despite skepticism from auto industry experts, Tesla remains confident in its FSD technology. The system has already gained substantial global interest after its US debut. Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, hinted at the imminent launch of FSD in China during a social media interaction, but did not specify a date.
Tesla's FSD broke cover 4 years ago
Tesla first unveiled its FSD technology four years back, but it has not yet been made available in China. This delay continues despite the growing customer interest, and competition from other Chinese car manufacturers developing similar self-driving software. Musk, responding to a user's query about the arrival of FSD in China, stated, "It may be possible very soon," without revealing a specific launch date.
Chinese car manufacturers strive to match Tesla's FSD
Earlier this year, Chinese car manufacturer Xpeng announced plans to upgrade its Advanced Driver Assistance Software (ADAS) and make all features available to Chinese drivers by 2024. Notably, Xpeng's ADAS shares functional similarities with Tesla's FSD. This development comes as other Chinese car manufacturers are also working toward creating self-driving software comparable to Tesla's technology.
FSD could revolutionize the Chinese market
The potential introduction of Tesla's FSD in China, comes after a notice issued by several Chinese government departments in November 2023. The notice allowed vehicles with L3 and L4 autonomous driving capabilities to conduct road tests within restricted areas on a trial basis. Given this context, Tesla's entry into the Chinese market with its FSD technology could be seen as a significant development. The company has already laid extensive groundwork in China for this initiative.
