FYI: Tesla is on the verge of breaking new ground in China, with Full Self Driving (FSD) features possibly receiving approval by year’s end.
Tesla Eyes Year-End Approval for Full Self-Driving in China
Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD) may soon hit the roads in China, with approval projected by the end of 2024. This promising milestone was revealed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk during the company’s Q2 2024 earnings call.
Competitive Edge in China’s EV Market
China’s electric vehicle (EV) market is one of the fiercest globally, with homegrown manufacturers offering robust competition. Tesla is betting its future heavily on FSD, seeing it as a crucial differentiating factor in the saturated Chinese market. FSD could become a significant selling point for Tesla models in China, elevating the brand above local competitors.
Global Ambitions for FSD
During the Q2 2024 earnings call, Musk mentioned that Tesla aims to begin seeking regulatory approvals for FSD variants 12.5 or 12.6 in regions beyond North America, including Europe, China, and other international markets.
"I should also say that the self-driving capabilities that are deployed outside of North America are far behind that in North America. So with Version 12.5, and maybe 12.6, but pretty soon, we will ask for regulatory approval of the Tesla supervised FSD in Europe, China, and other countries. And I think we’re likely to receive that before the end of the year, which will be a helpful demand driver in those regions obviously,” Musk stated.
Driving Forward with Strategic Moves
Tesla’s pursuit to launch FSD in China has been conspicuous. Musk’s impromptu visit to China in late April, where he engaged with several Beijing officials, was significantly tied to the FSD rollout plans. Subsequent reports indicated that Tesla China overcame a critical barrier for FSD introduction by joining forces with local tech heavyweight Baidu for mapping data.
By the end of May, preparations were reportedly afoot for Tesla to register FSD with Chinese regulators. Just weeks later, Shanghai’s Nanhui New Town was reportedly pushing for a pilot program involving ten Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD technology.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s ambition to introduce FSD in China is a clear testament to Tesla’s strategic focus on the global EV market. With significant moves already in motion, achieving regulatory approval in China by the end of 2024 could substantially boost Tesla’s market appeal and drive demand across the region.
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William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
