Tesla Ready to Launch Full Self-Driving in China, But Government Approval Still Pending

Tesla is poised to launch its cutting-edge Full Self-Driving (FSD) software in China shortly.

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Chinese car owners will soon be able to use Full Self-Driving (FSD), Tesla’s cutting-edge driving assistance software designed for use on city roads.

The report claims that Tesla intends to update the software in the coming days and is currently testing it on Chinese workers. According to Tesla, FSD supports turns, lane and speed changes, traffic signal recognition, and vehicle intersection entry guidance. However, only customers who pay an extra 64,000 yuan (roughly $8,800) can access the software.

Tesla offers FSD in several nations, including the US, but the Chinese government has not approved it, so the company has not been able to launch it there. Musk did, however, make attempts to free FSD, including meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during a visit to Beijing in April of last year.

According to reports, WeRide, a Chinese robotaxi company that recently gained market attention after it was revealed that Nvidia had invested in it, has been permitted to run a robotaxi in Beijing. On Monday, WeRide declared on its official Weibo account that Beijing had approved its next-generation robotaxi model, the “GXR,” for autonomous driving services.

According to Chinese media outlets, the GXR has been authorized to operate on highways, including Beijing Daxing International Airport and downtown areas. It is also expected to operate strategically within the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone. Before this, in December last year, GXR started offering Uber services in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

BYD, China’s biggest electric car manufacturer, recently revealed plans to update its “God’s Eye” autonomous driving system and offer free maintenance for all its cars.