Tesla China Responded to Rumors about FSD Progress in China

On November 18th, in response to market rumors that the company had discussed two rounds of Full Self-Driving (FSD) authorization with SAIC, Tesla China stated to the media that the news was not true and that they have not had any discussions with domestic car companies.

Previously, there were rumors in the market that Tesla’s FSD system, after entering the Chinese market, might be authorized to SAIC Group for Robotaxi (autonomous driving) services. According to media reports citing research from TF Securities, it is understood that Tesla has had two rounds of discussions with SAIC, and there have been communications with Geely as well, but there is no clear conclusion or details yet. Additionally, industry insiders have pointed out that as early as April this year, there were rumors involving SAIC, BYD, and Geely.

Tesla’s autonomous driving system is divided into three categories: Basic Autopilot (AP), Enhanced Autopilot (EAP), and Full Self-Driving (FSD). FSD, or “Full Self Driving,” is Tesla’s most advanced autonomous driving technology, covering perception, regulation, execution, and other aspects of the entire autonomous driving system.

There are generally two technological paths to achieve autonomous driving: FSD and “vehicle-road-cloud integration.” Tesla’s FSD achieves autonomous driving by equipping the car with “eyes,” installing the brain in the car, and allowing AI to learn to drive by seeing the road through these “eyes.”

In January 2024, Tesla’s FSD fully autonomous driving system was upgraded to version 12, and after experiencing it, Xiaopeng Motors founder He Xiaopeng stated that the overall experience with FSD was very smooth, with most road conditions being handled reassuringly, approaching the driving level of a human driver.

Currently, FSD services are limited to the United States, Canada, Australia, and some European countries. During the second-quarter earnings call this year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that Tesla is expected to obtain FSD approval in other markets by the end of this year, such as Europe and China.

However, by September, Tesla’s expected entry of FSD into China was delayed. At that time, Tesla’s AI team posted on social media that they expected to launch the fully autonomous FSD system in China and Europe in the first quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approval.

On October 18th, several informed sources revealed during media interviews that the Chinese government supports the partial testing of FSD functions under existing laws and regulations. However, the entry of FSD into China has not yet been approved by regulatory authorities, and the relevant evaluation work is still ongoing. Musk has applied to relevant departments, hoping to obtain some video data for system training, and has promised that this data can be rigorously reviewed by the authorities.

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