Tesla to Carry Out Full Self-Driving Trial Tests in China as It Continues to Expand Investments There

Tesla is on the verge of carrying out a Full Self-Driving (FSD) pilot in China, another significant milestone for the American electric carmaker.

This initiative underscores Tesla's commitment to innovation and highlights China's strategic importance in the global adoption of autonomous driving technologies.

Tesla to Test FSD in China

Led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Tesla plans to test its most advanced autonomous driving software in Shanghai, China. The Nanhui New City district near Tesla's Giga Shanghai plant has allowed 10 electric vehicles (EVs) for initial testing.

This move signals a potential future rollout of FSD technology across China. Interesting Engineering reported that Lu Sen, director of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone Administrative Committee's data department, announced this development to local media.

However, specific details regarding when the testing will start were not disclosed. Before implementing FSD in China, Tesla must first register the software at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

MIIT approves all vehicle models and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) software sold in China. Once Tesla obtains MIIT's approval, it will be authorized to conduct FSD testing on public roads.

FSD technology enables your vehicle to operate with minimal driver input and is designed to enhance its capabilities over time. FSD includes features such as automatic lane changes, guiding your car from highway on-ramps to off-ramps, suggesting lane changes, navigating interchanges, and automatically using turn signals.

When in FSD mode, the vehicle also identifies and responds to stop signs and traffic lights by slowing down and stopping as needed while you actively monitor its operations. Tesla emphasizes that the current FSD features need ongoing driver supervision and do not render the vehicle fully autonomous.

Achieving full autonomy will hinge on surpassing human driver reliability, backed by extensive experience spanning billions of miles and regulatory clearance that could vary in duration across different jurisdictions.

Early Signs

In April, Elon Musk posted on X that Tesla's FSD technology could launch in China soon as he responded to a user query about FSD availability in the Southeast Asian country.

Tesla established a data center in Shanghai in 2021 to store and process all data collected in China, including Autopilot functionality, sales figures, production data, and charging statistics.

Tesla also formed an FSD operations team and a data labeling team in Shanghai. Engineers from the US headquarters were also deployed to train local staff.

Every Tesla vehicle includes the Basic Autopilot (BAP) software at no extra cost in China. Tesla provides the option to upgrade to Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) and FSD software, with EAP priced at half the cost of FSD. Autopilot refers to an advanced driver assistance system designed to improve safety and convenience while driving.

When used correctly, Autopilot is designed to lighten the driver's workload. To enhance safety, Tesla equips each new vehicle with multiple external cameras and robust vision processing.

According to Tesla, Autopilot and FSD features are meant to be used with a fully attentive driver who keeps their hands on the wheel and is ready to take control at any time. The company continues to improve these capabilities over time.