The American electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla plans to launch a software update in China in the coming days that will allow its users to use "autonomous driving" systems, according to anonymous sources cited by Bloomberg.
The company's CEO, Elon Musk, has held talks with Chinese regulators to obtain approval for the local launch of "fully autonomous driving" (FSD) this year. Although it still requires supervision and frequent interventions by a human driver, Tesla plans to allow users who have purchased the FSD package for $8,800 to use it on urban roads in China.
Initially, the update will be available only for some models, but it will gradually be extended to other vehicles. Tesla reportedly offered its employees in China to participate in pilot tests of these systems before the public launch, and it has been mentioned that workers signed confidentiality agreements.
Last year, Elon Musk met in Beijing with senior Chinese officials to discuss the feasibility of FSD in China. Tesla has closed a deal with Baidu, the "Chinese Google," regarding maps and navigation, complying with local data security and privacy requirements.
Despite past challenges, Tesla has continued to work on adapting its local street recognition system in China. Musk mentioned that the company's engineers used internet videos to train the system.
Driver assistance technologies are on the rise in China, with local companies like BYD introducing similar systems. Tesla recently began production at its new battery factory in Shanghai, and Musk, with close ties in the Asian country, has visited China several times and has a significant market there.