Copyright © BusinessAMBE 2023

Key takeaways

  • Elon Musk predicts full approval of Tesla’s fully self-driving technology in China by early 2026.
  • Tesla currently has partial approval in China, allowing the company to conduct tests with continuous human supervision.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk expects full approval for Tesla’s fully self-driving technology in China by early 2026. Musk made this statement at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting, where his major compensation package was unanimously approved.

Musk also urged European customers to lobby for legal approval of the driving technology in their region, where it still has not been greenlit for public use.

Partial approval

Tesla currently has partial approval in China to conduct trials with its software. The system, marketed in the United States as "Full Self-Driving," still requires continuous human supervision and frequent intervention. Full approval from Chinese regulatory authorities is essential if Tesla wants to expand its testing beyond the current limits.

The automaker’s efforts to secure full approval in China align with its broader goals to boost sales in a market where domestic brands are gaining ground. To comply with strict Chinese regulations, Tesla has removed "FSD" from the name of the system used in China, to emphasize the transparency of the technology’s capabilities.

Safety concerns

Tesla’s efforts to introduce the technology in China began in April 2024, when Musk met with top Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang. The company then entered a partnership with Baidu, a major Chinese tech firm, for mapping and navigation services. It also partially addressed regulators’ concerns regarding data security and privacy.

Although Tesla claims it is improving safety, the company faces scrutiny over its safety record. U.S. regulators responsible for automobile safety are investigating incidents where Tesla vehicles violated traffic rules while using the partial automation software. Other investigations into Tesla are also underway, including probes into the doors, Autopilot features, and the speed at which accidents are reported. (fc)

Follow Business AM on Google News

Want access to all articles? Enjoy our temporary promotion and subscribe here!

© The Content Exchange, source News