Tesla’s Full Self-Driving, or FSD, Supervised system, designed to enable vehicles to operate with minimal human intervention, is facing slower-than-anticipated regulatory approval in China, according to a report.
Last month, Tesla announced plans to roll out its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in China by the first quarter of 2025. Despite assurances, insiders suggest the rollout’s pace may lag behind initial expectations.
The rollout’s pace is unlikely to meet the company’s initially projected timeline, according to a source at China Daily. A fresh report on the US automaker’s semi-autonomous driving technology has emerged, shedding light on its ongoing development through anonymous sources.
Will this potential delay further prolong the timeline for launching Full Self-Driving technology in China? Chinese authorities have indicated a willingness to permit Tesla to pilot test specific features of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system in select cities, provided that all existing laws and regulations are stringently followed.
During a July earnings call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk discussed the company’s prospects for securing regulatory approval to roll out its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in additional markets, such as Europe and China, by year-end.
Tesla reaffirmed its intention to roll out its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised technology in both China and Europe by early next year, pending necessary regulatory approvals. The data was outlined in a product roadmap shared by Tesla’s synthetic intelligence team on the X platform on September 5.
One significant hurdle faced by Chinese FSD (Forest Sustainable Development) supervisors is the collection and management of geospatial information. Tesla has reportedly outsourced its mapping work to licensed indigenous corporations, a move identified by consultants.
Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, has requested permission to incorporate non-sensitive video content to enhance the company’s training systems. Rigorous review of the information by relevant authorities is feasible, according to a supplier well-versed in Tesla’s inner workings, who shares updates with China daily.
Under China’s relevant laws, international corporations must collaborate with licensed local entities in collecting, storing, transmitting, and processing geospatial data, including information from autonomous vehicles.
This week, both Tesla and Mobileye, Intel’s autonomous driving subsidiary, reaffirmed their commitment to adhering to China’s regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles.
According to an official statement by China’s Ministry of State Security, it was discovered that a foreign company had conducted illegal mapping activities within Chinese borders under the pretext of conducting safe driving research in collaboration with a locally authorized partner agency. The ministry has declined to disclose which companies are implicated in the scandal, leaving questions about their potential involvement unanswered.
