Tesla aborts FSD self-driving feature testing in China


03/25/2025

Tesla, headquartered in the US, has ceased free testing of its Full Self-Driving (FSD, “autopilot”) autonomous driving system in China and plans to make it available after obtaining regulatory approval, according to Reuters.



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“The involved parties are vigorously advocating for the pertinent process, and we will initiate the system as soon as everything is prepared,” stated Tesla's customer support team on the social media platform Weibo following messages regarding the unavailability of testing.

A week prior, the company announced it would begin FSD trials in China from March 17 to April 16.

The system was intended for drivers whose vehicles featured compatible driver assistance technologies and the most recent navigation maps to evaluate the system.

Tesla performed comparable tests in the US, where the feature doesn't need the newest version of maps, since the system operates more effectively through artificial intelligence training. In China, such training is restricted for it because of legislation. In late February, China's Ministry of Industry implemented a mandate for obtaining regulatory approvals for remote software updates associated with autonomous driving.

The American firm aims to completely launch FSD this year and is collaborating with China’s Baidu to enhance its effectiveness. Up to now, the system, despite its name, does not enable cars to drive autonomously and needs ongoing supervision.

source: reuters.com