- Elon Musk’s Beijing visit sparks speculation about Tesla’s self-driving plans for China.
- China’s complex traffic offers unique opportunity to train self-driving algorithms rapidly.
- Discussions around data sharing, affordable Tesla models, and “robotaxi” service expected.
Unbuckle your seatbelts!
Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s hush-hush visit to Beijing has ignited speculation about the electric vehicle giant’s plans for its coveted Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in China.
Musk’s rendezvous with Premier Li Qiang, a long-standing acquaintance from Tesla’s “early Shanghai days,” has set tongues wagging about potential data-sharing permissions and a long-awaited FSD launch in the world’s largest auto market.
China’s intricate traffic patterns present a unique opportunity for automakers to train self-driving algorithms rapidly. Unsurprisingly, Tesla isn’t the only player eyeing this lucrative market – Chinese EV upstart Xpeng also has its sights set on rolling out its own FSD offering.
Meanwhile, industry veterans like General Motors’ Mary Barra made waves at a recent auto show, underscoring China’s pivotal role in the self-driving race.
Data dilemmas and cheaper EVs on the horizon
Beyond FSD, Musk’s agenda reportedly includes discussions on using Chinese data to enhance Tesla’s global self-driving capabilities.
However, this move could face regulatory hurdles, given China’s stringent data protection laws. On the product front, Tesla is rumored to be preparing more affordable models and a “robotaxi” service to maintain its dominance in the competitive Chinese market.
To read the original article: https://www.techinasia.com/elon-musk-hints-china-debut-teslas-full-selfdriving-technology
