Tesla released a long-awaited update to its autopilot software in China on February 25. The update added a city navigation feature, as announced on its app. Despite this addition, Chinese Tesla owners expressed disappointment, feeling that the update did not meet the company's promises.
The new capabilities include automatic lane-changing based on speed and route, identifying traffic lights at intersections, and making turning decisions, all while monitoring driver attention through an in-car camera. However, these features are less advanced compared to Tesla's Full Self-Driving system in the United States due to incomplete data training on Chinese roads and traffic regulations.
Elon Musk aims to introduce full Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems in China, but faces challenges due to technology restrictions imposed by both the U.S. and Chinese governments. Chinese social media users critiqued the update, noting that other Chinese automakers offer similar driver-assistance features at a lower cost or for free.
One Tesla owner in Zhejiang province expressed frustration at the lack of updates to the Full Self-Driving software, emphasizing the need for Tesla to catch up with local smart-driving capabilities despite its higher pricing.
Tesla charges customers an additional fee of nearly $9,000 to access a limited version of its Full Self-Driving software in EVs priced from $32,000, while Chinese competitors like Xiaomi and BYD offer smart-driving capabilities, including city navigation, either for free or at a lower cost.
In an effort to boost its autonomous driving technologies and navigate China's complex city traffic, Tesla is seeking regulatory approval from Beijing to fully implement Full Self-Driving features. Currently, industry standards classify both Autopilot and Full Self-Driving as level-two autonomous driving technologies in China, requiring human intervention when necessary.
Musk aims to allow Tesla vehicles in China to collect data for training self-driving systems, which is currently restricted by China's data laws. Tesla is working on the development of a data center in China to enhance its algorithm training for fully autonomous vehicles by using online videos of Chinese streets for AI software training since on-site training in China is prohibited by the U.S.