Tesla Launches Autopilot Update in China, Owners Disappointed

 

#tsla  released an update to its Autopilot software in China on Tuesday, adding city navigation features. However, many Chinese owners expressed disappointment, saying it didn’t meet Elon Musk's promises. The update includes automatic lane changing based on speed and route, traffic light detection, and turn decision-making. An in-car camera will also monitor driver attention.

 

While similar to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, these features are less advanced in China due to limited data on local roads and traffic conditions. FSD handles complex traffic, while Autopilot is for more routine driving.

 

Musk has said bringing full Autopilot and FSD to China has been difficult due to U.S. and Chinese government restrictions. Tesla has postponed its 2024 target and now hopes to roll it out this year.

 

Many Chinese users were disappointed, noting that local automakers like Xiaomi and BYD offer similar features at a lower price or for free.

 

Lu Panpan, a Tesla owner in Zhejiang, paid 56,000 yuan ($7,720) for FSD when buying his Model 3 in 2019. He criticized the lack of updates, saying, “Tesla had no choice but to release a limited system... It’s hard for Tesla to compete with Chinese cars’ smart-driving features, especially at this high price.”

 

Tesla’s delays in FSD have left it behind competitors like Huawei, Xiaomi, and BYD, which offer advanced driver-assistance features for navigating China’s complex traffic.

 

Tesla charges nearly $9,000 for its limited FSD system, even though its EVs start at $32,000. By contrast, Xiaomi’s SU7 sedan, priced from $29,700, includes a free smart-driving system.

 

This update puts Tesla’s system on par with BYD’s “God’s Eye,” which uses lidar and advanced computing for navigation. BYD offers it in its premium models.

 

Musk has said Tesla is seeking approval from Chinese regulators to fully deploy FSD in the country, but China only requires automakers to register Level 2 updates.