- Tesla has begun rolling out FSD-like smart driving features in China, though avoids mentioning FSD.
- The latest software update will allow vehicles to follow navigation routes off ramps and intersections, and drive at intersections in accordance with traffic signals.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has begun rolling out FSD-like (Full Self-Driving) high-level smart driving features in China, though avoiding any mention of FSD.
The US electric vehicle (EV) maker is pushing out software update version 2024.45.32.12 to eligible vehicles starting today, bringing Autopilot auto-assisted driving capabilities for city streets.
In an update log, Tesla said the update optimizes the existing NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) auto-assisted navigation driving feature, which will guide the vehicle off ramps and intersections based on the navigation route and recognize traffic signals at intersections to perform straight, left, right, and U-turn maneuvers.
When the navigation route is not set, the vehicle will choose the optimal road to drive on based on the actual road conditions, according to the changelog.
The update also involves monitoring the driver's attention.
The camera above the rearview mirror inside the vehicle now determines whether the driver is paying attention and, through an alert, reminds the driver to focus on the road when the assisted driving system is activated, according to the changelog.
Cab camera video is processed inside the vehicle and no one, including Tesla, is authorized to access it, according to the log.
In the update, the map package version for Tesla vehicles will be updated to CN-2025.8-15218.
Tesla did not mention FSD in the update log, though some local media outlets cited the company's customer service as saying that the software update is only available for vehicles that have purchased FSD software and are equipped with Hardware 4.0 hardware.
The latest software update differs from the FSD feature in the US in that the vehicles cannot be fully self-driving, The Beijing News quoted Tesla's customer service as saying.
Tesla is currently conducting further technical testing and demonstration, and will continue to optimize and upgrade the assisted driving features in China in the future, the customer service said.
In China, all Tesla vehicles are equipped with the free Basic Autopilot (BAP) software, which when turned on allows the vehicle to drive autonomously in the set lane, including acceleration, deceleration, stopping and starting.
Although FSD has yet to actually make its way to China, Tesla allows owners to purchase the software for a one-time fee of RMB 64,000 ($8,820).
FSD gives the vehicle access to more advanced autonomous driving features, including automatic lane changing and summoning.
In addition to FSD, Tesla also offers Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) in China, which is half the price and has fewer available features than FSD.
Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that Tesla was preparing a software update for Chinese customers to offer similar features to FSD in the US market.
Reuters later reported the development as well, citing a person familiar with the matter who said the update would make the software a lower-end version of the full FSD functionality in the US due to insufficient data training on Chinese roads and traffic rules.
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