Tesla has begun offering free FSD experience in China for a limited period of one month to owners who have not purchased the FSD (Full Self-Driving) software package, in an attempt to boost adoption of the feature after it enters China.
Between March 17 and April 16, eligible vehicles will be able to experience the FSD feature for free after updating to the latest software, according to an announcement posted today on the Tesla mobile app.
The feature is currently only available for some vehicles, and the timing of receiving the latest software update may vary from vehicle to vehicle, Tesla's announcement noted.
Chinese owners can contact customer service via the Tesla App to check if their vehicles will be able to receive the latest software update or not.
Tesla emphasized that the feature is still L2 assisted driving and does not enable the added functionality in all scenarios.
Drivers will need to intervene in many situations, and untimely intervention could present risks including collisions and failure to accurately recognize traffic signals or road markings, Tesla said.
Tesla requires drivers to keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times, be aware of the road and surrounding traffic, and be ready to take immediate action.
In the event of traffic violations, collisions and other accidents, the driver is responsible for any resulting consequences such as tickets and compensation, Tesla said.
"We are launching this campaign based on goodwill for customers to experience Tesla's in-house developed advanced assisted driving features for free," Tesla's announcement reads.
Tesla said it wants trial customers to experience and use this feature based on goodwill too, and welcomes feedback from users on any issues.
The FSD feature is priced at RMB 64,000 ($8,850) and vehicles that have already been equipped with the Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) feature can be upgraded to FSD by paying an RMB 32,000 price, Tesla said.
Tesla began pushing out software update version 2024.45.32.12 to eligible vehicles in China on February 25, bringing advanced smart driving features similar to FSD in the US.
Over the past month or so, many automotive bloggers have shared their experiences with the feature, with mixed reviews.
Tesla's latest move is expected to allow more owners to start experiencing the capabilities of FSD, which in turn will potentially boost subscriptions to the feature.
For the past several years, even Tesla salespeople have not recommended that customers buy the feature, as FSD was not actually available in China.
By contrast, most local automakers, including Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) and BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY), offer their ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) features for free.
($1 = RMB 7.2334)
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