Elon Musk’s Tesla Accelerates Efforts to Launch Advanced FSD Self-Driving Technology in China | Global News

Tesla is gearing up to introduce its ‘Full Self-Driving’ software in China, with plans to register the technologically advanced feature with authorities in the country. The US electric vehicle maker is also considering offering the software as a monthly subscription to users in China, its second-largest market.

Currently, Tesla provides access to Full Self-Driving (FSD) for a one-time fee of $8,828.32 to owners of its vehicles. However, the company may also offer the service for a monthly fee equivalent to about $98 in the future. This move could open up a new revenue stream for Tesla, especially as its sales volumes in China have seen a decline in the face of increased competition from local EV makers.

The rollout of FSD in China would not only benefit Tesla but also put pressure on other EV startups to accelerate their research and development efforts. Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, has expressed confidence in the latest version of the FSD software, version 12, which he believes will pave the way for fully autonomous driving systems.

While Tesla will be charging for its FSD feature, other automakers in China, such as Li Auto and Xpeng, have offered similar driving systems for free on high-end variants of their models. However, Tesla’s unique AI model for autonomous driving, known as an end-to-end neural network, sets it apart from its competitors.

With plans to unveil more details on its robotaxi program in August, Tesla is doubling down on its efforts to lead the global development of self-driving technology. The company’s use of a supercomputer called Dojo to train the FSD system using data from millions of Tesla vehicles gives it a significant advantage over its rivals in the autonomous driving space.