Tesla is working with Chinese technology firm Baidu to enhance the performance of its Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in China, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
According to the report, Baidu has dispatched engineers from its mapping team to Tesla’s Beijing office in recent weeks. Their focus is on integrating Baidu’s navigation map data, including lane markings and traffic signals, into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Version 13 software. The effort aims to improve FSD’s ability to navigate Chinese roads by providing more accurate and updated map information.
See also: Tesla Aims to Double U.S. Vehicle Production Within Two Years, Says Musk
Tesla began rolling out software update 2024.45.32.12 in China on February 25, introducing advanced city navigation features. However, customers have expressed disappointment that the update falls short of CEO Elon Musk’s previous assurances regarding a full FSD rollout in China.
Some users reported that FSD V13 struggles with local driving conditions, occasionally leading to incorrect lane changes or running red lights when drivers are not vigilant.
See also: Tesla to Roll Out Two Massive New Full Self-Driving Updates for Cybertruck
Unlike in the United States, where Tesla’s FSD relies on AI-driven local training rather than detailed navigation maps, China’s regulatory restrictions prevent Tesla from using real-world driving data collected from its more than 2 million EVs in the country.
The U.S. chip export ban has also hindered Tesla’s ability to establish a large-scale computing center within China, complicating efforts to train its autonomous driving algorithms locally.
To address these challenges, Tesla has reportedly sent engineers from its U.S. headquarters to China since early February to optimize the FSD algorithm without transferring data overseas, according to a report by LatePost.
See also: Tesla China Delivers 26,777 EVs Locally in February, Down 11.16% Year-on-Year
Musk also acknowledged on X, the social media platform he owns, that Tesla has trained FSD using publicly available videos of Chinese roads and traffic signs.
The collaboration with Baidu could help Tesla navigate regulatory barriers while improving FSD’s real-world performance in China, where the automaker faces increasing competition from domestic firms with advanced driver-assistance capabilities.