In response to recent rumors circulating over the weekend, Tesla China has denied reports suggesting that the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology will undergo a pilot run in Shanghai. Local media outlet Cailian released a brief report today, stating that Tesla China refuted the information as untrue.
On May 12, a Shanghai official expressed the city’s commitment to deepening its collaboration with Tesla and supporting the advancement of the electric vehicle (EV) maker’s self-driving and robotics businesses. Chen Kele, deputy director of the intelligent manufacturing promotion division at Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, announced plans to establish a technology industry cluster focused on core technology advancements for the global market. Although Chen did not explicitly mention Tesla’s FSD software at the time, it was seen as an indication of Chinese officials’ support for the company’s autonomous driving technology.
Earlier this year, local media outlet Caixin reported on April 3 that Tesla was preparing to commence extensive testing of its FSD software in China. However, no official confirmation or announcement has been made regarding the timing or implementation of such testing.
Currently, all Tesla vehicles come equipped with the Basic Autopilot (BAP) software, which is provided free of charge. Additionally, Tesla offers Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) and FSD software as optional upgrades. In the United States, EAP is priced at $6,000, while FSD carries a price tag of $15,000. In China, these options cost RMB 32,000 ($4,480) and RMB 64,000, respectively.
On June 9, the team led by CITIC Securities analyst Lian Yixi stated that the prospects of Tesla’s FSD technology entering the Chinese market are becoming clearer. They anticipate that its introduction will accelerate the advancement of local electric vehicles’ intelligent capabilities. However, the team highlighted two significant obstacles that must be overcome before this becomes a reality—namely, data collection qualification and the establishment of supercomputing centers.
Coinciding with these developments, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, on June 9 to announce that the company would be open to licensing Autopilot/FSD or other Tesla technologies. While this marks the first mention of FSD on Musk’s Weibo account since 2021, the account appears to be managed by Tesla’s Beijing team. Musk recently visited China and held meetings with several high-ranking Chinese officials.
As of now, Tesla China has refuted the rumors surrounding the pilot run of FSD in Shanghai. The company’s focus on advancing autonomous driving technology and its collaboration with Chinese authorities remain key areas of interest in the rapidly growing EV market.
