Tesla has temporarily suspended its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature trial in China as it awaits formal regulatory approval, the company confirmed via Chinese social media platform Weibo on March 24. The announcement follows user concerns about the unexpected halt of the complimentary FSD testing period initially slated to run from March 17 to April 16.
Awaiting Green Light
Responding to a public inquiry under Tesla Vice President Grace Tao’s Weibo account, the company’s customer support acknowledged the delay, assuring users that they are working to move the approval process forward.
Official Response
“All parties are actively advancing the relevant process and we will push it to you as soon as it is ready,” Tesla stated. “We are also looking forward to it, please wait patiently.”
About Full Self-Driving
FSD is Tesla’s most advanced suite of driver-assistance technologies. Powered by generative artificial intelligence, it is designed to manage complex traffic scenarios and enable near-autonomous driving. Tesla has already been trialing this software in the U.S., where the system performs without heavy reliance on high-precision maps thanks to localized AI training.
Challenges Unique to China
In China, however, data privacy regulations have hindered Tesla’s ability to train its AI using localized driving data from its fleet of over 2 million vehicles. This limitation puts the automaker at a disadvantage compared to its U.S. operations, where FSD capabilities are continuously refined using real-world data collected from customer vehicles.
Regulatory Hurdles
The delay comes shortly after the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology introduced new rules in February. Under these regulations, any over-the-air software updates involving autonomous driving features must receive regulatory approval before deployment. The rule aims to enhance oversight of smart vehicle technologies and ensure public safety.
Despite the pause, Tesla continues to collaborate with domestic tech giant Baidu to improve its FSD offering in China, focusing on compliance and technological adaptability.
Looking Ahead
While no new timeline has been provided for the relaunch of the FSD trial, Tesla remains committed to bringing its advanced driving features to Chinese consumers. The automaker is targeting a global rollout of FSD capabilities later this year, contingent on regulatory permissions and technological integration across key markets.
As the auto industry increasingly pivots toward autonomy, Tesla’s experience in China underscores the complexity of navigating varying regulatory landscapes while pushing the frontier of AI-powered transportation.
