Elon Musk's Tesla's full-self driving (FSD) software will be launched in China soon. According to Bloomberg report, Musk has received permission to introduce Tesla's driver-assistance system in the world's largest auto market during his visit to China.
According to Bloomberg, US car maker Tesla has signed a deal with Chinese tech giant Baidu Inc. (Baidu) for mapping and navigation functions. This will support Tesla's full-self driving i.e. FSD system.
Tesla has also passed a key data-security and privacy requirement of China. This requirement will help ease some of Tesla's concerns about bringing the FSD system to the Chinese market.
According to Bloomberg, both Tesla and Baidu companies will soon start working together on mapping and navigation functions for EV's FSD services in China. This partnership will help Tesla launch its self-driving services in China using Baidu's lane-level navigation and mapping services. Baidu's Jio services are similar to Google Maps in China.
Baidu will supply its lane-level navigation system to Tesla under this agreement, which is an important step in their partnership. In China, companies like Tesla have to obtain mapping qualifications for intelligent driving systems before they can operate on public roads. Apart from this, foreign companies also have to collaborate with local firms that provide necessary licenses.
Baidu is one of a select group of about 20 qualified suppliers of critical modules for self-driving capabilities. The partnership reflects Tesla's efforts to enhance its mapping capabilities for more advanced self-driving features. The move is part of Musk's strategy to address concerns about declining revenue and boost the company's presence in China.
Tesla's FSD system requires constant supervision and does not make the vehicles fully automatic. Customers in the US can purchase FSD outright for $8,000 or subscribe for $99 per month.
Tesla partnered with Baidu in 2020. Now both the companies are further strengthening their partnership with this deal. However, no statement has come out yet from both Tesla and Baidu companies regarding this deal.
