Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving' is not referred to by that name in China.

      Wolfram Steinberg/picture alliance via Getty Images

      Tesla provides an advanced driver assistance feature known as Full Self-Driving (FSD) in various regions around the globe. As enthusiasts of Tesla are aware, this system does not deliver complete self-driving; it is classified as SAE Level 2 technology, which, according to Tesla, “requires the driver to remain attentive to the road, their environment, and other road users,” necessitating “constant monitoring.” As long as the human driver is ready to take control when necessary, FSD is capable of managing driving tasks in many situations—but until now, owners in China have not had access to this. This is changing, as Tesla is finally introducing a system similar to FSD in the country, albeit under a different name.

      The official update note for Tesla vehicles in China refers to this feature as “Autopilot automatic assisted driving on urban roads,” which certainly presents the system in a way that reflects its true capabilities more accurately than “Full Self-Driving” does in other regions. Tesla explains its functionality as follows (translated via Google):

      “Utilizing Autopilot automatic assisted driving on controlled roads (main roads where road users enter and exit via ramp entrances and exits) and urban roads will direct the vehicle to navigate off the ramp and intersections according to the navigation route, as well as recognize traffic lights at intersections to proceed straight, turn left, turn right, or make a U-turn, etc. It will also automatically change lanes based on speed and route. When there is no navigation route set, the optimal roadway will be chosen based on current road conditions.”

      Autopilot automatic assisted driving—let’s refer to it as “AAD”—is capable of navigating city streets, making it significantly more advanced than the previous technologies offered to drivers in China until now. However, it still falls short of what we recognize as FSD, as Tesla has yet to gather the extensive training data in China that it possesses in other regions. According to Reuters, data collected by its vehicles in the country is strictly regulated and must remain within China's borders, which has created challenges for Tesla in speeding up system development. Meanwhile, its engineers have been “reviewing videos of streets in China that are accessible online and utilizing that footage for training,” according to Bloomberg.

      AAD appears to be similar to a “mid-tier version” of the God’s Eye system by Chinese EV manufacturer BYD, as reported by Reuters. (That’s how naming should be done, Tesla.) Consequently, it is behind the level of autonomy that local automakers have reached in the area, but Tesla secured a partnership last year to leverage Baidu’s mapping data to catch up. Whether it can do so and how long it will take remain unknown.

      It is also unclear why Tesla is not marketing this FSD-like system as FSD in China. This decision doesn’t seem to relate to capability—at least not according to Tesla’s own evaluation—since the company began using the FSD name five years ago when the technology was noticeably less advanced than it is now. Perhaps they believe that using that branding would be even more unfavorable in China, where rivals have already surpassed them, or it could be related to legal considerations.

      Last year, Tesla changed the name of FSD (Beta) to FSD (Supervised) following a series of lawsuits globally alleging false advertising. This new name is more fitting given the system’s limitations, despite the fact that the (Supervised) part seems to contradict the preceding terms. For instance, one study indicated that FSD necessitates human intervention approximately every 13 miles. Considering all of this, Autopilot automatic assisted driving appears to be an appropriate title. However, we likely wouldn’t have framed remote-controlled machines with human voices as autonomous, AI-driven robots, indicating that we might not fare well in Tesla’s marketing department.

      Do you have information to share? Send it to [email protected]