Tesla rolls out supervised Full Self-Driving in China after years of regulatory delays
The move marks a significant milestone for the electric vehicle maker in the world’s largest auto market, though the technology still requires human oversight.
Tesla has officially made its supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver-assistance system available to customers in China, a development that follows years of regulatory hurdles and local testing. In a post on X, the company listed China as one of ten global markets where the technology is now active, confirming the rollout after months of speculation regarding its progress with local authorities.
The supervised version of the software requires a human driver to remain in control at all times, distinguishing it from the unsupervised variant currently restricted to Tesla’s robotaxi fleet in Texas. For Chinese consumers, the feature is marketed on the company’s local website as “intelligent assisted driving” and is offered as a one-time add-on for Model 3 vehicles. The price point is set at 64,000 yuan, which equates to approximately $9,410.
This pricing structure contrasts with the strategy recently adopted in the United States, where Tesla shifted from an upfront fee to a subscription-only model priced at $99 a month. The previous upfront cost in the US was $8,000. Prior to this launch, Tesla owners in China had access only to the system’s predecessors, Autopilot and Enhanced Autopilot.
The approval comes after Tesla engaged in extensive road mapping and testing in the country with the assistance of local partners. Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, had claimed in January that regulatory approval was imminent, a statement initially dismissed by Chinese state media. Despite previous scepticism regarding the timeline, the company’s announcement suggests that the necessary regulatory clearances have finally been secured.
The supervised FSD system is now operational in ten jurisdictions: the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, China, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, the Netherlands, and Lithuania. Meanwhile, the unsupervised version, which allows for fully automated driving without human intervention, remains limited to specific robotaxi operations in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Musk has previously projected that unsupervised FSD would be widespread in the US by the end of the year, though such timelines have historically been viewed with caution by the market.
