Tesla Puts FSD Free Trial on Hold in China as Regulatory Approval Takes Priority

1️⃣ Tesla paused its free trial of the Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature in China shortly after launch.
2️⃣ The move follows China’s new rules requiring regulatory approval for autonomous driving software.
3️⃣ Tesla confirmed on Weibo that the trial is on hold, not canceled, while awaiting the green light.
4️⃣ Despite past challenges, Tesla aims to resume the FSD trial once it meets China’s updated requirements.

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Earlier this month, Tesla started offering Chinese owners a free one-month trial of its Full Self Driving (FSD) feature, aiming to showcase what the advanced driver-assistance system can really do. The trial was supposed to run until mid-April. But just days after the launch, Tesla suspended the rollout as it works to meet China’s updated approval requirements.

So what’s the holdup? Back in February, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology rolled out new rules stating that any autonomous driving software needs official clearance before going live. That includes over-the-air updates like Tesla’s FSD, which relies heavily on AI to handle complex driving tasks like lane changes, city navigation, and traffic light recognition.

In response, Tesla China’s team took to Weibo, confirming that the pause was necessary to align with the new regulatory process. They assured users that the FSD trial isn’t canceled—it’s just on hold until the green light comes through.

This isn’t the first time Tesla has faced challenges bringing FSD to China. Last year, reports suggested the rollout might face delays due to strict local rules. Even with the help of Chinese tech giant Baidu on mapping and navigation, it seems the road to fully autonomous driving in China is still filled with regulatory speed bumps.

For now, Tesla owners in China will have to wait a little longer to experience the full potential of FSD. But Tesla says it’s committed to pushing through the approval process and getting the trial back on track as soon as possible.

With autonomous driving technology under increased scrutiny worldwide, it’s no surprise that regulators in China are taking a cautious approach. Tesla’s next move will likely depend on how quickly the approval process moves forward.

Photo by Milan Csizmadia on Unsplash