New blow for Tesla: China brutally ends the free trial of autonomous driving

Barely a few weeks ago, Tesla a free trial of its FSD system launched in China (Full Self-Driving), an advanced set of driving assistance functions supposed to prepare the ground for fully autonomous driving. This deployment, reserved for vehicle owners with HW4 equipment, should allow Tesla to convert the curious to customers, via a simple wireless software update.

But the party turned short. A new regulatory text, entitled “Opinion on strengthening access management, recall and online software update of connected smart vehicles”, now requires manufacturers a rigorous technical approval procedure before any software modification affecting the assisted driving functions. In other words, no more question of sending updates as we push a mobile application. Each modification must now go through the Administration Caudine forks.

Tesla four -wheeled brake in China: autonomous driving in turbulence zone

The heart of the problem: the FSD is based on so -called Adas functions (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), Or advanced driving aid systemswhich approach the regulatory threshold for autonomy. China now requires that manufacturers submit a complete technical file, report any incident linked to these functions and provide precise supervision of reminders.

According to Grace Tao, Vice-President of Tesla in China, the approval process is underway for HW3 material platforms and Hw4. Elon Musk, for his part, recently admitted that vehicles equipped with HW3 equipment would probably never reach a completely autonomous driving, except to be retrofties with a more powerful computer.

This regulatory break highlights an essential fact: China, however eager for innovation, intends to keep a strict control over the evolution of connected vehicles. And Tesla, who used to act in free electron, must now learn to deal with local authorities who do not give in to hype or promises.

FSD Tesla: What about Europe and France?

As for Europe, it observes all of this closely. In France, the FSD is still not available, neither in beta, nor in commercial version. National regulations, backed by European standards, strictly supervises level 3 and more ADAS. For the time being, no green light has been given by the Directorate General of Energy and Climate (DGEC) or the European Commission to a version of FSD allowing driving without supervision. Tesla's autonomous driving was also recently refused in the United Kingdom.

Tesla will therefore have to overcome a series of regulatory, technical and cultural obstacles before offering its system in France. And even if it succeeds, it will still be necessary to convince drivers that are unattractive to yield the steering wheel to an artificial intelligence.