Tesla to Bring Full Self-Driving Tech to China, Europe in 2025

Tesla says its Full Self Driving (FSD) driver-assistance feature will be launched in both Europe and China next year.

The breakthrough was announced via a post on X by the company’s AI team.

It detailed the AI division’s roadmap for the next 12 months, and identified the first quarter of 2025 as when FSD will be made available in the two regions, although it did come with an ominous three-word caveat – “Pending regulatory approval.”

On an earnings call earlier this year, CEO Elon Musk said he was confident this would be granted imminently, explaining: “Pretty soon, we will ask for regulatory approval of the Tesla-supervised FSD in Europe, China and other countries. And I think we are likely to receive that before the end of the year.”

But as seasoned Tesla watchers will testify, Musk has a lengthy history of over-promising when it comes to launch dates of new tech.

Despite its name, FSD does not deliver full autonomy, instead providing automation rated at Level 2 by the Society of Automotive Engineers. This is considered partial automation, whereby the car can perform some of the driving functions, but the human behind the wheel must be prepared to resume control at all times.

It’s available via subscription or to buy in North America but has been at the center of much controversy, with Tesla accused of overselling its capabilities and even prevented from marketing it as FSD in California. 

Related:Tesla Self-Driving Taxi Delayed Until October

Indeed such is the sensitivity over its name that even Musk himself has occasionally started to refer to the tech as “supervised FSD.”

The tech has also attracted the attention of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has concerns the company does not go far enough to discourage misuse.

Nevertheless, the CEO believes it remains integral to the future of Tesla. A year ago, he admitted: “The value of the company is primarily on the basis of autonomy,” and he has made repeated references since to Tesla “solving” autonomous driving, which is now arguably the key pillar of the business, with a new self-driving taxi scheduled to arrive later this year.

Earlier this year Tesla embarked on a concerted program to encourage uptake of FSD among car buyers in the U.S., slashing subscription costs and one-off purchase prices, as well as making demos of the tech mandatory for prospective customers. It currently costs $8,000 to buy, or $99 a month.

While increasing its appeal in the U.S. is important, getting it rolled out in Europe and, in particular, China, is seen by many as a potential game changer. 

Related:Tesla Faces Court Battle Over Alleged Misleading Autopilot, Self-Driving Claims

In the latter, a huge array of domestic brands are making significant progress with so-called “intelligent” cars that boast varying degrees of automated functionality. EV giant BYD, for example, is believed to have invested $14 billion into autonomous driving and Tesla has to be seen to be competitive.

As such, it was no surprise that the AI division’s post on X revealing the FSD timeline was immediately followed by a share price gain of 6%.