Tesla Welcomes Chinese Technology

The Chinese internet giant Baidu will provide state-of-the-art mapping services to the entire Chinese fleet of Tesla.

This news is not particularly exceptional in itself if limited to a navigation system for Tesla. Version 20 of Baidu Maps, a web mapping application updated in April, will soon be available for Chinese Tesla owners. Baidu stated that the new 3D navigation software offers a “more intuitive” and “better suited” user interface for Tesla… Indeed, but it primarily paves the way for the launch of an autonomous driving system!

This development shows that Tesla, which has been using Baidu for mapping and in-car navigation in China since 2020, could be approaching the introduction of its FSD system on the continent. Baidu is indeed one of the few holders in China of a high-level mapping qualification for advanced driver assistance systems in the country.

Tesla more Chinese than the Chinese

China is extremely conservative about its mapping data, as with many other things. The Google Maps service, for instance, is not officially available there and shows incorrect coordinates when used due to satellite jamming.

The little story does not detail the concessions Tesla had to make to obtain this precious pass, but the cost must be high! Elon Musk visited Beijing in late April to meet with senior government officials, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang. His persuasive arguments must have hit home for him to be allowed a few weeks later to proceed with the deployment of his FSD system. An achievement given the fierce competition with domestic automakers in the world’s largest electric vehicle market.

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