Tesla FSD in China: A series of fines and a tough adaptation…
Tesla recently launched its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in China, and the first tests have not gone unnoticed. A local automotive blogger racked up seven fines in a single night while using the technology on Beijing’s roads. The system made multiple errors, from occupying bike lanes to illegal lane changes. While Tesla relies on progressive learning through user data, these initial tests in China show that there is still a long way to go before achieving truly autonomous driving.
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A series of fines during a Tesla FSD test
A test conducted by blogger Chen Zhen highlights the limitations of FSD in China. Within just a few hours, his Tesla Model Y committed several visible infractions: confusing a bike lane with a traffic lane, crossing solid white lines, and taking erratic trajectories. One of these mistakes was even immediately sanctioned by the police, who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time—for the driver. The issue isn’t limited to a single isolated case. A comparative study conducted by a Chinese automotive media outlet tested Tesla’s FSD against two other advanced driver assistance systems from local automakers Li Auto and Aito. The results were not flattering for Elon Musk’s brand: the Model Y recorded 34 infractions and required 24 manual interventions by the driver, compared to just 14 infractions for the other models.
Tesla’s adaptation in China is more difficult than expected
Tesla has built part of its success on continuously improving its software through artificial intelligence and user-collected data. But the Chinese market presents unique challenges. Road markings, signage, and driving habits differ significantly from those in the U.S. or Europe. Chinese infrastructure is often more complex, with many lanes dedicated to bicycles and electric scooters—something FSD appears to struggle with. Another challenge is regulatory. China enforces strict controls over autonomous technologies, and Tesla has had to adapt its FSD to comply with local requirements. This may partly explain why the Chinese version appears less refined than the one tested in the U.S. Nevertheless, the California-based brand remains confident, relying on the accumulation of local data to gradually improve its system.
Can Tesla catch up?
Despite this rocky start, Tesla is far from giving up. Elon Musk’s company continues to roll out updates to refine its algorithm and hopes that increasing FSD usage in China will allow it to reach an acceptable performance level. However, local competitors like Nio and Xpeng are heavily investing in autonomous driving and pose serious competition for Tesla in this segment. The challenge is significant: adapting FSD to China’s unique driving conditions while maintaining a competitive edge against domestic brands. The U.S. experience has shown that the system improves over time, but the question remains whether Chinese drivers will be patient enough to tolerate its current limitations.
This article explores the rough start of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system in China, where a simple test drive resulted in seven fines in one night. With navigation errors and adaptation challenges in the Chinese market, FSD still has a lot to prove. Local competition isn’t making things easy, and Tesla will need to quickly refine its software if it wants to establish itself in this crucial market.
Source: Shine / Images: © Tesla
