Tesla Expands Partnership with Baidu in China for Advanced Driving Features

Tesla Inc. is on the verge of overcoming a crucial obstacle to introduce its advanced assisted driving features in China through a partnership with Baidu Inc. for mapping and navigation functions, according to a Bloomberg report. 

The US-based automaker is poised to leverage Baidu's expertise in lane-level navigation and mapping, enabling the deployment of its autonomous driving services, disclosed the sources, who requested anonymity when discussing confidential details.

Baidu, headquartered in Beijing, is among the select group of approximately 20 qualified suppliers possessing the essential module for self-driving functionalities.

This development follows an undisclosed visit by Tesla's Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk to China on Sunday, aimed at securing approval for driver-assistance software that could mitigate the carmaker's revenue decline.

While Tesla's suite of features necessitates constant supervision and doesn't render its vehicles fully autonomous, the company offers its Full Self-Driving (FSD) package in the US for $8,000 upfront or $99 per month as a subscription.

During his visit, Musk reportedly met with Premier Li Qiang, who, as the Chinese Communist Party secretary for Shanghai, played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of Tesla's premier manufacturing facility globally.

In another positive development, Tesla has reportedly satisfied a crucial data security and privacy requirement in China, as confirmed by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

This achievement is expected to alleviate some concerns regarding Tesla's data security issues in the country.

Tesla transitioned to utilizing Baidu's services for in-car mapping and navigation in China back in 2020.

The enhanced collaboration between Tesla and Baidu is aimed at addressing mapping-related concerns to enable the integration of more sophisticated self-driving features.

However, representatives for Tesla and Baidu have yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.