Musk clears Tesla self-driving hurdle in China
The Tesla CEO won China's approval to introduce Full Self-Driving (FSD) cars
![Elon Musk in Beijing](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SpugJojtSBLL3Vrcorv3bC-415-80.jpg)
What happened
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, during a surprise trip to Beijing, secured preliminary approval Monday to roll out the automaker's "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) software in China, Tesla's biggest overseas market, said Reuters and The Wall Street Journal. Last week U.S. regulators said a two-year investigation had discovered 75 crashes and one death involving FSD and 467 crashes and 13 deaths from FSD's less sophisticated iteration, Autopilot.
Who said what
Beijing is eager to work with the U.S. on more "win-win" cooperation like Tesla's Chinese operation, Chinese Premier Li Qiang told Musk on Sunday, according to Chinese state media. Musk recently said Tesla could make FSD available to Chinese customers "very soon."
The commentary
Chinese data-safety rules have hindered FSD rollout, leaving Tesla "lagging behind EVs made by some Chinese brands that can drive near-automatically in most scenarios," the Journal said. Getting FSD sign-off from Beijing makes Musk's visit a "major moment for Tesla," Wedbush analysts said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Musk told investors last week that Tesla is "going to solve autonomy" and with the latest version of FSD, "it's only a matter of time before we exceed the reliability of humans."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The Week contest: Tattoo prediction
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Escape seaside in Newport, Rhode Island
The Week Recommends For the quintessential New England experience, head to the Classic Coast
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The long-awaited return of the college football video game
In the Spotlight EA Sports' 'College Football 25' is the first installment of the series in 11 years
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
US inflation cools further in welcome sign for economy
Speed Read Prices fell in June for the first time in four years
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Saks buys Neiman Marcus in $2.65B deal
Speed Read Following the merger of the two legacy retailers, the new entity will be called Saks Global
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US seeks Boeing plea deal, lawyers say
Speed Read The deal is tied to deadly 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
IRS seeks to close loophole used by ultra-wealthy
Speed Read "Partnership basis shifting" means financial assets are shuttled through related corporate entities to avoid being taxed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Tesla investors back Musk's $48B payday
Speed Read The company's shareholders approved a controversial compensation package for CEO Elon Musk
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Elon Musk's future at Tesla may hang in the (very expensive) balance
Talking Points The iconic electric vehicle's board must convince shareholders it's worth awarding their tech titan CEO a $50 billion pay compensation package — or he might walk
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Epoch Times CFO charged with money laundering
Speed Read Weidong "Bill" Guan stands accused of laundering $67 million
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing releases safety plan to skeptical FAA
Speed Read The Federal Aviation Administration demanded the plan after a door blew out on a Max 737 flight
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published