Beijing, China – Tech mogul Elon Musk is currently in Beijing to discuss the implementation of autonomous driving features on Tesla vehicles in China. Musk aims to enable Full Self Driving (FSD) in the Chinese market and utilize data collected within the country to enhance the performance of Tesla’s driving algorithms.

While FSD is already available in countries like the US, it has not yet been rolled out in China. The decision to focus on China comes on the heels of a report from the US linking Tesla’s autonomous driving modes to several incidents, including one fatality.

As Tesla’s second-largest market, China holds significant importance for the electric carmaker. Competitors like Xpeng, based in Guangzhou, are also vying for a share of the self-driving market by introducing similar features in their vehicles.

In a bid to address concerns and comply with local regulations, Tesla has made efforts to establish a data center in Shanghai to handle Chinese consumer data appropriately. This move is part of the company’s strategy to reassure Chinese authorities about the safe implementation of FSD in the country.

The trip to Beijing follows an announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US regarding an investigation into the safety of Tesla’s driver assistance system. The NHTSA’s probe focuses on whether a recent recall effectively addressed safety issues related to Tesla’s autonomous driving technology.

Despite Tesla’s software being designed to ensure driver attentiveness and appropriate usage conditions, critics have accused Musk of overstating the capabilities of Tesla’s autonomous driving technology. Musk has faced allegations of hyping up the potential of autonomous driving to bolster Tesla’s stock price, which has seen a significant decline due to various challenges in the electric vehicle market.

Amidst declining profits and a steep drop in stock value, Musk has remained optimistic about the future of Tesla, promising the launch of a Tesla robotaxi in the near future. With a track record of ambitious promises regarding autonomous driving capabilities, Musk continues to face scrutiny over the company’s performance and the feasibility of achieving full autonomy.