Tesla’s controversial ‘Full Self-Driving’ system primed for roll-out in China

US electric-car giant Tesla’s controversial so-called ‘Full Self-Driving’ semi-autonomous technology is preparing to be rolled out in China – amid multiple investigations into the company’s advanced driver assistance systems in the US.

In a post on social media platform X – formerly Twitter – Chinese user Yan Chang uncovered new information in Tesla’s owner’s manual for its electric cars sold in the country, which includes instructions on how to operate the semi-autonomous driving software. 

Marketed as ‘Full Self-Driving’, the system has been available as a ‘beta’ service in the US since September 2021 to all Tesla owners with vehicles fitted with the hardware to run the program.

While the ‘standard’ Full Self-Driving system is limited to highway use, the beta service can also be activated on city streets, with Tesla claiming it accelerate, stop, steer and park the car without human intervention – though the driver is still required to be attentive and maintain control to respond to unforeseen dangers, or a failure of the technology.

According to the social media post, the Full Self-Driving system which is expected to roll out in China is still the ‘beta’ service, as the unrestricted package is yet to go live in the US – despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk claiming it would do so “before the end of the year” multiple times in the past.

Overseas media outlets such as Autoevolution also reported earlier this week the Full Self-Driving beta was expected to roll out in Europe after also appearing in owner’s manuals on the continent, though these details have since been repealed from online documents published by Tesla.

While there have been no deaths directly attributed to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system, the less-capable ‘Autopilot’ software – which includes automatic lane changing and adaptive cruise control – has been at the centre of multiple investigations by road safety regulators in the US, following fatal incidents.

Between July 2021 and April 2023, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported there were 916 crashes – involving 12 different car brands – which involved vehicles equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems. 

In that sample, 754 – or 82 per cent – incidents were attributed to Tesla vehicles.

At least 17 fatal crashes (including the six mentioned above) involving Tesla’s semi-autonomous driving tech in the US have been reported to the peak road safety authority since 2019.

In June, reports emerged that Tesla is quietly testing Full Self-Driving in Australia, though the technology is yet to become more widely available to the car-maker’s customers.