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Tesla, the American electric car company, has reached an agreement with Baidu, the Chinese Internet search giant, that allows it access to Baidu’s mapping license. This is a crucial step for Tesla in implementing autonomous driving in China. With this license, Tesla can collect data on Chinese public roads and integrate its lane-level navigation system into its vehicles.
This agreement marks a significant milestone for Tesla as it helps overcome regulatory hurdles to introduce advanced driver assistance features in the Chinese market. Obtaining these permits is a critical advancement for Tesla as it enables the company to deploy autonomous driving services based on this technology.
Baidu is one of around 20 qualified suppliers with the necessary module for self-driving functions in China. This agreement comes at a time when the smart vehicle market in China is growing rapidly, with industry associations releasing a list of connected car models that meet data security requirements in the country. Other manufacturers such as BYD, Li Auto, Lotus, Hozon New Energy Automobile, and NIO are also part of this list.
Tesla has taken steps to reassure Chinese authorities by installing a data center in Shanghai to comply with local laws and regulations regarding data processing. The news of the agreement coincides with a surprise visit to Beijing by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who discussed enabling autonomous driving modes in Tesla cars in China. Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang highlighted Tesla’s success in China as an example of economic and trade cooperation between China and the United States.
Musk praised the performance of Tesla’s Shanghai factory, which produced over 710,000 vehicles in 2022 alone. He emphasized the progress of electric vehicles in China, stating that all cars will be electric in the future. Tesla has sold 1.7 million cars in China since entering the market a decade ago.
The agreement between Baidu and Tesla is expected to pave the way for further advancements in autonomous driving technology and expand opportunities for foreign companies operating in China’s smart vehicle market.
In conclusion, this agreement is an important step forward for both Baidu and Tesla as they work together to bring advanced driver assistance features to Chinese consumers while complying with local regulations and standards.
