Tesla is set to clear a key hurdle to launching advanced assisted driving features in China by partnering with Baidu on mapping and navigation features, Bloomberg reported.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is reportedly partnering with Baidu in order to launch FSD (Full Self-Driving) capabilities in China, according to a new report.

The US electric vehicle (EV) maker is set to clear a key hurdle to launching advanced assisted driving features in China by partnering with Baidu on mapping and navigation features, Bloomberg said in a report today from people familiar with the matter.

Tesla will then be able to deploy its autonomous driving services on the basis of lane-level navigation and mapping provided by Baidu, the people familiar with the matter said.

Baidu is one of about 20 qualified suppliers with key modules for self-driving functions, the report noted.

Tesla turned to Baidu for in-vehicle mapping and navigation services in China in 2020, and the new level of partnership aims to address mapping concerns for more advanced self-driving features, according to the report.

The latest move comes after Tesla CEO Elon Musk's unannounced visit to China on Sunday to seek approval for driver-assistance software to help stem the automaker's revenue decline, according to the report.

While the suite of features requires constant oversight and doesn't make Teslas autonomous, the company's outright purchase of FSD in the US costs $8,000, or $99 per month for a subscription, the report noted.

In China, the FSD costs RMB 64,000 ($8,840) to purchase outright, with no subscription options.

In addition to FSD, Tesla also offers Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) in China at half the price, and opens it up for owners to experience it for free during some holiday periods.

On April 27, Tesla began allowing Chinese customers to subscribe to EAP for RMB 699 per month or RMB 1,399 per quarter.

Musk made an unexpected trip to China yesterday and met with senior Chinese officials.

In a statement last night, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said that the Model 3 and Model Y produced at Tesla's Shanghai factory passed data security requirements.

This means that Tesla's Giga Shanghai models have passed China's authoritative national standards and requirements for vehicle data security, which facilitates the full lifting of restrictions on the access and parking of Tesla vehicles in some areas, such as government campuses, airports, and highways, Southern Metropolis Daily reported in a story yesterday citing unnamed observers.

Meanwhile, this was seen as the latest sign of Tesla's FSD's imminent entry into China and sparked widespread discussion on social media.

Tesla later responded that there is currently no timetable for the FSD to enter China, according to local media outlet The Beijing News.

Tesla passes data security requirements in China amid Elon Musk visit