An Xpeng executive has a clear idea of what might be Tesla’s biggest challenge in rolling out its Full Self-Driving suite in China, and it’s not what you’d expect.
Tesla is working towards launching its Full Self-Driving suite in China after receiving preliminary regulatory approval several months ago. With this tentative approval, Tesla is getting closer to testing its semi-autonomous driving technology in the world’s largest automotive market.
While domestic companies are developing their own programs to reduce driver responsibilities, Xpeng’s head of Autonomous Driving, Li Liyun, said on Wednesday via Weibo that Tesla will face an unexpected challenge: 300 million e-scooters.
The e-scooter market in China is incredibly large, and many cities lack dedicated lanes for non-motorized vehicles. In contrast, the U.S. has bike lanes in many cities and towns, providing cyclists with their own space on the road.
This infrastructure is much less common in China, and Liyun believes the shortage of dedicated lanes will pose a unique challenge for Tesla’s FSD.
Liyun noted that road conditions in China are significantly more complex than in the U.S., and it may take time for Tesla’s FSD suite to gain the experience needed to navigate safely.
According to China’s CNEV Post, Liyun expects the prevalence of e-scooters in China to cause Tesla some difficulties initially. E-scooters are a popular and efficient mode of transportation for many citizens, allowing them to complete daily tasks without needing a car.
Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shows there are over 350 million electric scooters in China.
Liyun’s comments come shortly after Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng expressed his admiration for the significant progress of Tesla’s FSD during a recent ride in California. He also experienced Waymo, noting that it performed better in downtown San Francisco.