Baidu, the Internet search giant in China, has struck a deal with Elon Musk-owned electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla, granting the car manufacturer access to its mapping license for gathering data on public roads in China, according to two individuals familiar with the situation, news agency Reuters reported on Monday. This agreement marks the resolution of a regulatory obstacle for Tesla's driver assistance system, referred to as Full Self Driving (FSD), to be introduced in China, as per the sources.
Additionally, under the terms of the agreement, Baidu will supply its lane-level navigation system to Tesla. Baidu is among the approximately 20 certified suppliers possessing the essential module for self-driving capabilities.
Musk Intends To Activate Full Self Driving In China
Musk aims to activate the Full Self Driving (FSD) feature in China, a market second only to the United States for the electric carmaker, according to a BBC report from April 28. Musk is currently in Beijing to discuss implementing autonomous driving mode on Tesla vehicles in China. He deferred his India visit and landed in China yesterday (April 28).
Xpeng and other automakers have been striving to rival Tesla by introducing comparable self-driving features in their vehicles. Musk has labeled Chinese car manufacturers as "the most competitive car companies in the world."
Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Qiang told Musk that China's huge market will always be open to foreign-funded enterprises.
China will work hard on expanding market access and improving services to provide foreign-funded enterprises with a better business environment and stronger support so that companies from all countries can invest in China with peace of mind, he said. Noting Tesla's development in China can be called a successful example of China-US economic cooperation, Li said facts have proven that equal cooperation and mutual benefit are in the best interests of the two countries.
It is hoped that the US and China will meet more halfway and promote the stable development of bilateral ties under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the Chinese premier said, as per news agency PTI.
Musk said Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory is Tesla's best-performing factory and expressed his willingness to deepen cooperation with China to achieve more win-win results, official media reported.
The SpaceX and Tesla chief travelled to China at the invitation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, meeting with CCPIT president Ren Hongbin to discuss further cooperation with the country, official broadcaster CTGN reported.