TMTPost -- Tesla Inc.’s moves closer to launch its  Full Self-driving (FSD) system in China as head of the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer made his surprise visit to the world’s largest automobile market.

Credit：CCTV

76 vehicle models from seven automakers including Tesla, BYD Auto Co., Ltd., Li Auto Inc., Nio Inc. are compliant with all of four China’s data security requirements,  according to a publication at the website of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on Sunday. The top Chinese auto industry body said it had conducted the relevant test since last November under Several Provisions on the Management of Automobile Data Security (Trial) 2021 (2021 Automobile Data Provisions). the list of 76 models released by CAAM includes all the 2023 versions of Model 3 and Model Y made in Tesla’s Gigafactory Shanghai.

The CAAM list showed Tesla became the first foreign-funded firm that meets China’s automobile data security requirements. Tesla then said various local authorities in China have gradually lifted restrictions on the movement and parking of intelligent connected connected vehicles made by the company and other automakers.  

The CAAM publication released the same day on which Tesla CEO Elon Musk travelled to China without the company’s public flagging. Musk was reported to meet officials in China about rollout of Tesla’s Full Self-driving (FSD) system in China and permission to transfer data overseas. China’s state media didn’t confirm Musk has talked about FSD or anything related to the driver-assistance software.

Musk more than a week ago revealed Tesla may soon launch FSD in China as Tesla cut prices of its models in the United States, China, Germany and other major markets and axed FSD software prices in U.S. and Canada by more than 30%. The chief executive replied to an X post by a user that FSD launch in China “may be possible very soon.” At an earnings call last Tuesday, Musk suggested autonomy is Tesla’s top priority after Tesla posted worse-than-expected financial results in the first quarter amid slumping sales.  “If somebody doesn’t believe Tesla is going to solve autonomy, I think they should not be an investor in the company,” Musk said. “We will, and we are.”

In his in-person meeting with Musk,  Chinese Premier Li Qiang hailed Tesla's development in China as a successful example of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation, and said that China's vast market will always be open to foreign-funded enterprises, which he called indispensible participants in and contributors to China's development. China will act on its words and intensify its efforts in expanding market access and enhancing services, among other areas, to offer a more favorable business environment and stronger support for foreign enterprises, the premier said.

Musk told Li Tesla willing to deepen cooperation with China to achieve more win-win results, Xinhua reported. Musk pointed out that Gigafactory Shanghai boasts best performance among facilities of his company and praised  the "hardworking and intelligent Chinese team" at Shanghai factory.  Tesla will continue to work hard in China, develop together with the industry peers in areas such as artificial intelligence, EVs and energy storage, and accelerate deployment of clean energy and autonomous driving technologies, so as to turn its beautiful vision into reality, posted the U.S. EV maker on Chinese social media platform Weibo, attaching a screenshot of a CCTV report about Premier Li’s meet with Musk.

Sunday also saw Li stressed the importance of developing intelligent connected new energy vehicles (NEVs) and making the auto industry more high-end, smarter and greener when China’s No.2 official  inspected the 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. Li stressed that China and global NEV markets are growing steadily, and that there is plenty of room for market demand. China will boost more extensive exchanges and cooperation among automakers from home and abroad in terms of capital, technology, management and talent, helping them share in China's market opportunities, the premier said.