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Tesla rejects claims of abandoning driver-assistance expansion in China

The automaker stated its Shanghai data center remains operational and announced it reported social media rumors to Chinese police.

The short version

  • Tesla denied social media rumors claiming it had vacated its Shanghai data center and dismantled its driver-assistance team in China.
  • The company asserted that its local data center is functioning normally and that hiring for driver-assistance roles is accelerating.
  • Tesla continues to navigate regulatory approvals and stiff competition from domestic EV rivals while China remains excluded from its FSD subscription market list.

Key facts

  • Tesla denied claims circulating on Chinese social media that it withdrew its Full Self-Driving team from China and emptied its Shanghai data center.[Electrek]
  • Tesla stated that its Shanghai data center is operating normally and that it has reported the false rumors to Chinese police.[Electrek]
  • China is not included in Tesla's list of 12 markets where FSD subscriptions are offered, though its US website lists China as a market where FSD Supervised is available for use.[Electrek]
  • Domestic Chinese competitors including Huawei, Xiaomi, and Xpeng are expanding urban driver-assistance features across China while Tesla awaits full regulatory clearance.[Electrek]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains unknown when Chinese regulatory authorities will grant approval for a broad release of Tesla's Full Self-Driving software in the country.[Electrek]

Sources