In the first quarter of next year, Elon Musk’s Tesla aims to introduce what it sells as fully autonomous driving to the Chinese market.
While Tesla awaits regulatory approval, domestic electric car makers are telling customers theirs is coming soon own advanced driver assistance services. Some cars already have such systems in place.
Xiaomi tests in SU7 EV
Last week, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun conducted a a live-streamed test drive of the SU7 EV from “parking space to parking space.”
When creating this system, Xiaomi was inspired Tesla’s comprehensive technology in which cameras and AI models are used to make driving decisions in real time. The feature is to be tested with a selected group of owners and media.
“This technology is magical. It is also the most advanced assisted driving technology available today. It was first released by Tesla in the US in January. Our colleagues in China have started to try to catch up in this new field. “Xiaomi has a relatively leading position in this field,” Lei said during the live broadcast.
Autonomous driving safety
The safety and reliability of driver assistance systems continue to be questioned. Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD systems are the subject of various lawsuits and federal safety investigations, yet many in the industry are betting on autonomous driving technology as the future of mobility.
Musk unveiled prototypes of Tesla’s Cybercab last month. He admitted that the robotaxi will probably enter production in 2026 at the earliest.
The race is on
Manufacturer of electric vehicles Zeekrowned by Geely Automobile, has unveiled the new version 2.0 of its intelligent driving assistance solution and plans to roll out city navigation nationwide by the end of the year. The electric vehicle manufacturer is also considering introducing its ADAS technology to the global market in the future.
Chen Qi, who joined Zeekr in 2021 after leading Huawei Technologies’ autonomous driving unit, said the pressure on Tesla’s Chinese FSD makers is a good sign because will promote greater competition and innovation. Chinese engineers are more than capable of creating good technologies, he said.
Search giant Baidu and joint venture company Geely Jidu Auto, also known as Jiyue in China, have pushed the boundaries and applied artificial intelligence to their electric hypercar, Robo X. This model can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 1.9 seconds and has a range of 650 kilometers (403 miles) on a single charge.
Xpeng, Li Auto and Great Wall Motor are some of the automakers who also showcased their latest intelligent driving offerings at the show, which runs in Guangzhou until November 24.
