Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) launch in China is turning heads, with early users praising its capabilities—despite the lack of local training.
AI observer James Douma shared his surprise on X, saying, “Tesla releasing FSD into China without local training is a testimony to the strength of the driving model. I’m surprised that this is possible today. Bravo.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk responded casually by saying, “We just used publicly available video on the Internet of roads and signs in China and used that to train in sim.”
Douma followed up, calling the feat “really impressive”, tipping his hat to Tesla’s AI team.
Meanwhile, a Chinese blogger noted that Tesla’s FSD exceeded expectations, demonstrating smooth driving even in underground parking lots, U-turns, and random destinations. Contrary to predictions of frequent failures, the system has performed well, even without a large test fleet or extensive local data training.
While occasional issues like lane drifting or misreading traffic signals still occur, the launch suggests Tesla’s vision-based AI can adapt globally with minimal adjustments. The blogger contrasted this with domestic self-driving companies in China, which often struggle with cross-regional deployment.
Musk’s remarks highlight Tesla’s unique approach—training AI on public video footage rather than traditional real-world testing—a method that, for now, appears to be paying off.
Here’s a sample video of FSD being used in China and how it is handling some insane traffic chaos with ease:
Tesla FSD in Chongqing, China (dubbed into english) $TSLA pic.twitter.com/oKS3OJTMfe
— Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) February 26, 2025
