Tesla Launches FSD in China, Lithuania; Pledges $250M to Berlin Gigafactory
Tesla activated FSD Supervised in China and Lithuania, raising total rollout territories to 10 following Chinese regulatory approval and provisional Lithuanian type approval after an 18-month evaluation. The company also pledged $250 million to its Berlin-Brandenburg gigafactory to expand battery cell output en route to a one-million-vehicle annual production target.
1. FSD Rollout Expansion
Tesla has extended its Full Self-Driving Supervised system into China and Lithuania, marking the 9th and 10th territories to receive the software. The launch follows CEO Elon Musk’s recent visit to Beijing and represents Tesla’s first Level 3 service activation in these markets.
2. Regulatory Approvals
Chinese authorities granted regulatory approval after several years of evaluation, while Lithuania received provisional European type approval from the Dutch RDW following an 18-month assessment of track and public road testing. These sign-offs clear the way for commercial deployment in both regions.
3. Competitive Landscape
Despite its Level 2 dominance, Tesla faces stiff competition in Level 3 systems from local automakers and technology firms, notably Huawei’s announced 70 billion yuan investment in smart-driving R&D over five years. This could challenge Tesla’s market share as rivals accelerate real-world testing and rollout.
4. Berlin-Brandenburg Gigafactory Investment
Tesla committed $250 million to its Berlin-Brandenburg gigafactory to boost battery cell production and support its goal of one million vehicles annually. The facility has produced over 750,000 Model Y units and millions of cells since opening in March 2022.