Elon Musk proposed Tesla’s robotoaxi launch in China during April visit

Robotaxi in China: Elon Musk reportedly proposed testing of Tesla's vanced driver-assistance technology in China, with plans to deploy it in robotaxis, during his recent visit to country, according to sources cited by state-backed China Daily newspaper on Wednesday.

Officials informed Tesla CEO that China is open to allowing company to conduct robotaxi tests within country, aiming to set a positive precedent, as per newspaper's sources.

However, approval for widespre implementation of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities in China was not immediately granted, report ded.

Tesla is said to be seeking permission to commence robotaxi trials in Shanghai, where its largest global factory is situated, according to a person briefed on matter.

Both Tesla and Shanghai city government have yet to respond to requests for comment on matter.

This development follows Musk's recent visit to Beijing, where he engaged with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, primarily discussing rollout of FSD and potential for Tesla to obtain government consent for international transfer of crucial data vital to its autonomous vehicle development efforts, as previously reported by Reuters.

FSD, introduced in 2020, represents most vanced iteration of Tesla's Autopilot software, boasting features such as self-parking, automatic lane changes, and traffic navigation.

Musk has shifted Tesla's focus away from its longstanding goal of producing affordable electric vehicles for mass market, inste prioritising autonomous driving software, robotaxis, and development of its humanoid robot, Optimus.

Last month, Tesla mentioned plans for a "purpose-built robotaxi product" with a "revolutionary" manufacturing process, though no specific timeline for its release was provided.

China has emerged as a leer in self-driving technology, with companies like Baidu and Toyota-backed Pony.ai launching robotaxi services across various cities.

(With Reuters inputs)