Tesla is making a bold move in China by offering a one-month free trial of its highly anticipated Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature.
Running from March 17 to April 16, this promotion aims to generate interest and potentially boost Tesla’s sales in the competitive Chinese market. Select Tesla owners will have the opportunity to experience the company’s advanced driver assistance technology firsthand.
This strategic trial comes as Tesla faces declining global and Chinese sales. By allowing potential customers to test FSD at no cost, the company hopes to demonstrate its value and convert trial users into paying subscribers.
Tesla will progressively roll out the FSD experience to compatible vehicles. However, the company warns that complete coverage may not be available immediately due to real-world constraints.
Despite its advanced features, Tesla emphasizes that FSD is still classified as a Level 2 combined driving assistance system, in line with China’s GB/T 40429-2021 standards.
What’s Included in the Free Trial?
The FSD trial offers city street navigation, enabling the vehicle to autonomously handle:
Highway exits
Intersections
Traffic signals
Turns
Lane changes based on navigation routes and road conditions
To ensure safety, Tesla’s system uses the cabin camera to monitor driver attentiveness. This feature reinforces Tesla’s stance that FSD is not a fully autonomous system, and driver supervision remains essential.
Tesla’s Safety Warnings and Limitations
Tesla is clear about the limitations of FSD. The company stresses that the system “may not implement new functions in all real-world scenarios.” Factors like road conditions and weather may impact performance, and driver intervention is always required.
Drivers are instructed to:
Keep both hands on the steering wheel
Remain alert to road conditions and surrounding traffic
Watch for pedestrians and cyclists
Be prepared to take immediate control, especially in challenging situations like blind curves, intersections, and narrow roads
Tesla also reminds users they are legally responsible for any traffic violations, accidents, or penalties incurred while using FSD.
How to Access the Free Trial
To check eligibility, customers should verify their vehicle’s map version (CN-2025.8-15218) and software version (2024.45.32.12). Once updated, the touchscreen will display “FSD Smart Driving Assistance” in the Autopilot settings.
For those who wish to continue using FSD after the trial, Tesla offers it for 64,000 yuan (approx. $8,900). A discounted upgrade price of 32,000 yuan (approx. $4,450) is available for vehicles already equipped with Enhanced Autopilot.
Whether this free trial will successfully boost Tesla’s sales remains to be seen. However, it highlights Tesla’s aggressive push to reinvigorate its presence in China and showcase the potential of its autonomous driving technology. By giving drivers a firsthand experience, Tesla hopes to convert skeptics and strengthen its leadership in the electric vehicle and autonomous driving space.