Tesla has announced a limited-time offer for Chinese customers to transfer their Full Self-Driving (FSD) software from their original vehicle to a new one for free. This offer is available for customers who purchase and take delivery of a Model 3, Model Y, Model S, or Model X on or before December 31 of this year.
The company had previously offered a similar transfer window from February 7 to March 31, but has now reopened it for a new set of customers. To be eligible for the free transfer, customers must have purchased FSD for their original vehicle and still own the vehicle at the time of applying for the transfer.
Customers will need to use the same account as the original vehicle when ordering a new one, according to Tesla’s guidelines. This move follows Tesla’s strategy in the US, where owners have been able to transfer FSD from old vehicles to new ones.
While FSD is currently not available in China, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has indicated that regulatory approval for the feature is expected by the end of this year. The company had initially planned to launch a small-scale internal test of FSD in China in September, but this was delayed. The official launch of FSD in China and Europe is now expected in the first quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approval.
Despite the unavailability of FSD in China, Tesla’s sales in the country have remained strong. The company sold 72,200 vehicles in China in September, marking a significant increase from the previous year. In the third quarter, Tesla sold a total of 181,883 vehicles in China, contributing to its global deliveries.
In terms of market share in China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market, Tesla ranks fourth with a 6.5 percent share. BYD leads the market with a 34.6 percent share, followed by Geely with a 7.4 percent share. While Tesla only produces battery electric vehicles (BEVs), BYD and Geely also produce hybrids.
Overall, Tesla’s sales in China continue to grow, despite the challenges posed by the lack of FSD availability. The company’s strong performance in the Chinese market reflects its commitment to expanding its presence and offering innovative products to customers.
