Tesla FSD in Guangzhou
Alright, let’s talk about Tesla’s FSD (Full Self-Driving) facing Guangzhou’s evening rush hour—because, let’s be real, if a self-driving system can handle that madness, it can handle anything. We’re talking about a city where traffic rules are more of a suggestion, scooters own the road, and pedestrians move like they’ve got invincibility mode turned on.
The Setup: Can FSD Handle This?
Some brave souls in China have already shelled out 64,000 RMB (about $9K) to get FSD running on their Teslas. Bold move. So, a real-world test was put to the challenge to see if it was money well spent or just an expensive hesitation simulator. The test vehicle? A Model X with the latest FSD update, taking on Guangzhou’s notorious traffic.
Three driving styles were available: "Chill," "Standard," and "Aggressive." Now, if you’ve ever driven in China, you know "Aggressive" should just be called "Normal." But the question was—how would it actually perform?
The Test Begins: Traffic Chaos Unleashed
At 5:42 PM, the vehicle hit the road just in time for peak madness. The first issue? The navigation display was already wrong. The car was in the third lane, but FSD thought it was somewhere else. Great start. Would it manually turn, or figure it out? It did—eventually—though a bit late.
Then came the first roundabout. This is where weak self-driving systems tend to break down. Cars cutting in, scooters darting through gaps that don’t exist. But—surprise!—FSD actually handled it smoothly. A rare win.
Next, a pedestrian crossing with no light. FSD paused. And paused. And… yeah, it was still sitting there. Horns behind blared. Finally, it moved, but this whole "waiting for perfect conditions" thing might not fly in a place where people expect drivers to just squeeze through.
Hesitation vs. Hustle: The Tesla vs. Local Systems Showdown
Tesla’s FSD played it cautious—maybe too cautious. Domestic systems like Xpeng’s or Huawei’s tend to be more "when in doubt, send it." In Guangzhou, that often works better. Here, hesitation doesn’t just annoy people—it can get a driver trapped in an endless loop of cars cutting in while waiting for a perfect gap that’ll never come.
Oh, and then came a red-light violation. Whoops. That would be 200 RMB in fines.
The Verdict: Not Bad, But Not Ready for Prime Time
Roundabouts? Solid performance. Lane switching? Decent. Avoiding getting absolutely wrecked by a million scooters? Needs work. The main issue? FSD doesn’t yet understand the flow of chaotic traffic. It’s safe, but sometimes too safe for its own good. In places like Guangzhou, a bit of controlled aggression is necessary.
End result? The car made it. Took a few manual assists, a couple of honks from angry drivers, and a lot of patience, but it got through. FSD in China? It’s a start. But it’s got some serious learning to do if it wants to blend in rather than just survive.
Would FSD be ready to navigate a city near you? Let’s hear it.
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