Electric car giant, Tesla is set to realize fully autonomous vehicles “later this year,” according to CEO Elon Musk. He made this announcement via video link at the opening ceremony of an artificial intelligence conference in Shanghai. Musk stated that Tesla is very close to achieving full self-driving without human supervision and speculated that the milestone could be achieved later this year. He referred to two of the most advanced levels of autonomous driving technology, commonly known as “four or five.”
Musk acknowledged his past missed deadlines but expressed confidence that Tesla is now closer than ever to achieving fully autonomous vehicles. This announcement comes as Tesla’s driver-assistance technology has faced regulatory probes in the United States.
China, being the world’s biggest electric vehicle market, holds significant importance for Tesla. In April, Tesla announced plans to build a second massive factory in Shanghai. Musk’s appearance at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai is part of his efforts to maintain close ties with China, following his visit to the country in May.
In China, electric vehicles make up a quarter of car sales, and the country’s first auto show since Covid restrictions were lifted showcased numerous new models from both domestic and Western brands in April.
Tesla has experienced a drop in first-quarter earnings and has been implementing price cuts to stay competitive against other automakers.