Tesla Comes A Step Closer To Self-Driving Approval In China After Deal With Baidu

Tesla agreed to a deal with Chinese search giant Baidu for its mapping and navigation functions, according to several reports on Monday, as CEO Elon Musk met with senior Chinese government officials in a purported push to gain approval for its subscription-based driver-assistance technology which may help boost revenues for the company in its largest foreign market.

As part of the deal, Tesla will gain access to Baidu’s mapping and navigation tech to power its driver assist feature it calls “Full-Self Driving,” Bloomberg and Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources.

The deal will allow Tesla to tap into Baidu’s mapping license, a requirement for carmakers to launch self-driving or driver-assist features for use on China’s public roads, the Reuters report added.

Foreign companies need to partner with local firms to access the license, which will allow Tesla’s cars to gather essential data about traffic, road signs and routes.