Tesla has pulled ahead of China’s biggest EV players in a high-stakes race for driving tech supremacy.
In joint tests by China’s state broadcaster CCTV and ByteDance’s auto unit Dcar, Tesla’s Model 3 and Model X topped the rankings in level 2 advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) performance across six risky driving scenarios. BYD’s Denza Z9GT and Huawei’s Aito M9 failed in half, and Xiaomi’s SU7 passed only one.
Dcar’s viral test videos flooded Chinese social media, putting a spotlight on Tesla’s tech edge—even as the company navigates tough regulatory hurdles in China over AI data transfers.
“Due to laws against data export, Tesla achieved the top results in China despite having no local training data,” Elon Musk posted on X.
Chinese EV leaders have yet to match Tesla’s camera-and-AI-driven approach. While Tesla uses only cameras, most local competitors rely on lidar sensors, seen as safer but more costly and complex.
The tests came amid rising scrutiny of ADAS safety after a fatal crash involving a Xiaomi SU7 in March. Chinese regulators have since cracked down on marketing terms like “autonomous driving,” warning of legal consequences for misuse.
Despite a sales dip earlier this year, Xiaomi’s newest SUV saw a rebound in demand. Tesla’s China-made EV sales in June rose slightly (0.8% YoY) but are still under pressure from cheaper domestic alternatives.
Key Takeaways:
- Tesla ranked #1 in China’s ADAS test across 36 EV models.
- BYD, Huawei, and Xiaomi underperformed in safety scenarios.
- Tesla achieved this without local data training, due to export restrictions.
- State media scrutiny and a fatal crash have intensified pressure on domestic brands.
- China’s government is moving to legally define responsibility in ADAS-related accidents.
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