As 2024 begins its second month, Tesla users in China are in for several updates. Following a recent price reduction for specific Model 3/Y models, Tesla rolled out its first substantial Over-The-Air (OTA) update of the year. This update is on the heels of a recent recall OTA that was required by government regulators. Additionally, the Cybertruck officially debuted in China on January 28, showcasing its off-road capabilities in eight cities, and was met with significant interest from the public.
Last year Tesla sold 603,664 units in China with a market share of 2.78%. What is more, the Tesla Model Y sold 456,394 units in China, becoming the bestselling car of the year. Tesla surely hopes to maintain this momentum in 2024.
In preparation for the Chinese New Year, Tesla released a special OTA update on January 30, tailored for the festive season. The update, labeled version 2023.44.32.1, focuses on optimizing intelligent interaction, charging, and entertainment features for a more festive driving experience during the upcoming Year of the Dragon. With 22 updates since the beginning of 2022 and a recent release of version 2023.44.30.8, most updates focus on safety enhancements.
The Chinese New Year OTA update, known locally as the “Spring Festival Edition,” includes various enhancements, such as an upgraded navigation system providing real-time information on average speeds in areas with speed limits for a safer driving experience. For the many long-distance travelers during the holiday season, Tesla introduced features like “Highway Service Area Alerts” and “Supercharger Stall Unlock,” offering advance information on upcoming service areas, charging station availability, and the option to unlock a charging spot within 1 kilometer, streamlining the charging process. Tesla’s in-car map provider in China Mainland is Baidu. The latest update also has safety-focused enhancements, including an automatic blind-spot camera and a recently improved Autopilot warning.
In addition to safety and travel-related updates, Tesla has incorporated entertainment upgrades in line with the New Year theme. The update features a redesigned in-car iQiyi app, improved QQ Music playback experience (QQ is a popular music streaming platform), new atmospheric music, a lights show, and various convenience features such as the ability to lower volume during reverse parking and voice-controlled window and light operations.
As Tesla continues to evolve and tailor its offerings to the Chinese market, consumers can expect ongoing improvements. This year, the company celebrates its 11th year in the Chinese market; the continuous stream of updates, from price adjustments to new features, indicates that Tesla is gearing up for the year ahead, leaving users curious about what lies ahead.
Source: Tspace
