A Tesla owner in China has shared dashcam footage showing the car's Autopilot (AP) driver-assistance system failing to detect a tire lying on a highway, with the vehicle driving straight over it at around 105 km/h (65 mph). The video, posted by a blogger known as "@小特叔叔" and reported by Chinese tech outlet Kuaikeji, shows the car's front end being lifted off the road after hitting the obstacle, then slamming back down, fortunately without causing a high-speed loss of control.
The incident occurred on a Chinese expressway while the Tesla was operating with its standard AP feature engaged. According to the blogger, the system's general obstacle recognition failed, and the car made no attempt to brake or swerve. The blogger called on Tesla to improve the safety of AP, noting that most Tesla owners in China can only use this basic level of assistance, as the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) package has not been officially launched in the Chinese market.
What Tesla offers in China
Tesla sells its vehicles in China with three tiers of driver assistance: AP, Enhanced Autopilot (EAP), and FSD. AP is the standard L2-level system included with every car, offering adaptive cruise control and lane centering on highways and expressways, similar to conventional ACC systems from traditional automakers. EAP, priced at 32,000 yuan (about $4,500), adds navigation-assisted driving features such as automatic ramp entry and exit, lane changes for overtaking, automated parking, and a summon function. FSD, which costs 64,000 yuan (about $9,000), supports navigation on city roads and highways and has been widely rolled out in North America, but it remains a "future promise" for Chinese buyers, according to the source.
The video highlights a key gap for Tesla in China: while FSD is heavily marketed globally, its absence in the country means local owners rely on the more limited AP system, which appears to have blind spots in recognizing stationary obstacles like a tire on the road. The incident has sparked discussion among Chinese EV enthusiasts about the safety of current L2 systems and the need for more robust obstacle detection, especially as competitors like Huawei, Xpeng, and Nio push advanced urban NOA (city navigation-assisted driving) features in the domestic market.
Broader context
This is not the first time Tesla's AP has been criticized for failing to recognize unusual objects on Chinese roads. In previous cases, owners have reported the system struggling with construction barriers, cones, and debris. The lack of FSD in China means Tesla's local software development lags behind its North American version, and the company has yet to receive regulatory approval for its full self-driving capabilities in the country. Meanwhile, domestic brands are increasingly offering more advanced driver assistance as standard or optional features, putting pressure on Tesla to enhance its AP performance or accelerate FSD's local rollout.
For now, the video serves as a cautionary tale for drivers relying on assisted driving systems, reminding them to stay attentive even when AP is engaged. The blogger's message is clear: Tesla should prioritize improving the safety of its standard AP system, given that it is the primary driver-assistance tool for the vast majority of Tesla owners in China, according to Kuaikeji.
