Xiaomi CEO Hails Tesla's FSD Milestone: A Nod to Innovation

In a surprising turn of events, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun extended congratulations to Tesla following the reported first autonomous delivery of a Model Y to a customer in Austin. This gesture comes amidst ongoing industry debate regarding the efficacy of camera-only self-driving systems versus LiDAR-based approaches, highlighting the competitive yet collaborative spirit within the automotive technology sector.

Xiaomi CEO Praises Tesla's Milestone

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun publicly acknowledged Tesla's recent achievement of delivering a Model Y autonomously to a customer in Austin. This significant step for Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities has garnered attention across the tech and automotive industries.

Industry Perspectives on Autonomous Driving

The autonomous driving landscape is marked by differing technological philosophies, primarily between camera-only systems and LiDAR-integrated solutions.

• Ford's Stance: Ford CEO Jim Farley has expressed skepticism about Tesla's camera-only approach, favoring LiDAR-based systems for their perceived safety and reliability, especially in challenging conditions where cameras might be blinded. Farley emphasized that for a brand like Ford, safety and consumer trust are paramount, making LiDAR a "mission critical" component.

• Tesla's Vision: Despite the skepticism, Tesla CEO Elon Musk remains committed to a vision-only approach, asserting its long-term potential for safety and cost-effectiveness. The recent autonomous delivery of a Model Y underscores Tesla's progress in this direction.

Divergent Paths in Autonomous Development

Automakers are pursuing distinct strategies in the race for autonomous vehicles:

• Tesla's Robotaxi Service: Tesla has launched a limited Robotaxi service in Austin, utilizing its autonomous vehicles with safety monitors. This initiative is a direct application of its vision-only FSD technology.

• Ford's Focus: Ford is not developing its own urban-driving autonomous system. Instead, it is concentrating on "high-speed, eyes-off" experiences like BlueCruise. Ford plans to collaborate with a company that achieves true autonomous driving once the technology matures.

Key Takeaways

• Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun's congratulatory message to Tesla highlights the cross-industry recognition of advancements in autonomous driving.

• The debate between camera-only and LiDAR-based autonomous systems continues, with industry leaders like Ford's Jim Farley advocating for LiDAR's role in safety.

• Tesla is pushing forward with its vision-only FSD, evidenced by the recent autonomous delivery of a Model Y.

• Automakers are adopting varied strategies for autonomous driving, from Tesla's direct FSD deployment to Ford's focus on assisted driving features and future partnerships.