Despite Elon Musk's insistence that high-resolution maps aren't necessary for self-driving cars, Tesla's vehicles in China will technically rely on them now through a partnership with Baidu.
Tesla and Baidu are reportedly agreeing to map out the deal Elon Musk is seeking
The electric car maker signed a deal with Baidu, one of China's largest technology companies, to allow Tesla vehicles to access HD mapping software, Bloomberg reports. Previously, Tesla relied on AI to react to driving situations in real time, rather than using information from maps, a strategy Musk previously called a "big mistake" in 2019.
The deal was closed shortly after Musk visited China and met with its Prime Minister Li Qiang.
While Musk believes that using maps for self-driving cars is a bad idea, the Chinese government disagrees. Rules on self-driving technology require cars to pass the so-called mapping exam, which includes software such as HD maps. However, this qualification is not granted to just anyone, and only 20 companies, all based in China, have it.
