Comment on Elon Musk will face intense competition if he tries to bring Tesla's full self-driving technology to China

Elon Musk took a surprise trip to China over the weekend.Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesElon Musk has moved closer to getting full self-driving technology approved in China, reports suggest.Tesla will face competition, with many local rivals rolling out their own versions of FSD. One local EV boss welcomed the move, saying regulators should "let a hundred flowers bloom."Elon Musk might have just scored a big win in China — but it's unlikely to make Tesla's problems in the country disappear.Tesla has moved closer to securing approval to operate its full self-driving technology in China, according to multiple reports, after CEO Elon Musk made a surprise visit to the country over the weekend.Getting FSD approved for China would be a massive win for Musk, who has bet Tesla's future on self-driving cars and robotaxis.However, it is unlikely to transform the company's fortunes in the country right away, with Chinese consumers set to be spoiled for choice when it comes to driving assistance software.Many of Tesla's local rivals are rolling out their own versions of Tesla's Autopilot, which is available in China, and full self-driving technology as competition rages in the country's EV market.Guangzhou-based EV startup XPeng's City Navigation Guided Pilot (NGP) system, which it first began trialing in 2022, is available throughout China, with plans to expand it internationally also underway.Like Tesla's full self-driving, NGP can overtake, recognize traffic signals, and conduct lane changes.Smartphone makers-turned EV builders Huawei and Xiaomi have also been competing to release their own FSD rivals.Huawei plans to offer its Advanced Driving System, which has capabilities similar to FSD and XPeng's NGP, across several EVs it has developed in partnership with other Chinese auto companies.