JAKARTA - Tesla has launched a new AI-based voice assistant for its electric vehicles in China, a collaboration with DeepSeek and ByteDance. The feature, dubbed "Hey Tesla," is designed to provide natural voice control for navigation, media, and cabin functions.
Tesla confirmed that ByteDance's Doubao large language model (LLM) will handle voice commands such as adjusting air conditioning temperature, routing trips, and controlling entertainment. Meanwhile, DeepSeek's chatbot will handle conversational tasks, including news updates, weather, and informal interactions. Both models operate through ByteDance's Volcano Engine cloud platform, which processes requests in real time through encrypted APIs.
The system was launched alongside the six-seat Model Y L SUV, which went on sale in August. Unlike previous Tesla models in China, which required drivers to press a button on the steering wheel, the Model Y L supports activation with a dialing phrase. Drivers can say "Hey Tesla" or set a custom word to activate the assistant hands-free.
Tesla's collaboration with Chinese companies reflects its efforts to localize features for the domestic market. Competitors like BYD, Nio, and Xpeng have already adopted advanced AI voice assistants, giving them a competitive edge in user experience. By adopting DeepSeek and Doubao, Tesla is attempting to catch up and compete more directly with local brands.
In the United States, Tesla continues to use Grok, an AI model developed by Elon Musk's xAI startup. This distinction reflects Tesla's regional strategy, with local AI providers supporting its cars in China to meet regulations and consumer expectations. BMW has taken a similar approach by partnering with Alibaba's QWen LLM model for its product line in China.
Tesla hasn't confirmed when the new voice assistant will be expanded to other models in China. The company's latest terms of service mention the integration, but some owners report not receiving the feature in the latest over-the-air update. Despite the delay, Tesla is signaling that in-car intelligence is now at the heart of the competition in the world's largest EV market.
In related news, we recently covered a complete guide to AI chatbot subscriptions by 2025, including all the plans, pricing, and key features you need to know.
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