Tesla Full Self-Driving likely to expand to yet another Asian country

"We are aiming for implementation in 2026. [We are] doing everything in our power [to achieve this]. - Richi Hashimoto, president of Tesla's Japanese subsidiary, outlining the company's commitment to launching Full Self-Driving technology in Japan within the specified timeframe and emphasizing the comprehensive efforts being undertaken to meet this ambitious goal."

"Once regulators approve, Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates could activate FSD across roughly 40,000 Teslas already on Japanese roads. Japan's orderly traffic and strict safety culture make it an ideal testing ground for autonomous driving."

Tesla is positioned to introduce Full Self-Driving technology to Japan by 2026, marking a significant expansion of the autonomous driving program into another Asian market. Richi Hashimoto, president of Tesla's Japanese subsidiary, announced this timeline after successful employee test drives began in August 2025 with the Model 3, expanding to the Model Y in March 2026. Once regulatory approval is obtained, Over-the-Air software updates could activate FSD across approximately 40,000 Teslas already operating in Japan. Japan's orderly traffic patterns and strict safety culture provide an ideal environment for autonomous driving development. This expansion follows Tesla's remarkable sales growth in Japan, with 2025 deliveries reaching 10,600 vehicles, a 90% increase from the previous year.

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