Tesla Responds to Dongchedi Test: Safety Is Unlimited, Rankings Are Not the Goal

The 2023 Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive and 2023 Model X Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive ranked first and second by passing 5 tests.

On July 23, Chinese automotive platform Dongchedi released the comprehensive performance of 36 models in a “highway accident scenario simulation” for ADAS.

The test results showed that the 2023 Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive and 2023 Model X Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive ranked first and second by passing 5 tests, becoming the only models with a pass rate above 80%. Notably, brands like HIMA, NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto had models that passed only 3 tests, with the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra passing just 1.

A performance summary table displaying the results of 36 car models tested in a highway accident scenario simulation for ADAS, showing various pass rates and test scores. — The rankings of 36 models tested in the “highway accident scenario simulation” for ADAS by comprehensive performance.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk reposted the test results on X, saying, “Due to law against data export, Tesla achieved the top results in China despite having no local training data.” Some netizens suggested this statement implied Tesla’s technical capabilities surpassed environmental limitations.

Screenshot of a tweet by Elon Musk discussing Tesla's top ADAS test results in China, featuring a list of vehicles tested. — Elon Musk reposted and commented on the test results.

After Musk’s repost, the test results gained significant public attention.

Some netizens pointed out that Dongchedi’s test process was not standardized, without controlling for variables, and that the results did not accurately reflect the capabilities of any ADAS. In response, Li Nan, former executive at Meizu Technology, stated: “For models like this, which operate in chaotic systems, it’s almost impossible to control all variables in real-world driving conditions, and such ‘unfair’ tests may better reflect actual user scenarios.”

Amid increasing online discussion, Tesla Vice President Grace Tao reposted the video of Dongchedi’s test and declared, “We don’t care about rankings,” reiterating Musk’s earlier statement that the goal of making autonomous driving “ten times safer than human driving” has already been achieved. She emphasized that the purpose of the test was to “remind everyone to focus on road conditions” and that Tesla would continue investing in R&D for higher safety standards.

Translation of Grace Tao’s full response was: “Elon Musk proposed over a decade ago that we should develop autonomous driving that is ten times safer than human driving. Today, Tesla has surpassed this goal for multiple quarters. We saw the test results from the media, just like everyone else. We don’t care about rankings because any test or ranking is relative and temporary, but safety has no upper limit. We will continue to fully dedicate ourselves to R&D and pursue higher safety standards. At the same time, we hope everyone understands that the intent of this test is not ranking but reminding everyone to focus on the road, safety first!”

A social media post by Grace Tao, Tesla Vice President, discussing the company's autonomous driving safety and performance in recent tests. The post includes text about Tesla's achievements and remarks on safety standards, with an image of cars on a highway. — Grace Tao reposted the video of *Dongchedi*‘s test and commented on *Weibo*.

Shortly after Tesla’s official response, HIMA released a statement saying it had seen the “test” on a certain platform and declined to comment. As of the report’s publication, NIO, XPeng, and Li Auto had not publicly responded.