Tesla to Integrate Deepseek, Doubao AI Voice Controls in China

Tesla plans to integrate Deepseek and Doubao AI voice controls in China, allowing drivers to use voice commands to control navigation, entertainment, temperature, and receive news updates. The technology is powered by Bytedance's Volcano Engine cloud service. This move shows Tesla's increasing competition with domestic brands in the Chinese market and follows a partnership between BMW and Alibaba to develop AI for cars in China. Shipments from Tesla's Shanghai factory have fallen in six of the first seven months of 2023.

Tesla Inc. is set to introduce advanced in-car voice assistant functions powered by Deepseek and Bytedance Ltd.’s Doubao artificial intelligence in the Chinese market. This move aims to enhance the user experience and compete with local rivals who offer similar features [1].

The technology will allow drivers to use voice commands to control navigation apps, in-car entertainment, cabin temperature, and receive news updates. Voice commands will be primarily processed by Doubao, while Deepseek chat will handle AI interactions. Both models are hosted by Bytedance’s Volcano Engine cloud service [1].

Foreign carmakers are increasingly turning to domestic suppliers for AI models to offer a more localized experience for Chinese drivers. BMW AG, for instance, has partnered with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to introduce the QWen large language model in China [1].

Tesla vehicles in the US currently use Grok, a model developed by CEO Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI. The integration of Deepseek and Doubao in China suggests that legal requirements may have made it difficult to introduce Grok, underscoring the competition Tesla faces from domestic brands such as BYD Co. and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. [1].

Shipments from Tesla’s Shanghai factory have fallen in six of the first seven months of 2025, with July deliveries down 8.4% from a year earlier. It remains unclear whether the AI models have already been integrated into Tesla’s Chinese cars, as several owners contacted by Bloomberg News reported no notification of the new terms and service document [1].

Representatives from Tesla and Bytedance did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The integration of these AI models is expected to be a significant step for Tesla in the competitive Chinese market.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-22/tesla-to-integrate-deepseek-doubao-ai-voice-controls-in-china