During Tesla's Q2 2023 Earnings Call, CEO Elon Musk announced that the company was in early discussions with a major OEM to license their Full Self-Driving suite. This move came as no surprise, as Musk had previously stated Tesla's willingness to license Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, along with other technology.
Several car companies have already adopted Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector, with Ford being the first to do so, followed by General Motors. With Tesla's recent announcement, speculation arose about which automaker was most likely to be in talks for the Full Self-Driving license.
Tesla fans seemed to lean towards Ford as the likely candidate. After Musk's statement, a question was posted on Twitter, and an overwhelming number of respondents pointed towards Ford as the potential OEM partner.
Other companies, such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Rivian, were also mentioned as potential candidates. Volkswagen and Tesla had a positive relationship in the past, but it has cooled since then. However, this doesn't rule out the possibility of discussions between the two companies. Mercedes-Benz already has its Level 3 system approved for operation in certain areas, making it less likely to pursue Tesla's Full Self-Driving suite.
General Motors boasts a successful program with Super Cruise, allowing extended periods of self-driving without driver intervention. As for Rivian, it might not fit the description of a "major OEM" in the context of these discussions.
As the talks progress, it remains to be seen which company will be the one to secure the licensing of Tesla's Full Self-Driving suite. The automotive industry is keeping a close eye on these developments, as it could have significant implications for the future of autonomous driving technology.
