Tesla partnered with Tencent to integrate WeChat-linked features into more than one million vehicles in China. An over-the-air update will enable drivers to use tools such as one-tap location sharing from WeChat to vehicle navigation. This move marks a significant shift for Tesla, which previously restricted its software to a closed ecosystem.
The partnership addresses mounting competition after Tesla reported its first annual domestic sales decline in China in 2025. Tesla recently lost its global all-electric sales crown to Chinese rival BYD. Local competitors including BYD, NIO, and Xpeng have long offered similar deep software integrations. Tesla aims to improve product appeal by resolving a major friction point for drivers in the Chinese market.