Gasgoo Munich- ByteDance's Volcano Engine announced on August 19 that Tesla China has integrated the Doubao large language model into its infotainment system, with updates rolling out to vehicle owners. The feature is a standalone app optimized for driving. Older models are receiving over-the-air (OTA) updates.
This is the first time Tesla has embedded a third-party large language model in its in-car system since entering China. In the U.S., the company uses Elon Musk's Grok.
Image Source: Volcano Engine
The rollout began earlier. Tesla China released software version 2026.14.13 on July 31, starting a phased rollout focused on the Doubao model. The release covers the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X, though newer Model 3 and Model Y units with AMD processors have priority. Owners must update to version 2026.14.13 or 2026.20.200 to access the feature.
Regarding capabilities, Doubao handles real-time news queries, continuous dialogue, casual chat, storytelling, and English practice. It offers preset personas like "Know-It-All," "Music Lover," and "Storyteller," plus voice options such as "Vivi" and "Yunzhou." Tesla China customer service stated the current version lacks vehicle control permissions, so it cannot operate car functions.
