On January 21, Business Insider reported that traditional automakers are showing reluctance when it comes to licensing Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. Musk even labeled their hesitant attitude as "incomprehensible." Nevertheless, recent advancements in the industry suggest that the automakers' hesitation is, in fact, a well-thought-out strategic move.

Several automakers have unveiled their development roadmaps for crucial modules of their self-developed autonomous driving systems. For instance, Rivian is in the process of designing its own proprietary chips, while Ford is planning to develop a "hands-free driving" system. Automakers are of the opinion that in-house development can lead to cost savings, offer greater control over software integration and deployment, and cater to the need for brand differentiation.

Moreover, as development tools become increasingly accessible, the commercial allure of licensing Tesla's FSD has faded. NVIDIA's Alpamayo platform presents automakers with a fresh technological avenue. Mercedes, for example, is set to launch an advanced driver-assistance system based on this platform.