Tesla has begun rolling out its latest infotainment software update, version 2026.14.13, to owners in China, starting in batches on July 31 and covering all models including the Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X. The update integrates ByteDance's Doubao AI model, which now powers the vehicle voice assistant. According to Tesla, the assistant can chat, sing, debate and tell stories, and it provides real-time information, supports multiple voice options and can be paired with personalized personas. Using the feature requires a Premium Connectivity subscription, which costs 9.99 yuan ($1.47) a month in China. The new voice assistant cannot control vehicle functions for now. The update applies to vehicles with HW 3.0 and earlier hardware, meaning models not equipped with AI4 hardware. This marks a substantive step in Tesla's efforts to localize its cabin experience in China, where local EV makers have strengthened smart voice assistants with AI capabilities. Tesla previously partnered with Volcengine, ByteDance's cloud unit, and disclosed in the terms of service for the Model Y L that it would use both Doubao and DeepSeek. In the US, Tesla's vehicles use Grok, developed by xAI. Separately, local media reported that Alibaba's Qwen large language model has entered in-depth testing in Tesla's vehicles in China and is close to going live.