Tesla recently announced that all Teslas in the U.S. will soon receive a free one-month trial of full self-driving (FSD) software. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, informed employees on March 25 that every North American delivery must now include FSD V12 installation and activation, along with a brief demo ride, despite potential delivery delays.
While Tesla’s Autopilot driver assistance system comes standard on all new cars, the company’s FSD option will cost $199 per month for most North American customers. However, it should be noted that Tesla’s FSD system does not convert cars into autonomous vehicles. According to the Tesla owners’ manuals, drivers must remain attentive to the road and ready to steer or brake at any time when using FSD or FSD Beta.
Moreover, the company has recalled products to improve Autopilot and FSD security upon receiving requests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Furthermore, FSD Beta v12 introduces major upgrades, utilizing “end-to-end neural nets” for decision-making and leveraging vast driving data.
Despite these advancements, FSD remains a “Level 2” system, which necessitates driver engagement. While Tesla projects eventual full “Level 5” automation, Musk has deferred this goal annually.
Additionally, the EV maker has urged its salaried and hourly employees to take extra shifts to help deliver cars at the end of the first quarter, aiming to ensure customer satisfaction and support vehicle distribution. While salaried staff won’t receive extra pay for these shifts, hourly workers will earn additional compensation. This push is part of Tesla’s effort to prevent a decline in year-over-year deliveries, with concerns of a possible drop highlighted by independent research.
