Tesla's Full Self Driving Beta Now Available To All Tesla Owners
Full self-driving for all, decreed Elon Musk.
Despite being mired in controversy, Twitter, SpaceX, and Tesla owner Elon Musk still took the time to announce a big milestone for the EV brand; full-self driving is now available for all compatible North American Teslas.
Before now, the FSD program was an opt-in, activity, only given to certain Tesla owners in specific geographic locations. Tesla would monitor the driver’s driving style, offering them the chance to purchase and test the program if Tesla itself deemed the driver safe enough in normal circumstances. Now, that safety score isn’t a criterion for FSD, any Tesla owner can opt-in and purchase.
It’s not cheap though, the brand’s come under fire after raising the price several times in quick succession this past summer. Full-self driving at one point was as low as $5,000 back in April 2019. Musk raised the entry price to $10,000 in October 2021, hiked it again to $12,000 by early January 2022, then increased it to an eye-watering $15,000 in September 2022. Tesla owners interested in FDS, and who have a compatible vehicle can purchase the software right from the vehicle’s infotainment screen.
The FSD moniker can be confusing; despite the name, “Full-self driving” isn’t completely autonomous, hands-free driving. It is a level 2 semi-autonomous feature, on par with GM’s Super Cruise. Legislators, journalists, and skeptics alike have been critical of the brand’s naming conventions and on-road performance of FSD, and the brand has garnered a few lawsuits due to its claims.
The latest version of the FSD beta, v.11, is what all Tesla owners will have the option to purchase and use.
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Kevin has been obsessed with cars ever since he could talk. He even learned to read partially by learning and reading the makes and models on the back of cars, only fueling his obsession. Today, he is an automotive journalist and member of the Automotive Press Association. He is well-versed in electrification, hybrid cars, and vehicle maintenance.
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1. Does it come with no stopping for stop signs? 2. Any bets on how accident rates will change, especially with cars on poorly maintained roads?