In a recent update, it has been revealed that Tesla is currently conducting trials of the latest iteration of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) semi-autonomous driving technology on Australian roads, alongside testing in approximately twelve other countries.
According to Teslascope, a platform dedicated to tracking Tesla software updates, the electric vehicle manufacturer is currently assessing the ‘V12’ version of its Full Self-Driving technology. Originally launched in the United States late last year, the FSD version 12 saw the removal of its ‘beta’ designation.
Despite this advancement, the Full Self-Driving system has not yet been deployed in Australia, where only the Autopilot feature, a Level 2 autonomous driving function, albeit less comprehensive, is currently available.
Tesla’s FSD Beta was initially introduced to a select group of US owners in October 2020, followed by a broader release in November 2022 for all North American owners who opted for the feature. This functionality permits Tesla vehicles to operate autonomously in a variety of driving scenarios, with the caveat of requiring active driver supervision.
Building upon the Autopilot system, which enables lane changes and lane-keeping with adaptive cruise control engaged, the FSD can identify stop signs and traffic lights, adjusting the vehicle’s speed accordingly. Tesla is also actively developing Autosteer functionality for city streets.
In addition to the reported FSD testing in Australia, Tesla is exploring the capabilities of its Actually Smart Summon (ASS). An evolution of the Summon feature, ASS allows a Tesla owner to remotely navigate their vehicle in environments like parking lots using the Tesla app. This feature is anticipated to share a unified technology stack with FSD, and while not yet rolled out, speculation suggests it may be included in a software update late in the first quarter of 2024.
As of now, it remains unclear if the Actually Smart Summon feature will be made available in Australia. However, various features, including Summon, are accessible to Australian customers who opt for the Full Self-Driving Capability package priced at $10,100.
Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, had previously stated in 2019 that by mid-2020, the company would have over a million Tesla cars equipped with full self-driving hardware on the road, ensuring a level of reliability that would allow the driver to “go to sleep.” Despite this ambitious goal, as of February last year, Tesla had to implement an over-the-air update to address potential infringements on local traffic laws or customs during certain driving maneuvers executed by the FSD Beta.
Looking ahead, Elon Musk has indicated that regulatory approval for Tesla’s autonomous driving technology is not expected until 2023, reinforcing the challenges associated with bringing advanced self-driving capabilities to market.
