Musk Claims Full Driverless Function Available on all US Tesla Cars
Tesla is not commenting on Elon Musk’s claims that the automaker can now provide its Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta technology to any owner who wants it in North America.
The claim, reported by Reuters, was made amid a myriad of safety issues facing the brand globally with industry experts unconvinced that Tesla’s camera-based sensor technology is adequate to provide safe driverless functionality. The automaker has yet to get regulatory approval for its cars to be driven without human overall control and Musk said last month that Tesla’s advanced driver assistant software would not gain regulatory approval this year.
Yet Musk tweeted on Thursday: “Tesla Full Self-Driving Beta is now available to anyone in North America who requests it from the car screen, assuming you have bought this option.” He is hoping the system will win regulatory approval next year albeit with no official on-road testing of the technology yet carried out in the US. Tesla is facing mounting criticism that it is using consumers as guinea pigs in testing its autonomous driving features being blamed for a multitude of fatal accidents both at home and abroad.
The Silicon Valley automaker sells a $15,000 FSD software add-on which enables its vehicles to change lanes and park autonomously. That complements its standard “Autopilot” feature, which claims to allow cars to steer, accelerate and brake within their lanes without driver intervention.
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
