A leaked email first surfaced by Tesla fan @WholeMarsBlog and then verified by Business Insider claims that Elon Musk has directed Tesla staff members to use the automaker’s most recent Full Self-Driving (FSD) software to perform “short test rides” for potential customers.
Musk stressed in an early-morning email to employees how “mandatory” it is to install and activate the FSD software on cars and provide a test drive. Musk understood that this necessity may cause a delay in delivery but emphasized its importance by saying, “Almost no one actually realizes how well (supervised) FSD actually works.”
Musk then instructed workers to provide client demos after the vehicles returned from service centers in an email sent to the whole firm.
In the follow-up email, Musk stated, “This is very important.”
Currently, Tesla includes its Autopilot technology for driver assistance with every car it manufactures. Additionally, Tesla owners can pay $199 monthly or get the Full Self-Driving beta capability from the company for $12,000. Thanks to the beta feature, the vehicle can park itself, change lanes, enter and exit highways, and recognize stop signs and traffic signals. Both programs still need a licensed driver to continuously monitor the system, even though Tesla’s AI technology collects driver data to improve the system as people use it.
Tesla frequently uses over-the-air updates to release updated versions of FSD. According to Musk on X, the most recent version of FSD, V12.3.1, began to be released this month.
Musk stated earlier in March on X that “three major improvements to FSD will roll out roughly every two weeks.” “Should be shining bright by late April or early May.”
Regulators have been more closely watching Tesla over the last few years because the company marketed its self-driving software and services.