Tesla has rolled out an extensive update to its autopilot software, the Full Self Driving. The option is still being tried out by the beta tester crowd, but Electrek quotes rumors saying it will become available on September 5, 2022.
The automaker does not explain why the option now costs $15,000 instead of $12,000. CEO Elon Musk commented simply that the code was thoroughly optimized and that this was a ‘bid step forward’, whatever that meant.
Earlier talks let us assume with a degree of certainty that the new FSD will try to fix left turns, visual recognition of animals and people, and behavior in traffic jams. The cars should also learn to interpret all types of traffic signs and lights correctly.
Tesla emphasized numerous times that the name of its tech, ‘Full Self Driving’, reflected the ultimate goal of the software suite and not its current status, which is still beta. In reality, the system is closer to SAE Level 2 in terms of driving autonomy, whereas the same classification awards the ‘full self-driving’ badge exclusively to Level 4 and higher systems.
