Time-lapsed footage from Tesla showcases an Autopilot journey spanning from San Francisco to Los Angeles
Tesla's Full Self-Driving System: A Step Closer to Autonomy
Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, an advanced driver-assistance system, is making significant strides towards a potential public release by the end of September. This AI-driven system, which processes video and sensor inputs to navigate highways, city streets, and complex traffic scenarios, is currently being trained to handle driving tasks with driver supervision.
The system's benefits are particularly noticeable during long-distance travel. Users report that FSD can comfortably handle much of the driving in open freeways and slow-moving traffic jams, reducing driver fatigue. However, it still requires active driver supervision, meaning the driver must remain attentive and ready to intervene at any time. This has led some to question whether the current FSD justifies its high cost of around $8,000, as it is not yet fully hands-off autonomy.
Recent updates scheduled for late August 2025 aim to boost the system's reliability and perception of the driving environment with a 10x larger parameter model and improved sensor performance.
Tesla's FSD rollout is actively expanding into new international markets, such as Japan and Thailand, where it is adapting to differing safety and legal frameworks worldwide. In many regions, including the U.S. and Europe, FSD is classified under partial automation levels (Level 2 or 2+), where driver supervision and intervention remain mandatory. Tesla has faced scrutiny and legal challenges over the marketing and naming of its FSD system, with regulators and courts emphasizing that the system is not yet fully autonomous and must not mislead consumers about its capabilities.
As of mid-2025, Tesla's FSD remains a supervised driver aid rather than full autonomy. The company continues to evolve the system's capabilities and expand its geographic availability. However, Tesla's FSD is not yet available to regular Tesla owners in its robotaxi service vehicles, and the service cannot be called a "robotaxi" service due to the absence of required permits. In San Francisco, Tesla launched a ride-hailing service, but someone needs to be in the driver's seat during the FSD-powered ride due to the absence of required permits.
In Austin, Texas, Tesla debuted its robotaxi service, though it uses a version of FSD not available to regular Tesla owners. The vehicles do not have a driver sitting in the driver's seat, reflecting Tesla's ambition for full autonomy. However, Tesla's FSD is still classified as a Level 2 driver assistance system in California, requiring driver supervision and readiness to intervene. Despite progress, Tesla's FSD is not considered fully autonomous by regulatory standards.
References:
- Tesla AI Day 2021: Everything You Need to Know
- Tesla's Full Self-Driving Capability: What It Is and What It Isn't
- Tesla's Full Self-Driving System Coming to International Markets
- Tesla Full Self-Driving Beta: A Review and Analysis
- Tesla Faces Regulatory Scrutiny Over Full Self-Driving Claims
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