Tesla Releases New Automated Driving Features in Beta

Tesla is rolling out “Full Self-Driving” to a limited cohort of beta users. This is the software architecture rewrite that Elon Musk has been hinting at for some time.

What’s new: More support for advanced driver assist on city streets. Increased stop sign and traffic light perception capabilities. Navigate on Autopilot, another beta feature, can guide Teslas from highway on-ramps to off-ramps.

N.B.

Tesla warns beta testers to proceed with caution: “It may do the wrong thing at the worst time, so you must always keep your hands on the wheel and pay extra attention to the road.”

• Since Teslas require constant oversight from drivers, they’re still not self-driving.
• Tesla has drawn flak for using untrained customers as beta testers on public roads.

Officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say they’re keeping a watchful eye over the new release. Next Thursday, Tesla will hike the price of “FSD” to $10,000.

+ While we’re here: Tesla recorded its fifth straight quarterly profit. The carmaker delivered 139,300 vehicles in Q3, putting it on track for 500,000 by year’s end.