Tesla rolls out Full Self-Driving in Australia

Australia and New Zealand will become the first global right-hand drive markets to activate Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology, with the semi-autonomous feature due to roll out to customers “very soon”.

Australia and New Zealand will become the first global right-hand drive markets to activate Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology, with the semi-autonomous feature due to roll out to customers “very soon”.

Model 3 and Model Y vehicles fitted with the company’s latest Hardware 4 (also known as AI4 or HW4) computer will be the first to get FSD switched on, with many already installed with the software which was offered as an option at the time of purchase.

Customers who didn’t check the $10,100 box at the time of purchase will be able to upgrade to FSD depending on the level of hardware in their vehicles, although Tesla is yet to detail which models are eligible, when and at what cost.

A one-off payment will be an option or a subscription to FSD with smaller periodic payments, while a free 30-day trial is also on offer

Like the company’s Autopilot feature, some may find the term Full Self-Driving misleading and Tesla points out that its vehicles are ‘not yet’ autonomous, with its technology offered as an advanced form of driver assistance, it says.

As such, Full Self-Driving is, for now, accompanied by the ‘Supervised' caveat, indicating drivers must be ready to take control of the vehicle at all times – and it’s not just a marketing provision.

Under current Australian legislation, autonomous vehicles are prohibited by approximately 700 rules, but Tesla insists FSD is a Level 2 function according to the SAE Levels of Driving Automation scale.

Vehicles categorised as Level 2 are considered at the pointy end of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) but are compliant with Australian law, whereas Level 3 and above is regarded as ‘automated driving’ and is not compliant with local regulations.

Tesla’s FSD (S) is capable of completing a door-to-door journey including negotiating traffic, hazards, varying road conditions and types and without the driver touching pedal or the steering wheel.

This best fits the SAE J3016 scale as Level 3 but, at the time of the announcement, Tesla refused to take questions regarding the introduction of FSD and how it had categorised the feature as Level 2.

Instead, the company issued a Q&A crib sheet to cover off some FAQs including addressing the issue of who is responsible in the event of an accident.

Tesla points out that “ADAS systems are technologies that assist drivers with the safe operation of the vehicle …The driver is responsible for the control of their vehicle at all times”.

The American car-maker has not publicly committed to a specific date for the introduction, but is preparing to switch on or install the technology imminently and says FSD is “closer than ever”.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted RHD markets would get the Full Self-Driving feature as early as 2022 – about the same time a number of Tesla models were spied undergoing trials on Australian roads.

But it’s understood the company held off introduction until it was satisfied the tech was ready.

Whether its ADAS or autonomy, FSD is not without controversy and the US government has previously recalled some Tesla models after several high-profile incidents occurring including crashes and near misses were blamed on the feature.

Tesla is not the only brand associated with driverless car crashes with Waymo and Uber vehicles also involved in incidents.

Following the collisions, US studies have indicated autonomous cars may be more prone to crashing than those piloted by humans – the opposite of what autonomous vehicle proponents claim. However, Tesla says the systems are now more evolved and refined, and ready for introduction to Australian roads.

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