Fortunately, no accidents so far.
Things are quickly taking shape for a complete rollout of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving. However, it’s not really Level 5 full self-driving, as we recently reported, but rather a more advanced version of Autopilot, which is rated at Level 2. We’ll just have to wait and see what the system is truly capable of once it’s given a wide release. In the meantime, testing continues for a select group of drivers chosen by the automaker.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk just confirmed on Twitter that the number of users has been expanded to around 2,000, though some drivers have had their FSD beta status revoked. Why? Because some “drivers did not pay sufficient attention to the road.”
That statement alone pretty much confirms the system is not fully capable of Level 5 autonomous driving. Why would drivers still have to pay attention to the road if it was? The whole point of Level 5 self-driving is a complete lack of human involvement; the system does everything. Musk also said the automaker’s beta program is utilizing its driver-facing camera to monitor the driver’s attention.
Although he did not provide a number as to how many beta testers were kicked out of the program, Musk did add the “Next significant release will be in April. Going with pure vision – not even using radar. This is the way to real-world AI.”
A new “download beta” button is expected to be added to vehicles’ touchscreen interfaces for customers who purchase the Full Self-Driving package, a $10,000 investment. Musk acknowledges this is not cheap but says it’s a better long-term deal over the monthly subscription option, though that price has yet to be revealed.
That amount could still be subject to change since Tesla is known for making unannounced pricing changes, such as last week’s $10k price increase for the new Model S Plaid. It previously cost $119,990. In yet another setback to anxious buyers, it has also been delayed from later this year until sometime in mid-2022.
