Latest news with #FullSelfDriving
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New report reveals Tesla officials' efforts to hide potentially damaging data: 'Would suffer financial and economic harm'
Tesla is fighting to keep crash data involving its Autopilot and Full-Self Driving systems confidential, arguing that making it known would harm its business. As detailed by Electrek, automakers must report crashes involving advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Even though Tesla vehicles account for the majority of the reports, Electrek suggests that the company "abuses" the NHTSA's confidentiality rules. As a result, crucial information regarding the crashes is redacted — which is not usually the case for other automakers. The Washington Post has issued a request for Tesla's ADAS crash data, arguing that the ADAS hardware and software aren't private because drivers can access the information in their vehicles. However, Tesla has pushed back. In a filing, it says it "would suffer financial and economic harm if the requested information is disclosed," in part because competitors would be able to "draw conclusions as to Tesla's rate of progress" with its autonomous technology. Even though Tesla ranks among the five-safest car brands, its autonomous driving technology is giving many consumers serious pause — and for good reason. The automaker's struggles with the rollout are well-documented. In China, system errors with its Full Self-Driving software resulted in drivers racking up costly traffic violations. In San Francisco, a Tesla robotaxi using the same or similar FSD tech initially stopped at a red light but then proceeded through before the light turned green. The NHTSA has also opened multiple investigations after crashes involving several of Tesla's autonomous features, according to Reuters. Nonetheless, Tesla sees its autonomous driving technology as a crucial component to its future success. This month, it intends to roll out its self-driving robotaxis in Austin, Texas. However, critics have argued the launch seems premature, given that Tesla only began testing its robotaxis without a safety driver at the end of May, per Electrek. Tesla's fight to keep ADAS crash data redacted comes at a tough time for the company, which saw its stocks and global sales fall off a cliff early in 2025 before rebounding a bit last month. Would you trust a self-driving car to take you to work every day? For sure Maybe someday I'm not sure Never in a million years Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While CEO Elon Musk's political activities and leadership in the Department of Government Efficiency weren't the only factors in the slide, they played a major role, souring the brand in the eyes of many who viewed their support for Tesla as a political statement. Musk's recent public rift with President Donald Trump also did nothing to quell the company's stock volatility and prompted a fresh drop after the rebound, though the stock has since regained most of that latest drop. Tesla's legal battle with the Post may only add to the doubts that the company can reclaim its position as a tastemaker in a robust EV market. "The self driving fantasy is 90% of the stock price. Transparency would kill that fantasy," one Electrek commenter suggested. Ultimately, having more EVs on the road is a good thing from a public health and environmental perspective. EVs are desirable as a more eco-friendly, cost-effective mode of transportation, slashing asthma-linked heat-trapping pollution along with fuel and maintenance bills. Yet a poorly executed robotaxi launch could not only create another type of public safety concern but also lead to a negative perception of Tesla's technology — self-driven or not. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Telegraph
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Telegraph
Tesla's FSD runs over child mannequin
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. Two Tesla foes have joined forces to attack Elon and his automotive semi-autonomous driving technology. The Dawn Project and the Tesla Takedown movement have partnered to highlight what they claim are 'critical safety defects' in Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software. In a recent test conducted in the United States (US), a Tesla Model Y equipped with the latest version of Full Self-Driving (version 13.2.9) was presented with a common scenario: a school bus stopped on the side of the road with its flashing lights and stop signs activated. A child-sized mannequin was then pulled across the street, simulating a child attempting to catch the bus. Anti-Tesla activists testing FSD system. (Picture: The Dawn Project) Anti-Tesla activists testing FSD system. (Picture: The Dawn Project) MORE: Inside China's total domination of Australia The Tesla, travelling at an average speed of approximately 32 km/h, failed to stop at the bus stop sign and proceeded to strike the mannequin in each of the eight test runs. The system also reportedly failed to alert the driver to the collision. The tests come as Tesla prepares to launch robotaxis in the US, fully autonomous vehicles designed for taxi services. While Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated that the company is 'being super paranoid about safety' regarding its forthcoming robotaxi launch, organisers like The Dawn Project and Tesla Takedown aren't convinced. Tesla runs passed stop sign. (Picture: The Dawn Project) MORE: Crisis sends Australian fuel prices soaring The Dawn Project said, 'Full Self-Driving ran down the child mannequin while illegally blowing past the school bus on every single attempt.' 'Tesla's Full Self-Driving software did not disengage or even alert the driver to the fact there had been a collision on any of the test runs,' they added. However, it's important to note that the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is not fully autonomous but rather semi-autonomous. Tesla states explicitly that the system is designed for 'use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment.' Autonomous driving is a key pillar of investment for Tesla. Having introduced its 'Autopilot' driver assistance system more than a decade ago, Tesla doubled down on 'full self-driving' in the US. Anti-Tesla activists testing FSD system. (Picture: The Dawn Project) MORE: Magic mushies, booze kill off 'soft' utes Recently, Tesla was faced with a significant challenge after Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Build Your Dreams (BYD) unveiled its new driver-assistance system, 'God's Eye.' This innovative technology, which BYD has installed for free in some of its models, enables cars to drive themselves on highways and in urban environments. Some experts argue that 'God's Eye' is more advanced than Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which costs nearly US $9,000 ($13,800) in China. Tesla's Full Self-Driving capability in Australia is currently being tested and is not yet fully legal for public use. However, the system could be arriving soon. Earlier this year, the EV giant published a video on of a Tesla Model 3 with prototype software successfully negotiating busy streets in inner-city Melbourne. 2025 Tesla Model Y. Picture: Mark Bean The brand's country director for Australia, Thom Drew, says an expansion of Tesla's driverless features is high on Elon Musk's list of priorities. 'That's Elon's push,' Drew said. 'We have a global engineering team that are working across markets around a lot of FSD… actively working across all our markets to roll it out.' Critics are watching closely as Tesla's Autopilot and FSD systems remain under investigation following a series of crashes and fatalities. Originally published as Tesla's Full Self-Driving system fails in 'safety test'
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Tesla's Full Self-Driving system fails in ‘safety test'
Two Tesla foes have joined forces to attack Elon and his automotive semi-autonomous driving technology. The Dawn Project and the Tesla Takedown movement have partnered to highlight what they claim are 'critical safety defects' in Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software. In a recent test conducted in the United States (US), a Tesla Model Y equipped with the latest version of Full Self-Driving (version 13.2.9) was presented with a common scenario: a school bus stopped on the side of the road with its flashing lights and stop signs activated. A child-sized mannequin was then pulled across the street, simulating a child attempting to catch the bus. The Tesla, travelling at an average speed of approximately 32 km/h, failed to stop at the bus stop sign and proceeded to strike the mannequin in each of the eight test runs. The system also reportedly failed to alert the driver to the collision. The tests come as Tesla prepares to launch robotaxis in the US, fully autonomous vehicles designed for taxi services. While Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated that the company is 'being super paranoid about safety' regarding its forthcoming robotaxi launch, organisers like The Dawn Project and Tesla Takedown aren't convinced. The Dawn Project said, 'Full Self-Driving ran down the child mannequin while illegally blowing past the school bus on every single attempt.' 'Tesla's Full Self-Driving software did not disengage or even alert the driver to the fact there had been a collision on any of the test runs,' they added. However, it's important to note that the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is not fully autonomous but rather semi-autonomous. Tesla states explicitly that the system is designed for 'use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment.' Autonomous driving is a key pillar of investment for Tesla. Having introduced its 'Autopilot' driver assistance system more than a decade ago, Tesla doubled down on 'full self-driving' in the US. Recently, Tesla was faced with a significant challenge after Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Build Your Dreams (BYD) unveiled its new driver-assistance system, 'God's Eye.' This innovative technology, which BYD has installed for free in some of its models, enables cars to drive themselves on highways and in urban environments. Some experts argue that 'God's Eye' is more advanced than Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which costs nearly US $9,000 ($13,800) in China. Tesla's Full Self-Driving capability in Australia is currently being tested and is not yet fully legal for public use. However, the system could be arriving soon. Earlier this year, the EV giant published a video on of a Tesla Model 3 with prototype software successfully negotiating busy streets in inner-city Melbourne. The brand's country director for Australia, Thom Drew, says an expansion of Tesla's driverless features is high on Elon Musk's list of priorities. 'That's Elon's push,' Drew said. 'We have a global engineering team that are working across markets around a lot of FSD… actively working across all our markets to roll it out.' Critics are watching closely as Tesla's Autopilot and FSD systems remain under investigation following a series of crashes and fatalities.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla blows past stopped school bus and hits kid-sized dummies in Full Self-Driving tests
A revealing demonstration with Tesla's Full Self-Driving mode is raising concerns about whether fully autonomous cars are ready to hit the streets. Tesla has reportedly pushed back the rollout of its upcoming all-electric, fully autonomous car called the Cybercab, while a recent demonstration in Austin, Texas showed a Tesla Model Y running through a school bus' flashing lights and stop signs, and hitting child-size mannequins. The tests were conducted by The Dawn Project, along with Tesla Takedown and ResistAustin, and showed Tesla's Full Self-Driving software repeating the same mistake eight times. It's worth noting that Tesla's autonomous driving feature is formally known as Full Self-Driving (Supervised) and "requires a fully attentive driver and will display a series of escalating warnings requiring driver response." Tesla even has a warning that says, "failure to follow these instructions could cause damage, serious injury or death." However, it's not the first time that Tesla's FSD software has found itself in hot water. The Dawn Project, whose founder Dan O'Dowd is the CEO of a company that offers competing automated driving system software, previously took out ads warning about the dangers of Tesla's Full Self-Driving and how it would fail to yield around school buses. In April 2024, a Model S using Full Self-Driving was involved in a crash in Washington, where a motorcyclist died. With anticipation building up for an eventual Cybercab rollout on June 22, the company's CEO posted some additional details on X. According to Elon Musk, Tesla is "being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift." Beyond that, Musk also posted that the "first Tesla that drives itself from factory end of line all the way to a customer house is June 28."
Forbes
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
While Tesla Talks, Waymo Drives
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has established itself as a frontrunner in the realm of autonomous driving for quite some time. Its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software improves the driving experience by automating specific tasks, enabling Tesla vehicles to navigate, change lanes, and park independently while necessitating the driver's active supervision. However, despite years of anticipation and high investor expectations, Tesla's FSD does not seemingly make a substantial contribution to the company's revenues, while other tech giants like Google have been ramping up their investments in self-driving technology. Concurrently, higher-margin software products such as FSD are becoming increasingly crucial to Tesla's growth narrative as its core EV business faces pressure from waning demand and heightened price competition. So, what is the current status of the FSD software? Tesla offers FSD as either a one-time purchase of $8,000 or a subscription priced at $99 per month. We believe the subscription option is likely to be the preferred choice for most new Tesla buyers due to its flexibility and lower initial cost. Although Tesla does not report FSD revenue separately, estimates from RBC Capital Markets indicate that roughly 5% of customers chose the subscription by early 2024. This attach rate has likely improved after Tesla reduced the monthly fee by 50% to $100 by April 2024. Based on vehicle delivery forecasts for 2025, we estimate that Tesla could sell approximately 1.7 million vehicles this year. If we assume that 10% of these customers opt for the FSD subscription, that results in about 170,000 additional subscriptions. This would raise cumulative subscriptions to around 460,000 by the end of this year. See detailed calculations in our dashboard How Big Is Tesla's Software Business? At a monthly rate of $100, that translates to approximately $550 million in annual revenue for Tesla. While this is significant, it remains a small portion of Tesla's total sales, and it falls short of justifying the substantial valuation premium that Tesla's stock commands on account of FSD's long-term potential. On a different note, if you're looking for upside with less volatility than individual stocks, the Trefis High Quality portfolio offers an alternative, having outperformed the S&P 500 and generated returns exceeding 91% since its inception. Elon Musk has continuously promised significant advancements in autonomy, yet Tesla has frequently missed its own timelines. For example, Musk had asserted that v13 of the FSD software would facilitate a 5 to 6 times increase in miles driven between disengagements compared to the v12.5 version. The miles between critical disengagements, which indicates the average distance a vehicle travels before the system must be disengaged, is regarded as a vital safety metric for FSD. Nonetheless, data now reveals that v13 yielded barely a 2.5 times improvement, increasing from 200 miles to about 495 miles. The head of FSD at Tesla has previously mentioned that for Tesla to achieve truly unsupervised self-driving, the average number of miles per critical intervention would need to match the 'equivalent of human miles between collisions,' which stands at approximately 700,000 miles. By this measure, it appears Tesla has a considerable distance to cover. Conversely, Alphabet's Waymo has been quietly and consistently making tangible strides in the real world. The company is currently conducting over 250,000 fully autonomous, paid rides each week across Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, a significant increase from around 10,000 rides merely two years ago. Waymo's vehicles operate without any human oversight, in contrast to Tesla's FSD, which still requires driver supervision. Additionally, riders seem to have a preference for Waymo; according to Earnest Analytics, Waymo retains riders at a higher rate than Uber or Lyft. This implies that once individuals experience fully autonomous rides, they favor them. Safety could also be a compelling selling point. Waymo's safety report from last year indicated that its autonomous vehicles achieved a 78% reduction in injury-causing crashes compared to human drivers. See: Waymo To Separate From Google? That being said, Tesla has some advantages at this moment. Waymo's system relies on a comprehensive hardware stack that includes custom lidar and radar sensors as well as cameras that are retrofitted to the vehicles it procures from traditional automakers. In contrast, Tesla relies on a camera-only system powered by neural networks. This approach makes Tesla's system potentially simpler and cheaper to scale. Furthermore, there are likely over 5 million Teslas currently on the road, and it's reasonable to assume that a significant percentage of these vehicles are equipped with the necessary hardware to run FSD software. If the software can advance accordingly, Tesla could activate a vast FSD user base, swiftly altering the economics of its business.
