Tesla isn’t the only company with self-driving cars on the road anymore, but it was one of the first to bring this technology to the public. Their cars use a bunch of cameras, sensors, and AI to drive themselves to some extent. However, this doesn’t mean you can just nod off at the wheel. All Tesla’s self-driving features still require constant driver supervision, and there are significant limitations to what the technology can do.
Tesla’s self-driving technology is available in two main forms: Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD). But what distinguishes these two, and how reliable are they?
Tesla introduced Autopilot back in 2014, making it the first autonomous driving mode the company offered. While it’s the least advanced of the options, it’s included for free with all new Tesla cars, so it’s like getting a bonus. Autopilot is designed for use with full driver supervision, essentially functioning as an advanced cruise control system. It includes lane-centering and adaptive cruise control, enabling the car to stay in the center of a lane and adjust its speed based on traffic conditions. These features are not unique to Tesla; many other cars offer similar advanced cruise control systems.
Enhanced Autopilot, which costs $6,000, adds some features that other cars typically don’t have. Enhanced Autopilot can park the car on its own and includes an auto lane change feature, allowing the car to change lanes when necessary. This ties into the “Navigate on Autopilot” feature, enabling the car to drive from a highway’s on-ramp to its off-ramp with minimal driver input, although the driver still needs to stay alert. It also includes Summon and Smart Summon, which let the car come to you in a parking lot without a remote control.
The most advanced option is Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD). Introduced in 2020 and still labeled as “beta,” this feature is essentially a real-world test run with drivers. FSD is the most expensive feature, costing $15,000 upfront or $200 per month as a subscription. It includes the ability to start and stop at traffic lights and stop signs, a significant advancement towards fully autonomous driving. Tesla envisions FSD as eventually providing door-to-door autonomous driving, but for now, drivers still need to stay alert and be ready to take control. The name “Full Self-Driving” is somewhat misleading, as the car cannot fully drive itself yet.
So, can you nap while any of these modes are active? Unfortunately, no. None of them allow for hands-off, eyes-off driving, and some drivers have tried to sleep behind the wheel with disastrous results. Tesla’s self-driving capabilities have faced considerable scrutiny. In 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began investigating the use of Autopilot due to several accidents. This investigation led to a recall of over 360,000 Tesla vehicles using the FSD beta. The NHTSA found that the system could make cars act unsafely at intersections and fail to stop properly.
Beyond this recall, Tesla makes it clear that its self-driving features require a fully attentive driver. The owner manual advises against depending solely on Autosteer, describing it as a “hands-on feature.” While some drivers may ignore these guidelines, it’s evident that no Tesla can yet take you from point A to point B without your full attention.