By Kevin Armstrong
FSD Free Trial Rolls Out
Tesla is rolling out an exciting opportunity for its customers in the United States and Canada to experience the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature for one month, free of charge. Yes, it is called Supervised now and not Beta; read more about that change here.
Tesla owners in the US and Canada can enjoy a free month of FSD (Supervised), provided their vehicles are equipped with either software update version 2024.3.6 or 2024.3.10 which is now rolling out to the masses in North America. This initiative is part of Tesla's effort to introduce users to the advancements in autonomous driving technology, specifically the enhancements in the FSD v12 upgrades.
Recognizing Your Eligibility
Eligibility is straightforward. If you currently do not subscribe to FSD, Tesla will email you to notify you of the free one-month trial offer. Keep an eye on your inbox for an email from Tesla. To be in line for the update and the trial, you need to:
Reside in the US or Canada.
Have installed Tesla update 2024.3.6 or update 2024.3.10
If you’re running Tesla update 2024.2.x or older, then you’ll be eligible to download this latest FSD update. Tesla will automatically push the update to your vehicle when it's your turn. The rollout is happening in substantial batches, so patience is key. For more detailed information on the updates, head to our Tesla's software updates page, which offers comprehensive release notes.
Already a Subscriber?
According to X user David Lindsey, if you currently subscribe to FSD, then you’ll also receive a free month of FSD. In his screenshot, he shows that he has been billed for previous months, but his next charge isn’t until May 11th, completely skipping the April 11th charge.
However, if you purchased FSD for a hefty sum, Tesla isn’t being quite as generous, and there won’t be a credit in your account. While this isn’t surprising, it would be a nice gesture to reward owners who bought FSD with some referral credits, or something similar.
Legacy Model S and Model X Owners
Legacy Model S and Model X vehicles have so far been left without FSD v12 access. However, according to Tesla executive Rohan Patel, an update is on the horizon for these vehicles before the redesign in 2021. These vehicles which account for about 3% of all FSD-eligible vehicles, have distinct hardware and need further training and testing before FSD v12 becomes available. Although Patel stood clear of providing an estimate of when a build would be ready, he confirmed that Tesla's AI team is diligently working to ensure compatibility and safety.
How to Start Your Trial
Once you've received the trial notification over email, there’s no need to subscribe to FSD or activate it in any manner. FSD will instantly become available in your vehicle. Unfortunately for some owners who may be away for work or vacation, you can not postpone the trial and it begins immediately.
Although Tesla has moved away from the FSD Beta wording and it’s now officially called FSD (Supervised), always remember that this feature requires you to be constantly aware of your surroundings and to monitor the vehicle closely. While FSD will navigate, change lanes, and even take turns, it's imperative to stay attentive and cautious—the system is designed to assist, not replace, the driver.
The Full Self-Driving (Supervised) upgrade represents a significant leap forward, transitioning the city-streets driving stack to a single, end-to-end neural network. This evolution from explicit coding to neural-based learning aims to enhance your driving experience significantly.
Tesla's offer of a one-month free FSD trial marks the first time Tesla has offered FSD as a trial. Tesla has previously offered trials for Enhance Autopilot, but not for FSD. Tesla hopes that giving customers this unique opportunity to try out FSD will lead to additional FSD subscriptions, which may help boost Tesla’s expected weaker sales this quarter.
Check for updates in your vehicle or app, check your emails, and your Tesla vehicle may be next.
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By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla has finally taken the training wheels off, well, almost. After years of including the word “Beta” every time Full Self-Driving is mentioned, the company is now going with FSD (Supervised). Is it just a rebrand? Maybe, but there is no doubt that there is a significant upgrade from the previous versions of FSD Beta, and it certainly requires more than just a number upgrade, but a full freshening up of the name.
The Significance of "Supervised"
The latest update came with a message to the inbox on the Tesla app, which was highly anti-climatic for those waiting for a Cybertruck message. However, this software update might be as groundbreaking as the Cybertruck in the auto sector.
The transition to FSD (Supervised) acknowledges the current state of Tesla's autonomous technology—it's incredibly advanced and offers significant safety improvements, yet just like before, it still requires driver oversight. This change is a nod to the regulatory landscape and Tesla's cautious approach to autonomy, ensuring drivers remain engaged and responsible while utilizing the system.
Updated Safety Stats Tell the Story
Tesla's FSD technology has made commendable strides in enhancing vehicle safety, as evidenced by the latest statistics. With Autopilot engaged, Tesla vehicles report one crash per 5.39 million miles driven, starkly contrasting with the national average of one crash per 670,000 miles. This positions Teslas on Autopilot as approximately 8.04 times safer than the average US driver. Even without Autopilot, Teslas are about 1.49 times safer. These figures underscore the substantial safety benefits of Tesla's technology on the road, though it hasn't yet reached the ambitious "10 times safer" goal outlined in Tesla's Master Plan Part Deux.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 17, 2024V12.4 is another big jump in capabilities.
Our constraint in training compute is much improved.
The industry has taken note of Tesla's advancements. Michael Dell's commendation of FSD v12.3 as resembling human-like driving capabilities highlights Tesla's progress in refining its autonomous driving features. Elon Musk's response, teasing the release of FSD v12.4, suggests that Tesla is on the brink of further breakthroughs. Musk's mention of overcoming AI training compute constraints indicates that Tesla's pace of development is set to accelerate, promising even more sophisticated autonomous driving capabilities in the near future.
Conclusion
Tesla's update from FSD Beta to FSD (Supervised) is more than a semantic shift—it reflects its safety and autonomous driving technology advancements. By emphasizing the supervised nature of its current FSD system, Tesla is navigating the complex balance between innovation, safety, and regulatory compliance. With FSD v12.4 on the horizon, Tesla continues to drive toward autonomous driving and a safer future on roadways.
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