Tesla has recently made subtle yet potentially significant changes to how it advertises and sells its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature on its website. Although the adjustments in wording are minor, they could hint at broader shifts in Tesla’s approach to autonomous driving in the future.
The Shift from “Full Self-Driving Capability” to “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)”
Previously, Tesla offered a feature called “Full Self-Driving Capability,” which promised continuous improvements through over-the-air updates. This description has been replaced with a new option called “Full Self-Driving (Supervised),” which no longer mentions ongoing enhancements. The changes, while slight, raise questions about what Tesla’s future FSD strategy might entail, especially as the company prepares for upcoming events like the Robotaxi showcase.
This shift also follows the recent removal of certain blog posts, including Elon Musk’s Masterplan Part II, which had discussed Tesla’s vision of Robotaxi-capable vehicles. While the blog removal was part of routine website maintenance, the rephrasing of FSD options appears more deliberate.
What Else Has Changed?
In addition to the name change, Tesla has altered other aspects of its FSD description. For instance, previous language emphasized that the activation and use of these features would depend on surpassing human driver reliability and achieving regulatory approval. The updated text simplifies this to say that these features’ activation and use are contingent on development and regulatory approval, omitting the earlier commitment to exceeding human performance and continuous updates.
Implications of “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)”
The rebranded “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” suggests that Tesla is moving away from the promise of full autonomy without human oversight, a key selling point for many past customers who invested in the FSD package. Now, it seems that new buyers should expect some level of supervision to remain a requirement for the foreseeable future.
This change in messaging might be a legal maneuver to manage customer expectations and avoid over-promising capabilities that Tesla is not yet ready to deliver. Interestingly, Tesla’s Autopilot/FSD Support Page still mentions full autonomy, indicating that the company is not entirely abandoning its vision of fully autonomous driving.
What Does This Mean for Current and Future Tesla Owners?
Current subscribers to Tesla’s FSD service should also be aware that the company can modify its offerings at any time, reflecting whatever is available at that moment.
Looking ahead, it’s possible that Tesla could introduce a separate package for “Full Self-Driving (Unsupervised),” potentially aimed at commercial or Robotaxi applications. However, the company has not yet confirmed such a plan, nor has it clarified the timeline or pricing for a fully autonomous version.
Overall, these changes suggest that Tesla is carefully navigating the complexities of self-driving technology and its regulatory landscape. Whether these updates are primarily for legal protection or are paving the way for new product offerings remains to be seen. For now, Tesla’s message seems clear: Full self-driving still requires supervision, and the path to true autonomy is a work in progress.
