When I woke up on April 1st, I noticed an email from Tesla on my phone. Is self-driving mode free for one month on my Model Y?
For the past four years, I’ve used the standard Autopilot for all out-of-town trips. The burden of long-distance driving has been greatly reduced. So how good will full self-driving be? Is it really worth the $12,000 price tag at the time?
Since it was April Fool’s Day, I thought Elon Musk was making fun of straight-laced Tesla drivers. I hopped in the car, activated the feature, and a video of Mask waving his finger and laughing at me appeared on the center screen.
But no, he kept his promise. And now I’m not interested anymore. It’s cool, but still in development.
Key features of Tesla’s fully self-driving mode
If you can’t see the graphic, click here to view it.
Some numbers and first thoughts on Tesla’s fully self-driving mode
◾ Ten%: That’s about how often I keep Autopilot mode on when driving around town. It felt more like I was playing chicken with parked cars and oncoming traffic than trying to get help. If I hadn’t tried it, I probably wouldn’t have continued to use it as often. See below for details.
◾ 80%: It’s about how often you use it on roads where speeds are consistently over 50 mph. That kept my stress levels in check until we approached the city, but I didn’t trust my fellow drivers any more than I trusted the Tesla’s system.Details below
◾ 100% great: The first moments of an experience never get old. After setting the destination and lightly manipulating the steering column, the amusement park drive began. The steering wheel turned in my hands and the car moved forward. The direction indicator is out. We glided until we stopped at an intersection, paused for traffic, and headed up the hill. Even on unmarked roads, the Tesla hung on the right side of the road and easily avoided parked cars.
Tesla’s profits and Autopilot are getting worse
But while Tesla was trying to entice us owners to pay for full self-driving mode back in April, the news wasn’t good for the feature or the company’s financial results.
Just a few days ago, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration announced that it was investigating the Autopilot fix Tesla, which was manufactured in December, on the more than 2 million Teslas on the road. This over-the-air update aimed to resolve an issue that caused his nearly 1,000 incidents related to three levels of driver assistance. An additional 20 incidents have been reported since the update.
Types of Tesla crashes when Autosteer kicks in
The most worrisome accident appears to have been caused by 211 drivers not monitoring the system. Fully self-driving systems are clearly labeled as “supervised,” but it’s easy to become complacent. NHTSA wants assurances that drivers will remain alert to potential hazards.
Some of the fixes may already have been made. On the last day of the free trial, I frequently received messages telling me to keep my hands on the wheel. A small camera is also installed in the rearview mirror to monitor the user. It also gives you a blue screen reminder if it thinks you’re checking your phone or not looking at the road.
Warnings drivers receive from Autosteer technology
The new concerns about the Autopilot system emerged after Tesla’s quarterly net profit fell 55% to $1.3 billion as sales fell 9% from the first quarter of 2023. Tesla also lowered the prices of three of its models in April in response to goose demand. It also lowered the price of full self-driving capabilities (something Musk has hinted will never happen).
My experience leaves me with one final number.
◾ 33% off: I still can’t imagine spending $12,000 to $8,000 for this feature. I might pay $99 a month for a road trip, but I’m not going to buy it because all I really need is Autopilot, the standard driver assistance feature. How many Uber rides can you buy with $8,000?
However, the news isn’t all bad for Autopilot systems. According to Reuters, Tesla recently reached an agreement with China to put fully autonomous cars on the roads. Since the deal, Tesla stock has hit its highest since early March, according to Yahoo! finance.
If you’re wondering what’s happened to Tesla drivers these past few weeks, blame Autopilot. From now on, it’s probably up to us.
Perhaps the car in front of you seemed sluggish as it meandered through the neighborhood, appearing to sense every car parked on an unmarked street. Perhaps it actually stopped at a stop sign, stood still for a few seconds, rolled up a few feet, and then accelerated into the intersection.
Moments like this tested my patience and the driver behind me. I felt like I had to shut it down sometimes to be a good neighbor.
Note to self: You may be a little impatient. After editing these videos, the pauses at stop signs are actually not that long anymore. That said, you may have sensed my alarm in the video above, as the two cars were approaching rapidly and mine appeared to be still assessing the situation. .
A close call in fully automatic driving mode
Adam Neal, a USA TODAY Network editor in Florida, was on his way to work in Vero Beach when he made another tense call.
Neil tried out the fully self-driving mode on the first day it became available. As the video plays, Neil slams on the brakes to keep the Model 3 from hitting the truck.
Some random thoughts:
◾ The right side turns red: Indeed, red right turns have been around for decades. I didn’t think Tesla’s sensors had enough range to determine that such a turn was safe. If you are sitting at a red light with the turn signal flashing, it will suddenly take off. Very cool and no close calls.
◾ Keep pace, not peace, on the highway: Without full self-driving, I would keep pace with fast drivers in the left lane and slide to the right when real lawbreakers try to pass. Not my Tesla. The sensors in the back don’t seem to care if a big pickup truck is inches from the bumper.it’s all about maintaining your Top Speed also seems to sense when cars are moving faster in other lanes. The turn signal will come on and after a few seconds you will be in the next lane. This could lead to your friend in the car giving you an inappropriate salute.
◾ You’re leaving the highway too soon! The exit surrounded by a solid white line is probably the easiest part of the road for Tesla to navigate. It’s very simple: one moment you’re flying along the road at high speed, and the next you’re hurtling down toward the exit at the maximum speed you set. It can feel like a runaway train. Passengers may be keen to point it out.
Tesla’s fully self-driving mode is just around the corner.
Driving in April has been a little easier and a little scarier, but it’s finally time to say goodbye. Now, if Tesla actually turns off the power. I didn’t mind lighting it one last time on May 1st.
