Elon Musk announced on a recent financial earnings call that many Tesla owners will need significant hardware upgrades to operate the forthcoming version of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, which is designed to function without human oversight. This revelation contradicts previous assurances made by Musk and the company that such upgrades would not be necessary.
This unexpected development raises the possibility of legal repercussions, as many Tesla buyers were led to believe that their vehicles, equipped with existing software, would soon gain autonomous driving capabilities through mere software updates. The affected vehicles are those featuring the third iteration of Tesla’s driver-assistance technology, known as “Hardware 3,” which includes specific computers and cameras that, according to Musk, will require replacement for the new FSD functionalities.
To efficiently handle the anticipated demand for these upgrades, Tesla is considering the establishment of “micro-factories” in major urban centres. Musk explained that conducting these upgrades exclusively at service centres would be neither timely nor efficient, likening the necessary upgrades to a production line process.
Owners of Hardware 3 vehicles have been seeking clarity from Tesla for years regarding their eligibility to utilise this enhanced version of FSD, which has yet to be released or validated by the company. These vehicles were sold from 2019 to 2023, and Musk’s admission marks a shift from prior statements, with a timeline now suggesting that these modifications will be necessary by January 2025.
“The honest answer is that we’re going to have to upgrade people’s Hardware 3 computer for those who have bought Full Self-Driving,” Musk acknowledged, describing the process as “painful and difficult,” but affirming a commitment to follow through.
Just six months prior, Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer, Vaibhav Taneja, had expressed a more optimistic outlook, suggesting that the company might still find a way to make the existing Hardware 3 compatible with future updates. Despite this prior assertion, Musk was clear in stating that upgrades are essential for achieving unsupervised FSD capabilities, noting that Hardware 3 lacks the requisite power.
While Tesla plans to introduce slightly enhanced versions of the existing FSD software for Hardware 3 owners, Musk reiterated that any advancements beyond this would necessitate hardware improvements.
Fanpage: TechArena.au
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