Following the NHSA investigation, Tesla is currently rolling out a massive update for 2 million of its cars. All the new features focus on the objective of improving Autopilot and its safety, via new visual alerts and better ergonomics for the driver. We take stock of all the new developments.
After two other fatal accidents involving Autopilot, Tesla once again found itself in the sights of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), American road safety. While the investigation is still ongoing, the organization has ordered the manufacturer to recall no less than 2 million vehicles, deemed too dangerous to circulate freely on the roads.
In addition, the NHTSA criticizes Tesla for not having included enough safety measures to ensure the driver’s vigilance when Autopilot is activated. As one might expect, Elon Musk’s firm was quick to deploy a corrective update to satisfy the road safety organization. The patch is now available to many drivers.
Tesla rolls out emergency update to improve Autopilot security
This is therefore firmware version 2023.44.30. Here are the vehicles affected by the update:
- Model S manufactured between 2012 and 2023
- Model Xs manufactured between 2016 and 2023
- Model 3s manufactured between 2017 and 2023
- Model Ys manufactured between 2020 and 2023
On the same subject — Tesla once again targeted by investigation for false advertising about Autopilot
Concretely, the new features concern strengthening the vigilance of drivers. For example, it’s easier to turn Autopilot on and off, while notifications are much more visible on the dashboard. The system will also check that you have both hands on the steering wheel while driving.
Likewise, it is possible that Autopilot refuses to activate if all safety conditions are not met. As a reminder, Autopilot is rather poorly named, since it is a level 2 driving assistance system. This means that the driver must keep his attention on the road at all times, even when it is activated.