Tesla Rolls Out Full Self-Driving Beta to Everyone in the US

Elon Musk announced in a tweet that anyone can now request the software add-on from the car screen for the price of US$15,000.

FSD is a semi-autonomous upgrade option that adds a number of features which complement the standard Autopilot driver assistance system, including automated steering in cities, automatic parking and traffic sign recognition, among others.

According to Engadget, Tesla was originally expected to launch FSD features in 2018, but it wasn't until 2021 that it was rolled out to a small number of "expert and careful drivers". The features became more widely available with the release of version 9.0 beta, though testers were limited to an early access program. The Texas-based electric vehicle giant would later remove the requirements to qualify for FSD before finally making it available for everyone – a move that might draw concern, considering how drivers using automated features are supposedly less likely to be alert on the road.

Tesla is already facing regulatory scrutiny for a number of crashes, many of which resulted in deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently opened investigations into a series of crashes involving Tesla's Autopilot system. California's Department of Motor Vehicles is also alleging the company falsely advertised the self-driving capabilities of Autopilot and FSD.

In Singapore, there's no law against the use of Autopilot in Tesla vehicles. Malaysia, in contrast, prohibits drivers from using self-driving systems, which, of course, includes Autopilot. Under the country's law, drivers must always be in a position where they have appropriate control of their vehicle. Those who violate this law could face a fine of up to RM2,000 or prison time of up to six months.

Musk has long been promising the concept of an entirely autonomous vehicle that doesn’t need human intervention to operate. He went as far as to say that it could arrive this year but would later backtrack on his own claims. Then again, by opening FSD to more drivers, Tesla might now have more data to work with in improving its self-driving software, which could ultimately help it fulfil Musk’s promise.