Tesla just dropped a free 40-day FSD trial to 1.5 million car owners
Tesla is making headlines this holiday season by offering a free trial of its latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, version 14, to approximately 1.5 million eligible Tesla owners in the U.S. This initiative is particularly aimed at those who own Tesla vehicles equipped with the latest Full Self-Driving hardware (HW4) but have not yet purchased the software. The trial period will last around 40 days, concluding on January 8, 2024, allowing users to experience the advanced features of FSD without any initial investment. This strategic move seems to be a clever marketing tactic by Tesla, encouraging users to explore the capabilities of FSD in hopes that they will opt to buy the software after the trial ends.
FSD encompasses a range of driving assistance features that bring Tesla vehicles closer to autonomous driving. Key functionalities include automatic lane changing, automatic parking, and sophisticated route navigation. However, it’s important to note that despite its name, FSD still requires constant supervision from the driver, as the system is not fully autonomous. This trial period not only allows users to test the software but also enables Tesla to showcase the advancements made in FSD technology. While CEO Elon Musk has consistently touted each new version of FSD as a significant step towards true self-driving capabilities, the progress has faced scrutiny. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating whether the FSD system may be contributing to violations of traffic safety laws, highlighting ongoing concerns about the software’s reliability and safety.
Despite these challenges, Tesla’s decision to offer a free trial during the holidays reflects its confidence in the latest version of FSD and its potential appeal to consumers. By allowing a broad segment of its customer base to experience the software firsthand, Tesla hopes to convert trial users into paying customers, thereby boosting sales and solidifying its position in the competitive electric vehicle market. As the trial unfolds, it will be interesting to see how users respond to the FSD features and whether this initiative will lead to increased adoption of the software in the long run.
Got a
Tesla
car with the latest iteration of
Full Self-Driving
hardware (HW4) inside, but you haven’t actually purchased FSD? Well, you’ll be able to try it out for free over the holidays.
According to Tesla enthusiast and blogger
Sawyer Merritt
, Tesla has given a free trial of its latest FSD software (V14) to roughly 1.5 million Tesla owners in the U.S., and the trial lasts approximately forty days, until January 8.
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Tesla FSD is a set of driving assistance features that brings the car closer to self-driving, with features such as automatic lane changing, automatic parking, and route navigation. However, FSD still requires constant supervision from the driver.
This is a pretty clever idea from Tesla; the company basically gifted the latest version of FSD to its entire eligible user base in the U.S. over the holidays, presumably hoping that some of them will like it so much that they’ll purchase it after the trial ends.
SEE ALSO:
Tesla debunked by regulator over Full-Self Driving approval claim
FSD is not without issues, though. Tesla CEO Elon Musk keeps
praising
every new version of the software as the one that will make that final leap towards
actual self-driving
, but the progress is slower than he’d anticipated. Tesla FSD has been
under investigation
by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as the agency looks into whether FSD is making Tesla cars violate traffic safety laws.
