Elon Musk reveals Tesla Full Self Driving is close in Europe & China

The Electric Viking
28 Apr 202406:27

TLDRElon Musk has announced that Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology is now operational in Germany and is awaiting regulatory approval. The FSD stack is expected to be launched in other left-hand drive countries within the coming weeks. Tesla is also offering the FSD at a reduced price and has been promoting it in North America. Although not yet fully autonomous, requiring driver supervision, Tesla is working towards approval for its current level of self-driving capabilities. The company is focusing on left-hand drive regions, which account for approximately 80% of global car sales, including Europe, China, and North America. Tesla's supercomputer is being used to process data from edge cases, allowing the FSD system to learn and improve rapidly. If approved, Tesla's FSD could significantly disrupt the transportation industry, posing a challenge to companies like Uber, as the cost of drivers is a major expense that Tesla's technology could eliminate.

Takeaways

  • 🚗 Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) is now operational in Germany and awaiting regulatory approval.
  • 🌍 FSD is expected to launch in other left-hand drive countries within the next one to two weeks.
  • 🚦 Tesla is demonstrating FSD to German regulators, similar to how Mercedes received approval for its limited self-driving system.
  • 💰 Tesla has recently been offering FSD at a lower price point in North America, currently at $88,000.
  • 🔄 The transition to left-hand drive regions is imminent, as stated by Elon Musk.
  • 🤖 Tesla's FSD is not yet at the level of true autonomous driving where drivers can completely relinquish control.
  • 🧠 Tesla utilizes its supercomputer to learn from edge cases and improve its FSD software at a rapid pace.
  • 📈 If FSD is approved in major markets like Europe, China, and North America, Tesla's stock price could significantly increase.
  • 🚕 The approval of FSD could pose a major challenge to companies like Uber, which rely heavily on driver costs.
  • 🔧 Tesla has been testing FSD internationally for years and is now engaging with the United Nations Economic Commission regarding the technology.
  • 🇨🇳 Tesla China has launched subscriptions for enhanced autopilot, signaling a precursor to the launch of full self-driving in the country.

Q & A

  • What is the current status of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) in Germany?

    -Tesla's Full Self-Driving is now running in Germany, and the company is demonstrating it to regulators to get it approved. It is expected to be available in other left-hand drive countries within the next one or two weeks.

  • How does Tesla's FSD compare to Mercedes' autonomous driving system?

    -Tesla's FSD is considered more likely to be approved because it is more advanced and functional than Mercedes' system, which has many limitations and only works under very specific conditions.

  • What is the price for Tesla's FSD in North America?

    -Tesla has recently started offering its FSD at a lower price of $88,000 in North America.

  • What does Elon Musk say about the readiness of Tesla's FSD for left-hand drive countries?

    -Elon Musk stated that Tesla believes version 12 of its FSD is ready for supervised full self-driving in left-hand drive countries, while right-hand drive countries will take a bit longer.

  • What is the significance of Tesla's FSD being approved in left-hand drive countries?

    -Left-hand drive countries, which include Europe, China, and North America, account for about 80% of global car sales. Therefore, approval in these regions is crucial for Tesla's market penetration.

  • How is Tesla using its supercomputer to improve FSD?

    -Tesla is using its supercomputer to process data from edge cases, allowing the system to learn and improve quickly. This continuous learning helps the FSD to handle unusual and complex driving scenarios.

  • What is the potential impact on Uber if Tesla's FSD gets approved for widespread use?

    -If Tesla's FSD is approved and becomes widely available, it could significantly disrupt Uber's business model, as the main cost for Uber is the hourly cost of the driver, which would be eliminated with self-driving technology.

  • What are the challenges for Tesla in implementing FSD in right-hand drive countries?

    -Tesla needs to train and adapt its software to work effectively in right-hand drive countries, which involves making specific changes to ensure the technology functions correctly in these regions.

  • What is the current cumulative mileage for Tesla's FSD testing?

    -Tesla has surpassed 1.3 billion cumulative miles in its FSD testing.

  • How does the host of the channel feel about the rapid advancements in self-driving technology?

    -The host, Sam Evans, expresses excitement and enthusiasm about the fast pace of change in self-driving technology and finds it interesting, which is why he enjoys covering the topic.

  • What is the potential timeframe for Tesla's FSD to be approved in Europe and China?

    -While it is not imminent, the host anticipates that Tesla's FSD could be approved in Europe and China within the next two years, based on the current rate of improvements.

  • What is the purpose of Tesla's recent discussions with the United Nations Economic Commission regarding self-driving technology?

    -Tesla has been testing self-driving technology in other countries for years, and the recent discussions indicate a step towards international recognition and potential global standards for self-driving technology.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Tesla's Full Self-Driving in Germany and Beyond

The first paragraph discusses the recent development of Tesla's full self-driving technology being operational in Germany, with potential approval in other left-hand drive countries in the near future. The speaker, Sam Evans, highlights Tesla's ongoing demonstrations to German regulators and the company's belief that their version 12 software is ready for supervised self-driving. Comparisons are made to Mercedes' self-driving system, which has been approved despite its limitations. The paragraph also touches on Tesla's strategy of focusing on left-hand drive markets, which represent about 80% of global car sales, and the company's progress in testing and discussions with international entities like the United Nations Economic Commission. The summary emphasizes Tesla's use of its supercomputer to learn from edge cases and improve its self-driving capabilities rapidly.

05:00

📈 Implications for Tesla's Stock and the Ride-Hailing Industry

The second paragraph explores the potential impact on Tesla's stock price and the competition with companies like Uber if Tesla's full self-driving technology is approved in major markets within the next two years. The speaker argues that the removal of the driver's cost, which is a significant expense for ride-hailing services, would make it difficult for competitors to match Tesla's business model. The paragraph also mentions Tesla's plans to use the self-driving software to train their robots, adding another dimension to the company's technological advancements. The summary conveys the excitement and apprehension about the rapid pace of change in the automotive and technology sectors, and the potential for Tesla to revolutionize transportation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Full Self Driving (FSD)

Full Self Driving (FSD) refers to a technology that enables a vehicle to drive autonomously without the need for human intervention. In the context of the video, Tesla's FSD is a significant focus as it is being tested and potentially approved in various regions, including Germany and left-hand drive countries. The script mentions that FSD is not yet at the stage where drivers can completely relinquish control, but it is progressing rapidly with regulatory approvals and demonstrations to regulators.

💡Left-hand Drive

Left-hand Drive is a configuration where the vehicle's steering wheel is located on the left side of the car, which is the standard in countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. The video discusses the imminent approval of Tesla's FSD in left-hand drive countries, highlighting the importance of this market segment for Tesla's expansion plans.

💡Right-hand Drive

Right-hand Drive is the opposite of left-hand drive, with the steering wheel located on the right side of the car. This is the standard in countries like the United States, Canada, and most of Europe. The script notes that Tesla's FSD approval is not yet available for right-hand drive countries and that additional software training and adjustments are required.

💡Regulators

Regulators in this context are government officials or agencies responsible for overseeing and approving new technologies or practices, such as autonomous driving systems. The video mentions that Tesla is giving demonstrations to regulators in Germany to get FSD approved, indicating the crucial role these authorities play in the adoption of new automotive technologies.

💡Supervised Self-Driving

Supervised Self-Driving is a term used to describe a level of vehicle automation where the car can drive itself under certain conditions, but a human driver must remain attentive and ready to take control if necessary. The video discusses Tesla's approach to promoting supervised self-driving in North America and its potential expansion to other markets.

💡Mercedes Autonomous Driving

Mercedes Autonomous Driving refers to the self-driving technology developed by the car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. The video script contrasts Tesla's FSD with Mercedes' system, noting that while Mercedes' technology has been approved, it operates under very specific and limited conditions. This comparison is used to argue in favor of the potential approval of Tesla's more advanced FSD.

💡Edge Cases

Edge Cases in the context of self-driving technology are unusual or unexpected scenarios that a vehicle's autonomous system may encounter, which are not part of standard driving situations. The video mentions that Tesla uses its supercomputer to learn from edge cases, improving the FSD system's ability to handle such situations.

💡Supercomputer

A Supercomputer is a computer with high performance capabilities, significantly faster than a standard computer, and is used for complex calculations and data processing. In the video, Tesla's supercomputer is highlighted as a key tool for analyzing data from edge cases and improving the FSD system's learning and performance.

💡Cumulative Miles

Cumulative Miles refer to the total distance traveled by a fleet of vehicles, which is an important metric for assessing the real-world experience and reliability of a technology like FSD. The video states that Tesla has surpassed 1.3 billion cumulative miles, indicating the extensive testing and data collection that has been done.

💡Enhanced Autopilot

Enhanced Autopilot is a feature offered by Tesla that provides more advanced driver-assistance systems compared to standard autopilot. The video mentions that Tesla China has launched subscriptions for Enhanced Autopilot, which is seen as a precursor to the full self-driving technology being introduced in the country.

💡Earnings Call

An Earnings Call is a conference call with investors, analysts, and the press where a company discusses its financial performance. The video script mentions an earnings call where Tesla executives suggested the company is close to launching full self-driving in other markets, indicating the significance of these calls in communicating corporate strategy and progress.

💡Uber

Uber is a ride-hailing company that operates a platform allowing consumers to request rides from drivers using their own cars. The video discusses the potential impact of Tesla's FSD on companies like Uber, suggesting that if Tesla's technology is approved and becomes widely available, it could disrupt the business model of ride-hailing services by reducing the need for human drivers.

Highlights

Tesla Full Self Driving is now running in Germany and is about to be available in other left-hand drive countries within the next one or two weeks.

Tesla is giving demonstrations to regulators in Germany to get Full Self Driving approved.

Version 12 of Full Self Driving is believed to be ready for supervised use in left-hand drive countries.

German regulators have approved Mercedes' so-called autonomous driving system, despite its limitations.

Tesla is offering supervised Full Self Driving at lower prices in North America, priced at $88,000.

Elon Musk stated that left-hand drive availability is imminent for Full Self Driving.

Tesla executives suggest that the company is close to launching Full Self Driving in other markets.

Tesla has been testing Full Self Driving in other countries for years.

Tesla China has launched subscriptions for enhanced autopilot, indicating progress towards Full Self Driving in China.

Tesla has accumulated over 1.3 billion miles in testing Full Self Driving.

Tesla's supercomputer is efficiently processing data from edge cases to improve Full Self Driving.

If Tesla achieves Full Self Driving approval in Europe, China, and North America within two years, its stock price could double.

The potential approval of Full Self Driving poses a significant challenge to Uber's business model.

Tesla's advancement in Full Self Driving technology is rapidly changing the transportation landscape.

The speaker expresses excitement about the rapid pace of technological change and its implications.