Tesla Delays FSD Upgrade for HW3 Vehicles, Focus on FSD in fsd
As Tesla continues to develop its FSD technology, the company is shifting its focus to computing hardware capabilities, leaving some owners wondering if they will ever benefit from an upgrade. With the launch of HW5 on the horizon, Tesla may finally achieve Level 4 or Level 5 autonomy, but the delay in FSD Unsupervised has left many questions unanswered.
Tesla has updated its plans for retrofits for vehicles equipped with the older HW3/AI3 hardware, stating that upgrades will not begin until the company rolls out Full Self-Driving (FSD) Unsupervised, potentially leaving owners of HW3/AI3 vehicles without an upgrade. The company's focus is first to get unsupervised FSD done on HW4 hardware, and then they will go back and look at what work is needed for HW3 cars.
The delay in FSD Unsupervised could mean that HW3/AI3 owners may never benefit from an upgrade, particularly if they decide to sell their vehicle. Tesla's autonomous vehicle strategy is shifting focus from battery range to computing hardware capabilities, according to Deepwater Asset Management's Gene Munster. Munster identifies three hardware generations that will determine Tesla's autonomous future: HW3, HW4, and the upcoming HW5.
HW3, used in approximately 1.4 million US vehicles, lacks the smoothness and object recognition capabilities of newer hardware. HW4, used in around 1.2 million vehicles, offers 3-8 times the computing power of HW3 and is currently powering Tesla's Austin robotaxi fleet. Munster predicts Tesla may refund $8,000-$10,000 to customers who purchased Full Self-Driving (FSD) on HW3 vehicles, potentially costing the company $40-$80 million.
The future of Tesla's autonomous vehicle technology is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the company is committed to making FSD a reality. With the launch of HW5 expected early next year, Tesla may finally achieve Level 4 or Level 5 autonomy, but for now, HW3/AI3 owners will have to wait and see if they will benefit from an upgrade.