√Tesla’s autonomous tech won’t be approved for US roads this year

Tesla boss Elon Musk claims the electric car specialist’s next level of autonomous driving technology – marketed as Full Self-Driving – will be rolled out in the US by the end of the year, even without the approval of road safety regulators.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced the electric-car giant’s next level of autonomous driving systems will not be permitted for use on US roads before the end of 2022, delaying the public debut of the technology for the third consecutive year.

In September 2022, Mr Musk claimed Tesla’s highest level of autonomous tech would be approved for US roads by the end of this year – reiterating comments previously made in 2020 and 2021.

Tesla claims its autonomous driving system – marketed as Full Self-Driving – can accelerate, stop, steer and park the car without human intervention, although the driver is still required to be attentive and in control, to respond to unforeseen scenarios or a failure of the technology.

The next level autonomous tech is said to be more advanced than Tesla’s ‘Autopilot’ semi-autonomous system fitted as standard to its electric cars, which include adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.

Earlier this week, Mr Musk told Tesla shareholders the next stage of autonomous driving technology would be available before 2023, although it will not be approved by US road safety regulators for use on public roads.

“We’re expecting to release the Full Self-Driving software to anyone who orders the package by the end of this year,” Mr Musk told Tesla investors in an online call earlier this week.

“It won’t have regulatory approval at that time but the car will be able to take you from your home to your work, your friend’s house, to the grocery store without you touching the wheel.

“It’s not quite ready to have no one behind the wheel, it’s just that you will almost never have to touch the vehicle controls.”

As reported by news agency Reuters, California’s Department of Motor Vehicles has previously said it would evaluate whether the next level of autonomous driving systems would be subject to special regulation to mandate a requirement for human attention and intervention.

In September 2021, the $US15,000 ($AU23,900) Full Self-Driving system was launched in the US as a ‘beta’ service – allowing Tesla to gather real-time data from its users on public roads to help improve the technology.

Veteran US road safety campaigner Ralph Nader called Tesla’s decision to release a development version of its autonomous technology on public roads “one of the most dangerous and irresponsible actions by a car company in decades”.

Last month, a US Tesla owner filed a lawsuit against the company in a San Francisco federal court, claiming the electric-car giant had misled its customers by continually delaying the roll-out of its autonomous driving systems to generate media attention.

In Australia, Tesla’s so-called Full Self-Driving tech does not comply with local road rules, although Tesla customers can order the system for $10,100 which will unlock its capabilities when it and if it is approved.

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