Tesla is about to update Autopilot and start letting people try it for free
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company will update its semi-autonomous Autopilot feature and start letting Tesla owners try it for free during the company's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday.
- Musk said he thought the update would arrive this week and that it would mark a "significant improvement" over Autopilot's current iteration, though he didn't elaborate on what the update will include.
- Musk also said Tesla will give free trials of Autopilot to Tesla owners who didn't purchase the feature (it costs between $5,000-$6,000) and have the necessary hardware to run it "hopefully next month."
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company will update its semi-autonomous Autopilot feature and start letting Tesla owners try it for free.
Speaking during the company's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, Musk said he thought the update would arrive this week and mark a "significant improvement" over Autopilot's current iteration. Musk didn't elaborate on what the update will include, and a Tesla representative declined to offer details.
Musk also said Tesla will give free trials of Autopilot to Tesla owners who didn't purchase the feature (it costs between $5,000-$6,000) and have the necessary hardware to run it "hopefully next month." Tesla last offered free trials of the feature in 2016.
In the next year, Musk said he expects Autopilot to make exponential improvements. When asked by a shareholder about when the full "Enhanced Autopilot" suite - which includes the ability to change lanes without driver input, switch from one freeway to another, and exit a freeway when close to the driver's destination - would arrive, Musk said at least one new feature could be rolled out in the next few months.
In its current iteration, Autopilot can keep a car in its lane and adjust its speed based on surrounding traffic, among other features. Recent accidents involving the feature have raised questions about whether drivers place too much trust in it and fail to pay attention to the road. Tesla has repeatedly said Autopilot is meant to be used with an attentive driver whose hands are on the wheel, but the most visible accidents involving Autopilot have included reports of distracted drivers.
Tesla has received criticism for how it has promoted the feature. In May, Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Auto Safety sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate the strategies the company has used to sell Autopilot.
Read more about Tesla's 2018 shareholder meeting:
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- Elon Musk fights back tears at Tesla shareholder meeting, says past few months have been 'excruciating, hellish'
- Elon Musk said the new Tesla Roadster will have a SpaceX upgrade package
- Elon Musk reveals new details about Tesla's upcoming Model Y SUV, the Roadster, and the Semi