TESLA FULL SELF DRIVING TESTED IN AUSTRALIA AND BUNNINGS: THE GOOD AND THE BAD

EV Channels Review

Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) supervised mode has officially launched in Australia and New Zealand, marking its debut in right-hand drive markets. The reviewer, Paul Maric, tested the system extensively, encountering both impressive capabilities and significant shortcomings. While FSD demonstrated competence in highway driving and navigating some complex scenarios like merging and roadworks, it faltered in critical moments, notably attempting an incorrect turn across an intersection and failing to yield appropriately in a car park. The system's reliance solely on cameras, without radar or lidar, raises questions about redundancy, especially in challenging visual conditions like exiting tunnels. The reviewer also highlighted the high cost ($10,000) as a major deterrent, questioning its value proposition given the continued need for driver supervision and the inability to use the system for productive work. Despite its advancements over enhanced autopilot, particularly in confidence and decision-making, the system is deemed too expensive and not yet reliable enough for unsupervised operation. The reviewer expresses excitement for future unsupervised capabilities but remains cautious about the current supervised version's safety and cost-effectiveness.