TESLA RESPONDS WITH HUGE HARDWARE CHANGE TO IMPROVE AUTONOMY

EV Channels Review

This episode delves into Tesla's recent confirmation of a significant hardware change aimed at enhancing its autonomous driving capabilities. The hosts discuss their experiences with the Tesla RoboTaxi service in Austin, noting that while most rides were smooth, one instance of phantom braking occurred, potentially due to sun glare. They highlight Tesla's openness to feedback, contrary to some perceptions. A key focus is the integration of a new front-facing camera into Hardware 4 (HW4) equipped vehicles, which Tesla now states will be used for Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) features. This raises questions for owners who purchased FSD without this camera. The discussion contrasts Tesla's 'vision-only' approach with competitors using LiDAR, with a Lucid engineer suggesting LiDAR's cost is justifiable for added safety. The review also touches on the disappointing refresh of the Model S and X, which lacked expected premium features like massaging seats and a fridge, especially given the price increase. Finally, the episode covers Tesla's recent layoffs in sales and operations due to declining sales, the introduction of a new monthly extended warranty plan (with exclusions), and a new windshield protection plan, alongside news from competitors like Xiaomi and BMW.