Tesla's latest Full Self-Driving software still requires close driver oversight, but a new real-world test suggests the "surprisingly patient" update could make downtown commuting easier.
Here's what to know
Tesla owner and reviewer Matt, who posts under the handle FrunkToTrunk (@frunktotrunk) on TikTok, posted a video of his Tesla navigating stop-and-go traffic, split lanes, sudden braking, and late cut-ins while operating in FSD version 14.3.10.
According to his account, one particular merge had given his Tesla trouble in prior tests, so this test offered a chance to see whether the software had gotten better.
@frunktotrunk Tesla's latest self-driving AI in downtown rush hour. Version 14.3.10 'hurry mode' handles confusing merges and unexpected cuts. So patient! #Tesla #SelfDriving #AI #Tech #FSD ♬ original sound - FrunkToTrunk
In this trial, what stood out most was not quickness but restraint.
"Not too shabby," Matt says. "The cool thing that you might have not noticed is how patient the self-driving is. It did not try to cut the line. It let cars in. Not too bad."
"Driving better than me," a viewer remarked.
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"Still… parking in a garage needs improvements. Big time!" another said of FSD's constraints.
More background
Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology is not without controversy.
The company has been accused of misleading customers regarding the technology's capabilities, and crash-risk concerns have grown as some drivers treated FSD as true autonomy. Tesla does state on its website that FSD requires supervision.
Reviews like this can help buyers decide whether FSD aligns with their own comfort level if considering making their next car an EV. For its part, Tesla says that FSD, when utilized as intended, resulted in seven times fewer major collisions.
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Where can I learn more?
The downtown FSD test showed how far Tesla's FSD has come, but it also highlighted concerns that have followed the software for years.
Coverage of those debates includes expert warnings about Tesla's driver-assist tech, rollout troubles in China, and the company's broader safety claims.
• Experts watching Tesla's beta rollout said it should never be in customers' hands so soon.
• In China, Tesla owners faced fines and confusion when FSD misread local roads.
• Tesla pointed to safety ratings from four continents while FSD debates continued.
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