Tesla is set to roll out its fully-self driving (FSD) technology in Australia very soon. The American electric vehicle (EV) giant has been present down under for some time now. However, it was only as recent as last week when Tesla announced its decision to roll out its fully-self driving technology which was missing from its lineup in Australia.
More than 50,000 Tesla owners in Australia will soon be able to activate the FSD (Supervised) system in their vehicles. However, government officials have privately warned the owners that the system is “extremely advanced” and risks drivers becoming over-reliant on fully autonomous driving.
Tesla FSD: Still a big risk
Earlier in April this year, the Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads issued a warning which said that the system could cause motorists to become “complacent” while still being held fully accountable for crashes. It must be noted that Australia has no dedicated approval process for self-driving technology. However, it seems the authorities have raised valid concerns about Tesla’s FSD system.
The email thread revealed that the department is drafting media communications to stress that drivers must always monitor their vehicle, stay prepared to take control, and remain accountable for any traffic violations or incidents caused by the FSD system.
A recent video posted on X (formerly Twitter) shows a couple testing Tesla’s FSD which almost led to a crash. In the video posted by Dan O’Dowd, we can see the car heading straight towards construction barriers. It was only after the driver’s intervention that the crash was avoided. Dan O’Dowd even called out Elon Musk by tagging him in the post for his “defective software” that is putting lives at risk around the world.
Tesla FSD rollout in Australia
The first stage of the FSD rollout has already begun in Australia. Tesla is cautioning first-time users of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite in Australia that the system is not fully autonomous and drivers must stay alert, attentive to road conditions, and ready to take control at any moment.
At present, the suite is only offered as a one-time purchase priced at AUS $10,100. A subscription option, already available in the United States, is under development, though Tesla has yet to confirm details or pricing for Australia. Australia becomes the sixth market to gain access to Full Self-Driving (Supervised), following the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, and Puerto Rico. In China, however, regulatory constraints mean the system is offered under the name “City Autopilot.”
