Tesla testing its latest semi-autonomous driving software in Australia – report
The latest version of Tesla’s so-called ‘Full Self-Driving’ technology is reportedly being tested on Australian roads, though it’s not yet clear when the system will be available to local owners.
US electric-car giant Tesla is believed to be currently testing the latest version of its most advanced semi-autonomous driving technology on Australian roads – though the system is not yet approved to be used by the general public.
Last year, Teslascope – a service that tracks Tesla software updates and vehicle changes – reported the company was actively testing 'Full Self-Driving' (FSD) technology on local roads.
In a post on social media platform X – formerly known as Twitter – earlier this week, Teslascope claimed the latest version of Full Self-Driving, known as ‘version 12’ (or ‘v12’), is currently being tested in Australia.
Full Self-Driving version 12 rolled out in the US late last year, which saw its ‘beta’ title and more than 300,000 lines of code removed – with the car’s computers and cameras moving away from code-based judgements, instead making decisions based on what it can see.
While owners of Tesla vehicles in Australia can pre-purchase Full Self-Driving for $10,100, the system is not available to be rolled out into locally-delivered cars until it is approved by regulators to be used on public roads.
According to Teslascope, it is not yet known when Full Self-Driving will be approved for public use on Australian roads, however the company’s decision to test the technology locally indicates it is preparing to roll the system out in the future.
It also claims Tesla’s ‘Actually Smart Summon’ (ASS) – which can bring a Tesla car to its user via a smartphone application – is being tested locally as well as overseas, as the function is yet to be officially rolled out to owners.