Tesla employees are now required to install and show customers how to use the latest version of the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) premium driver assistance system before completing a vehicle delivery in North America. All Tesla vehicles have a standard driver assistance system called Autopilot. The FSD option costs $199 per month for most customers. Drivers must remain attentive to the road and ready to steer or brake at any time when using FSD.
Tuesday, March 26, 2024Tesla reported a drop in vehicle deliveries in the first quarter. Deliveries are the closest approximation of sales reported by Tesla. The numbers for the quarter fell far below even the most bearish of analysts' expectations. Tesla faced numerous challenges in the first quarter. The company has scheduled an earnings call on April 23 to discuss quarterly results.
Tesla has cut the prices of its models across China, Europe, and the US. Full Self-Driving is now $8,000 in the US. In China, the revamped Model 3 is now 241,900 yuan (~$32,000), down from 245,900 yuan previously and the Model Y was discounted to 249,900 yuan (~$34,500) from 263,900 yuan. The cheapest Model Y in the US is now $42,990. Tesla is facing several challenges, including a recall of almost 3,900 Cybertrucks, sales drops, interrupted production schedules, and more.
Tesla's latest software update includes hidden code that suggests that the company is preparing for the launch of its voice assistant. Little is known about the new Tesla voice assistant, but Elon Musk has previously said that he wants Tesla drivers to be able to do everything in the car with no manual input. The software update also introduces a native Audible app.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened investigations into almost all of the major companies testing autonomous vehicles or advanced driver-assist systems. The agency is examining hundreds of crashes for safety lapses. The investigations signal a new phase in the relationship between safety regulators and the private sector.