Elon Musk says Tesla will attempt an autonomous drive from New York to L.A. 'soon'
Tesla
Rekindling the spirit of the legendary Cannonball Run, Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, (who would make a great character in a reboot of the movie) breathed new life into his ambitious vision of a fully autonomous drive from Los Angeles to New York. This revelation brought back Musk's prediction from 2016, highlighting a momentous stride in Tesla's journey toward full self-driving technology.
The Starting Line: The Dawn of Tesla's Autonomous Driving
The road towards Tesla's full self-driving dreams began with significant strides in 2016, with the unveiling of the v7.1 software. This update marked a notable milestone by introducing the revolutionary 'Summon' feature, a harbinger of the potential for full autonomy. Summon, a driverless parking function, represented a daring leap forward in autonomous capabilities, igniting dreams of a future where cars would navigate complex roads and highways without human input.
Over the years, Tesla continued to push boundaries and exceed expectations in autonomous driving. The introduction of Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta was testimony to Tesla's relentless pursuit of innovation. Despite the technical challenges and ongoing debates about the readiness of autonomous technology, Tesla kept its eyes on the prize - a fully autonomous vehicle navigating the complexities of all American roads without human intervention.
Tesla's 2016 FSD Video
The Cannonball Run: Tesla's Ultimate Challenge
The real challenge Musk proposed in the wake of the Summon feature's launch was a vision grand enough to rival the infamous Cannonball Run. He aimed at a coast-to-coast autonomous journey - a high-stakes race against time and technology itself, reminiscent of the legendary underground race across America. This audacious prediction electrified the automobile industry, sparking curiosity and excitement. However, the multifaceted challenge of such a drive meant the dream had to be postponed.
Despite the initial delay, Musk's dream of an autonomous LA to NY drive was far from extinguished. In a recent Twitter interaction, Musk reignited the hope for this autonomous endeavor with a succinct reply to a query about the much-anticipated drive: "Soon". His one-word answer suggests that the ambitious goal, once seemingly stalled, is now back on the roadmap, revving up for the challenge.
Crossing the Finish Line: The Potential Impact of the Autonomous Drive
A successful autonomous coast-to-coast journey would be more than just a victory lap for Tesla; it would be a landmark moment in the history of autonomous driving. It would serve to silence critics who contend that Tesla's current FSD solutions aren't autonomous yet. They also have the requirement for an alert human operator. This monumental achievement would validate Tesla's pioneering technology and catapult the company to an unrivaled position in the race toward full self-driving technology.
With the spirit of the Cannonball Run imbued in Tesla's ambitious plans, the anticipation for the autonomous LA to NY journey seems closer every day. Elon Musk's latest hint suggests that this historic chapter in autonomous driving may be just around the corner. One thing remains clear in this thrilling race: Tesla continues to be the pace-setter, leading the charge in automotive innovation and full self-driving technology.
Tesla offers the ability to buy or lease their vehicles. However, leasing a vehicle came with a major shortcoming. Leasing a Tesla meant you couldn’t buy out your lease at the end of the contract. Instead, you were required to return the car to Tesla, leaving you the option of leasing another or purchasing a new vehicle.
For the first time in Tesla’s history, lease buyouts are being introduced for the Model 3 and Model Y and are returning for the Model S and Model X as well.
Lease buyout now available for new S3XY + @cybertruck leases in the US
Tesla’s social media team took to X to announce that the company is going to allow lease buyouts in the United States for the first time. As Tesla works with its financing partners, we expect this option to roll out to other regions too. These lease buyouts include all its vehicles, including the Cybetruck.
A lease buyout is an end-of-contract option that lets you purchase the vehicle for its residual value, allowing you to keep the car instead of returning it. It’s a great way to test-drive a car long-term, giving you the flexibility to decide if it’s the right fit before committing to ownership. For many new car buyers, it offers a lower-risk alternative to buying a vehicle outright, making it an attractive option for those seeking less upfront commitment.
Offer to be Extended to Current Leases
The price of the buyout is normally determined at the signing of the lease contract - rather than at the end of the lease. While Tesla initially said that the buyout of leases is only for new leases - that quickly changed. Tesla is confirming that end-of-lease clauses will become available for current leasees over the next few weeks. Leasees will be able to reach out directly through the Tesla app to get buyout quotes - or reach out to their financial institutions if the lease was done through a third-party financer.
If you’ve been hesitant to lease a Tesla due to the inability to buy it out, stay tuned—this teaser might just change the game. For many, it’s the final nudge needed to take the plunge and lease a new Tesla. With the added perks of the updated referral program and other incentives running right now, now is an excellent time to buy a new Tesla.
Tesla has been continuously improving and adding features to its Service Mode feature, and update 2024.44 is no exception.
Tesla also recently launched Service History for vehicles. With the new additions to Service Mode and price cuts to ToolBox 3 (TB3), their in-house service software, Tesla is really pushing Service accessibility.
If you’re interested in knowing more about Service Mode in general, check out our Guide to Service Mode.
Service Mode Improvements in 2024.44
This update introduces several new Service Mode features, so we’ll break down each new feature in Service Mode for 2024.44. Thanks to @max_bracco on X, who shared these photos with us.
Brakes Panel
The Brakes Panel has been updated to allow for the diagnosis of wheel speed sensors, which were previously only accessible in TB3 while physically connected to the vehicle. In addition, information on the Electronic Parking Brake, Electronic Stability Program and iBooster (Electromechanical Brake Booster) are now available in the Brakes Panel as well.
This new panel is under Chassis > Brakes and has multiple subpanels with brake details. This update is exclusive for the Cybertruck.
Brake Burnishing Update
Brake Burnishing is a process to help condition or break in your brakes, helping to make sure you’ll get optimal performance out of them. It can also be used as regular maintenance for an EV - because you’ll rarely use your friction brakes with Tesla’s one-pedal driving.
The update to Brake Burnishing will now allow you to continue performing this service task even if the vehicle goes into reverse. Previously, any UI, including the rear-view camera, popping up would cancel Brake Burnishing and close the service window - meaning you’d have to restart.
Placing the vehicle back in drive automatically resumes the service task, which makes it easier to do so in a smaller location.
This improvement applies to all vehicles, including legacy Model S and X.
Speakers Panel and Audio Test
A Speakers Panel has become available for some vehicles to help diagnose issues with any of the internal vehicle speakers. You’ll be able to play test tones through any selected speaker or set of speakers. This could be helpful to figure out if a speaker isn’t working properly or to diagnose a rattling speaker or subwoofer.
As part of the Audio Test, you can also play specific frequencies - helping to figure out what exactly is wrong with the speaker. Previously, you’d have to use TB3 to perform this test, so it's nice to see Tesla moving things to Service Mode and increasing accessibility for owners and third-party technicians.
This new speakers panel is only available for the 2024+ Model 3, and the Model Y with the AMD Ryzen infotainment processor.
SCCM Update
The Steering Wheel Control Column (or Yoke) has received updated graphics to correctly display what you’ve got equipped in your vehicle. You’ll also be able to initiate the steering wheel/yoke swap on a Model S or Model X in this UI as required, assuming you’re swapping them.
Previously, this feature was only accessible to Tesla’s Service Technicians or through a fairly complex procedure in TB3 that required outside scripting support - well beyond the knowledge and skills of most third-party technicians who aren’t intimately familiar with TB3. This makes the procedure something that can be done by the user at home - as long as you’re following the Service Manual carefully.
This is only applicable for the Model S and Model X. The Cybertruck has a special Steer-by-Wire panel in Service Mode.
Interior Lighting Diagnostics
Not a Tesla App
The last item to get added to Service Mode is an entirely new panel for testing the ambient lighting system, which is availablle for the new Model 3 and Cybertruck. This panel allows you to diagnose and repair the vehicle’s RGB lighting. It also allows you to view the health state and run an RGB lighting addressing routine, which is required when replacing some of the lighting strips.
Earlier this summer, Tesla also added a Battery Health Test to Service Mode.
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