If you’ve ever taken someone for a spin in your Tesla with FSD engaged, you know that expression of bewilderment on your passenger’s face when the wheel magically moves on its own. In fact, Kimbal Musk recently gave a passenger their first FSD experience, and the ride was posted on YouTube. The company is aggressively taping into that exciting moment to show its Full Self-Driving capabilities to a larger audience.
The latest version of FSD, Version 12.3.1, has been getting rave reviews—so much so that Tesla is going all in. The company is offering a free month of FSD to every new Tesla owner and instructing staff to install, activate, and take customers on a short test ride during vehicle delivery. However, later this week, Tesla will also offer all eligible current Tesla owners a free month of FSD.
One-Month FSD Trial: A Glimpse into the Future
Elon Musk originally committed to a free month of FSD 10 months ago, but it came with a caveat. The CEO posted: Once FSD is super smooth (not just safe), we will roll out a free month trial for all cars in North America. Then extend to the rest of the world after we ensure it works well on local roads and regulators approve it in that country.
Clearly, the boss is happy with FSD version 12.3.1, as Musk announced that all eligible vehicles in the U.S. will receive a one-month free trial of FSD this week.
This trial enables drivers to experience the convenience and advanced technology of FSD, including navigating city streets and highways with minimal driver intervention. It may even include the new Autopark feature. The thought is that they will be hooked once Tesla owners experience the incredible program.
In addition to the free trial, Tesla has initiated a new step in its delivery process, requiring Tesla employees to conduct FSD demonstrations for new customers. This directive, outlined in a 2 a.m. communication from Musk to employees, mandates that all Tesla vehicles in North America equipped with FSD version 12.3.1 provide customers with a demonstration drive before final delivery. This hands-on experience aims to showcase the capabilities and benefits of FSD, ensuring customers are fully informed about the product they're receiving.
Elon Musk sent out this email to Tesla $TSLA staff saying it's now required in North America to:
"Install and activate FSD V12.3.1 and take customers on a short test ride before handing over the car" pic.twitter.com/XWRgyZMJ1O
The emphasis on FSD version 12.3.1 demonstrations is not arbitrary. This specific version represents a significant advancement in Tesla's autonomous driving technology, promising a more intuitive and smoother driving experience. By replacing hundreds of thousands of lines of code with an end-to-end neural network, Tesla has made strides in making FSD's behavior more human-like, addressing previous concerns about the software's responsiveness.
Tesla's initiative to provide free trials and demonstrations of its FSD capability is a strategic move to familiarize a broader audience with autonomous driving technology. By allowing customers to experience FSD firsthand, Tesla is enhancing the appeal of its vehicles and paving the way for greater acceptance and enthusiasm for self-driving technology among the public.
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Tesla maintains two primary software branches: the main feature branch and the FSD branch. In general, the FSD branch lags behind on new features pushed to the main branch but provides a more recent FSD version.
However, now Tesla is updating the main branch to a much more recent version of FSD.
Current FSD Build & Shadow Mode
Nowadays, the main branch always includes an older but stable build of FSD. It’s been on FSD V12.3.6 since July 2024. So, if you subscribe to FSD in North America, this is the FSD version you’ll receive until you get added to the FSD track.
Even if you don’t subscribe to or have purchased FSD, your vehicle has v12.3.6 on it. That includes vehicles in regions where FSD isn’t available for general use, such as Europe and China. In those cases, FSD runs in Shadow Mode, providing training data to Tesla if you’ve agreed to their data privacy policies. So Tesla is always analyzing what the vehicle would do compared to what the driver does. When there are contradictions, these are the clips and data Tesla will want to analyze.
FSD V12.5.4.2 on Main Branch
For the first time in five months, Tesla has now updated the baseline version of FSD in the main branch. The new version included with 2024.44 updates is FSD v12.5.4.2. This Tesla is updating the baseline FSD version to FSD V12.5.4.2
FSD 12.5 includes many features for a much smoother experience compared to FSD 12.3.6. Many users will appreciate that it gets rid of the steering wheel nag and instead relies on the cabin camera to provide real-time driver monitoring. This version also includes support for sunglasses with driver monitoring. It’ll be a big upgrade for anyone coming from FSD 12.3.6.
It's always a good thing when Tesla updates the baseline FSD version—that means that Tesla is confident that this new baseline is considerably safer and will continue to train the fleet against it.
What Update Am I Getting?
If you’re already on FSD V12.5.4.2, you’ll likely remain on that FSD build unless V13.3 manages to make its way to the public as Tesla originally planned, but that’s unlikely to happen before the Thanksgiving holiday. In all likelihood, you’ll be getting update 2024.44, which will give you some additional Tesla features while keeping you on the same FSD version.
For those who are already on 2024.44 - if you subscribe now, you’ll have V12.5.4.2 enabled on your vehicle.
If you have a Cybertruck, then you’ll receive update 2024.39.5 with FSD V12.5.5.3. They’re on a unique build for the moment, and this will likely be the case until Tesla acquires enough training data from the Cybertruck fleet.
The Cybertruck is having an eventful November. Just last week, we shared the news that Tesla isn’t offering their in-house wrap service for the Cybertruck anymore; the Foundation Series is now available in inventory in select US locations, Crossbars have arrived, and faster charging is around the corner. Now there’s even more to discuss about the stainless steel beast.
Projection Puddle Lights
Like the recently launched puddle lights for the Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla has introduced a set of add-on Projector Puddle Lights for the Cybertruck. These Cybertruck-specific ones go for $75 USD, or $105 CAD and are available in both the Canadian and US Tesla stores.
However, these don’t have the Tesla wordmark - instead, they feature the iconic Cybertruck symbol and, in our opinion, look even nicer. Here’s to hoping Tesla also introduces a set with the graffiti-style Cybertruck wordmark.
Powershare in Canada
While the Foundation Series Cybertruck has been getting delivered in Canada since November 7th, there was no news on Powershare being supported due to regulatory constraints. On the 20th, Foundation Series owners in Canada began to receive emails to get their Powershare installs started through Tesla’s official installer - Qmerit.
More to follow on pricing and the process as we receive our Canadian quote from Qmerit soon.
FSD in Canada
The Cybertruck Program Manager, Siddhant Awasthi, confirmed that with Powershare now becoming available, FSD for the Cybertruck in Canada will also become available soon. Canadian trucks shipped with a factory software build that didn’t include FSD, but did include TACC and stoplight/traffic control.
Early this morning Tesla began rolling out a new version of FSD 12.5.5.3 for the Cybertruck, which is update 2024.39.5. Will this be the version that rolls out in Canada?
Update: Yesterday, Tesla started rolling out FSD on the Cybertruck in Canada for the first time. The update being rolled out is update 2024.39.5, which not only features the latest FSD available on the Cybertruck, version 12.5.5.3, but it also includes all the features update 2024.38, which includes the huge Sentry Mode improvements that reduce power consumption by about 40%.
Following Integrated Flight Test 6 for SpaceX’s Starship, Elon Musk confirmed that uncrewed Starships are likely to begin making their way to Mars in about 2 years. You’re probably going to ask what’s going to be in those Starships - that’s what Brett Winston on X asked as well. Elon confirmed that Cybertrucks and Optimus robots will be among some of the first items landing on Mars.
That’s a ton of awesome news for Cybertruck, and there’s absolutely going to be more around the corner, especially as we await the big Tesla Holiday Update. While you wait, why not take a look at our Holiday Update Wishlists?
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