Those of us who paid for Full Self-Driving but who were not included in the initial test groups, Tesla employees and carefully selected customers, will get access to the BUTTON on Friday, September 24th.
But the BUTTON doesn't mean that you will be added to the widened group of beta testers. You have to earn it. Here's how.
This article is likely of interest only to people who paid for FSD, are in the US and who want to volunteer to teach the computer how to drive. I want to stress that this is a volunteer job. You won't earn a penny for doing this.
Pushing the button is not enough. You have to agree to allow Tesla insurance to absorb data from your driving for a week. Then Tesla will decide if it wants you in the expanded group of beta testers.
Remember, becoming a beta tester doesn't mean that your car can drive itself without your intervention. Quite the reverse. Tesla is looking for volunteers who will teach the neural network how to drive like a professional chauffeur. That's professional chauffeur, not professional race car driver.
Factors Tesla Insurance Uses
Luckily for us, a while back Reddit user /u/Callump01 reverse engineered the Tesla app to determine exactly which events Tesla uses when determining a driver's safety rating.
Callump01 was able to determine that Tesla uses these metrics when determining a driver's premium:
ABS Activation - Number of times ABS is activated
Hours Driven - Average daily driving time
Forced Autopilot Disengagements - Number of times Autopilot is disabled due to ignored alerts
Forward Collision Warnings - Number of times car detects a potential forward collision
Unsafe Following Time - Portion of time spent at an unsafe following distance
Intensity of Acceleration and Braking - Speed variance due to extreme acceleration and braking. Shown on a scale from 0-10 as measured against Tesla's internal fleet.
So here's what to do during the week where you are being evaluated by the insurance software.
Drive places. If your car is parked all the time, the software won't be able to assess your driving skill.
Engage FSD whenever possible. Tesla will want to recruit volunteers who are actually interested in using FSD. Elon Musk has said that someone who uses Autopilot would fall into the “good" category.
Drive on city streets and country roads. Autopilot is already pretty good at driving on limited access highways.
Don't accelerate aggressively unless you must do so to avoid a crash. Insurance algorithms don't like aggressive drivers.
Reduce ABS Usage
Focus far ahead. One of the statistics that is kept is the number of times ABS was activated. Reducing this number shows less aggressive driving. If you see that you are going to have to stop for a light or a stop sign, tap the brake to go out of FSD so you can slow down with regenerative braking. Insurance algorithms don't like aggressive braking, and, unfortunately, Tesla FSD, waits too long to slow down for signals and stop signs. Then it brakes aggressively. So using FSD to come to a stop will hurt your score.
Don't Accelerate Too Quickly
Don't speed very much. The Tesla insurance algorithm will look at your intensity of acceleration in addition to braking. Sometimes, you have to go faster than the posted speed limit in order to keep up with traffic. If you are in a situation where all the traffic is going faster than the posted speed limit, then you can speed up a bit, but try to stay as close to the speed limit as you can without blocking traffic. Remember, if you have to speed, keep up with the slower speeders, not the faster speeders.
If the car is braking for no apparent reason, phantom braking, use the accelerator to move the car along.
If you are approaching a sharp curve there are two things you need to think about. Without the beta version of FSD, some curves are too sharp, and standard FSD will stop working in the middle of the curve. I've experienced this at certain curves in my area. If this happens, it will lower your score. So the two things to do are, first, lower your speed before the curve by tapping the brake, and second, steer the car around the curve yourself before re-engaging FSD.
When you're using Autopilot, pay attention to the alerts. Tesla will track the number of times that Autopilot has been disengaged.
Keep Your Distance
You'll also want to pay close attention to objects in front of your. Tesla will be looking at the number of times Forward Collision Warnings have gone off.
Use a follow distance greater than one or two. Another metric that Tesla insurance uses to measure how safe someone is driving is by their follow distance. If someone follows too closely for long periods of time, this will lower their Tesla insurance rating as well.
Obey traffic rules whenever possible. Yield the right of way when you don't have the right of way. Take the right of way when you do have it, but don't crash just because you are entitled to the right of way.
Be careful to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists. Even if you have the right of way, it will mess up your day if you hit a pedestrian or a bicyclist. And you won't get to be a beta tester for FSD.
After you activate the button on September 24th the Tesla insurance calculator will show your rating in real-time so that you can tell how you're driving and can adjust accordingly. It'll also provide additional details on what is rated a “good" driver.
Tesla insurance calculator will show status in real-time & tell you what actions are needed to be rated “good driver"
The button will be available this Friday, presumably in your car. Stay tuned for more details. Tesla FSD Beta 10.1 which is set be released on October 1st, will introduce new features such as merged NNs for highway and city driving, as well as the ability to go in reverse.
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Tesla’s Model Y has held the title of the world’s best-selling vehicle—across all categories—for the past three years. And it takes an absolute masterstroke of engineering and design to make an even better, more popular vehicle.
In a newly released video (posted below), Tesla highlights some of the key upgrades and refinements made to the Model Y. While a previous deep dive explored the engineering details [insert link here], this latest video offers a broader look at the improvements. Let’s take a closer look.
Unique Design of the Model Y
The refreshed Model Y is all about individuality. While every Tesla model stands out in its own way, some are more similar than others. For example, the Model S and Model X share a similar front fascia design but still feel distinct. The previous Model 3 and Model Y, however, were often difficult to differentiate, even for seasoned Tesla owners.
That’s no longer the case. With the refreshed Model 3 and Model Y, the differences are clear enough to make each vehicle instantly recognizable. You’ll easily spot them on the road and distinguish them from their predecessors.
Design
The lightbar is the first thing you’ll notice about the design overhaul. Tesla aimed to give the vehicle a wider, more grounded appearance while also creating more space on the front fascia. This newfound space not only improves the vehicle’s look but also leads to some efficiency gains—more on that later.
The rear lightbar is equally striking. It’s a reflective, full-body design, marking a first in the automotive industry. The light is reflected onto a custom applique, which directs it downward, creating a puddle of red light behind the car. As Franz, Tesla’s Head of Design puts it, it gives the impression of an afterburner.
The reflective rear lightbar.
Not a Tesla App
Ride Comfort
Tesla has been focused on improving ride comfort, and the refreshed Model Y is a testament to that effort. While the original Model Y had more of a sports car-like handling, which was less ideal for family use, the new suspension design focuses on comfort by reducing impact harshness, all while maintaining Tesla’s signature steering feel and precise handling.
This is paired with in-house designed tires, developed alongside the tire manufacturer, resulting in the most efficient EV tires Tesla has ever used. With lower rolling resistance, improved handling, and reduced road noise, these tires contribute to a smoother, quieter ride.
The addition of acoustic glass across every glass surface in the vehicle, combined with upgraded sealing materials throughout the cabin and body, has led to a 20% reduction in overall vehicle noise. This is a substantial improvement for an already quiet EV.
The new silver-infused acoustic glass also reflects heat much more effectively than the older glass, reducing the strain on the vehicle’s climate system. This allows the fan to run at a lower speed, further reducing cabin noise and improving energy efficiency. Tesla has truly pulled out all the stops to make the refreshed Model Y one of the most comfortable and refined passenger vehicles on the road.
Efficiency and EPA Range
When it comes to efficiency, Tesla has meticulously reevaluated every component and design choice of the original Model Y, all while maintaining the same size and form factor that has made it a favorite for millions worldwide. The result? A 10% improvement in efficiency over the previous Model Y, which translates to more range.
The EPA recently announced the official range for the vehicle of 327 miles, beating Tesla’s estimate of 320 miles. This is an increase of 16 miles over the outgoing AWD Model Y, which had an EPA estimated range of 311 miles.
The front ducts have been widened thanks to changes in the front fascia, allowing for improved airflow over the tires and front brakes. Meanwhile, the new thermoplastic spoiler has been redesigned at the rear to be more aerodynamically efficient, contributing to the overall 10% efficiency boost. These updates improve performance and range.
Utility
The Model Y has become the ubiquitous Sports Utility Vehicle, capable of handling just about anything. In addition to improving its performance and efficiency, Tesla has also improved its practicality. The trunk opening has been enlarged, making it easier to load and unload items.
One standout feature is the power-folding rear seats. With just the push of a button, you can effortlessly fold them down or raise them back up. Additionally, the front seats automatically slide forward to create more space when you need to bring the rear seats down.
Tesla also gave the frunk a thoughtful upgrade. It now includes a new drain plug, and the bottom liner is fully waterproof—an improvement over the previous water-resistant version. This means you can fill the frunk with ice or use Tesla’s upcoming frunk cooler without worry. There’s even talk of more accessories on the horizon, and we can’t wait to see what Tesla has in store for this versatile space.
Safety
Safety has always been a top priority in Tesla’s vehicle design, and the Model Y has consistently earned 5-star crash safety ratings worldwide. It’s expected that the refreshed Model Y will continue this trend, maintaining Tesla's reputation for top-tier safety.
Additionally, the new front bumper camera offers valuable assistance for parking in tight spaces or when navigating off-road. While there’s no official word yet on whether these bumper cameras will be integrated into Full Self-Driving (FSD) or Smart Summon for the refreshed Model Y or Cybertruck, it’s definitely something to watch for in future updates.
Interior
Front and rear infotainment
Not a Tesla App
Inside the refreshed Model Y, Tesla has fine-tuned every detail to create a more premium feel. This includes the addition of ambient lighting, similar to the refreshed Model 3 and Cybertruck, as well as new materials throughout the cabin to elevate the overall aesthetic.
The redesigned heated and ventilated seats take comfort and support to the next level, which is a significant improvement for those who use the Model Y as their daily commuter. A comfortable seat can make all the difference on long drives.
In the rear, the updated infotainment system can now pair with two Bluetooth headsets specifically for the back screen. This means passengers in the rear can enjoy audio independently of the front, so if your kids want to watch cartoons, you can continue enjoying music or the news without any interruptions.
Tesla also developed new acoustically transparent materials, which are used to conceal some of the 16 speakers and the newly positioned microphones. Placing the microphones closer to the driver and front passenger’s heads improves clarity for voice recognition and phone calls.
Be sure to check out the full video below to see the meticulous design work and thoughtful improvements that went into the refreshed Model Y—it’s definitely worth a watch.
Tesla has officially launched FSD in Mexico. This is the third expansion of FSD since it was first launched in the United States.
The news was shared by Tesla Owners Mexico on X, followed by confirmation from Tesla AI with a simple but exciting message: "¡Hola México!"
FSD features are geo-fenced, meaning that if a vehicle equipped with FSD crosses into a country where the software isn’t supported, it will automatically revert back to Autopilot. This expansion has likely lifted the restriction, meaning the U.S. Tesla owners should now be able to drive into Mexico and continue using FSD without interruption.
FSD Global Expansion Timeline
Tesla has set some lofty goals for itself, announcing in their FSD roadmap that it expects FSD to be ready to roll out internationally in Q1 and expand to right-hand drive markets in Q2. While it’s not clear whether Tesla still expects to meet these targets, this is the latest information that was shared in September 2024:
Q1 2025: FSD is expected to launch in Europe and China, pending regulatory approval.
Q2 2025: FSD rollout for right-hand drive (RHD) markets, with a flexible timeline based on approval processes.
Tesla has faced regulatory hurdles, particularly in China, where FSD testing was recently put on hold. One major hurdle is China’s strict data regulations, which require all training data to be collected and stored within the country. This means Tesla cannot rely on its existing U.S.-based data centers and must build local infrastructure to comply with government policies that prevent vehicle data from leaving China.
Additionally, since FSD relies heavily on fleet data, Tesla won’t be able to leverage its vast global dataset. Instead, the company will need to retrain its AI models using data exclusively gathered from vehicles operating within China. These constraints add complexity to Tesla’s FSD rollout, potentially delaying its expansion in the region.
After initially launching FSD Beta in the U.S. to a small group of influencers, Tesla expanded access to more users through its Safety Score program in late 2021. At first, only those with a perfect score of 100 were eligible, but as FSD improved and Tesla grew more confident in its performance, the requirement was gradually lowered.
In March 2022, Tesla took its first step beyond the U.S. by introducing FSD in Canada with the release of v10.11.1. Since then, Tesla has expanded FSD to Puerto Rico, and now, the launch in Mexico marks another major expansion of the software.
This news will likely raise excitement among users outside of North America who have been waiting for FSD for years. With regulatory hurdles in China presenting unique challenges, Tesla may shift its focus to expanding FSD in Europe and Oceania first.
Meanwhile, Tesla also focuses on launching its Robotaxi network, set to debut in Austin, Texas, in June. The upcoming Cybercabs in Austin could be running early builds of FSD v14 or a specialized version designed for Unsupervised FSD.
Like so many other things happening at Tesla right now, it’s an exciting time as Tesla prepares Unsupervised FSD for the Cybercab, continues the expansion of FSD, and works out all the details of its robotaxi network, such as the cleaning hubs and wirelessly charging capabilities.
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