NHTSA Nears Resolution in Tesla Autopilot Investigation

The NHTSA is wrapping up in investigation on Tesla's Autopilot feature

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After an intensive two-year probe into Tesla's Autopilot system, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is poised to publicly announce its findings "relatively soon." In a recent interview with Reuters, Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson hinted at an impending resolution, though specifics remain tightly under wraps.

The Investigation and Tesla's Leading Role

The NHTSA's investigation, focusing on more than a dozen crashes involving stationary emergency vehicles, has spotlighted Autopilot's performance. Carlson acknowledged the complexity of the investigation, stating, "It's complicated."

The probe, which has now escalated into an engineering analysis of 830,000 Tesla vehicles, could reflect Tesla's leadership in cutting-edge technology. Tesla and the NHTSA are seemingly in constant contact, and whenever they are, it produces headlines. You don't see that with too many other brands.

Human Trust in Technology: A Shared Responsibility

While not pointing to Tesla specifically, Carlson spoke about driver assistance systems in general, "It's really important that drivers pay attention. It's also really important that driver monitoring systems take into account that humans over-trust technology."

Autopilot does warn drivers to remain alert and ready to take control. Hearing the shared responsibility angle rather than indicting Tesla's technology is refreshing. This should resonate with the industry's broader need to balance innovation with driver engagement. Tesla's commitment to this balance is evidenced by its ongoing enhancements to Autopilot.

A recent incident in Montgomery County, Texas, involving a Tesla Model X, vividly illustrates this point. Despite receiving 150 warnings from the Autopilot system, an allegedly intoxicated driver failed to take control of the vehicle, resulting in a crash that injured five police officers. Footage revealed that the system detected the police car just 2.5 seconds before impact, disengaged, and expected an alert driver to take over.

Tesla argues that the fault lies with the driver, yet the incident raises critical questions about driver monitoring and how automated systems interact with human behavior. It also emphasizes Tesla's commitment to refining its technology, as evidenced by its recent updates to detect driver alertness.

Previous Investigations and the Path Forward

Tesla's Autopilot system was previously under NHTSA's microscope, with a 2017 investigation closing without any action. This earlier experience reflects positively on Tesla's dedication to safety and innovation.

As the NHTSA wraps up its latest investigation, the outcome could set a precedent for the future of automotive automation. For Tesla, the probe's conclusion may be another milestone in its journey toward revolutionizing transportation.

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Tesla Improves Wrap Services: Switches to Vinyl, Cuts Prices Drastically, Adds New Colors and Expands Availability

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After canceling the in-house wrap program for the Cybertruck last month, Tesla has reintroduced the program with a lot of changes. Let’s take a look at the original program, then we’ll dive into what’s changed.

Tesla began the wrap program for the Model 3 and Model Y in the fall of 2023. With the arrival of the Cybertruck, Tesla launched Matte Black and Satin White options for the Cybertruck and later added 11 more colors.

Tesla initially offered high-quality PPF (Paint Protection Film) wraps, which protect the paint in addition to changing the color of the vehicle. PPF is thicker than traditional vinyl wraps, but the material costs more and is more time-consuming to apply.

Tesla’s updated program switches away from PPF wraps and now offers traditional vinyl wraps at a cheaper price. This makes Tesla’s wrap service more comparable to third-party installers.

Correction: We initially reported that the new wrap program offered PPF rather than vinyl and that the program was only available for new deliveries.

New Wrap Prices

First things first - the price of the wraps has dropped considerably, mostly due to the change away from PPF. While these prices are still a little more expensive than what you could find at a third-party location, you have the advantage of getting it directly from Tesla.

Tesla initially offered 11 wrap colors, but that selection has now been reduced to eight per vehicle. Interestingly, the color options vary by model—Model 3 and Model Y owners have their own distinct palette. The Cybertruck also boasts its own unique set of colors, though unfortunately, the popular Satin White option is absent from its catalog.

Of course, the ever-popular Matte Black is still available, along with a fairly unique set of other vivid colors.

New Locations

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When the wrap program launched, it was limited to just three locations in California and one location in Texas. That meant that unless you were taking delivery at West Covina, Oceanside, Costa Mesa, or Santa Clara, you’d be unable to get a first-party wrap done by Tesla.

Under the new program, Tesla is offering wraps out of all the original locations and adding Seattle, Washington. What initially seemed like Tesla scaling back its wrap service has turned out to be them making it more affordable and efficient. While the switch to vinyl may disappoint some owners, in reality, a lot of owners probably didn’t know the difference between PPF and vinyl, making Tesla’s service seem disproportionally more expensive.

No Longer New Purchases Only

While the original wrap program was constrained to new vehicle purchases—you can now have Tesla wrap a vehicle that’s already been delivered. Paint damage and scuffs can impact the installation of wraps and require additional time to smooth out the vehicle surface, and most third-party installers charge additional fees to prepare the surface.

Tesla doesn’t appear to be charging any additional surface prep fees at this time and is able to install on any Model 3, Model Y, or Cybertruck that’s been delivered after 2023.

Either way, with cheaper wrap options, Tesla is now directly competing against third-party wrap shops. While it’s still a bit more expensive than you’d find elsewhere, it also comes with a level of care and precision from technicians intimately familiar with your vehicle.

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Tesla Increases Price of Model S; Starts Offering Free Lifetime Supercharging

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For the first time in quite a while, Tesla has increased the price of one of its vehicle offerings. The Model S Long Range and the Model S Plaid have both received a hefty price increase. However, not all is bad - as Tesla also added a new benefit for buyers.

Price Increase

The price increase for the Model S is $5,000 - currently only in the United States. This price increase will likely impact other markets, including Canada, in the coming days.

The Model S Long Range now starts at $79,990, while the Model S Plaid now starts at $94,990. The Model S and Model X now have the same starting price. Interestingly, that’s also the same pricing point for the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast Trimotor non-Foundation Series. 

The vehicle configuration does not appear to have changed, so the new pricing is simply an increase rather than the addition or removal of features. Tesla previously cut the price of the Model S and Model X by 15% in 2023, so this could simply be an adjustment to ensure that the vehicle pricing stays in line with inflation and other factors.

Free Lifetime Supercharging

For those on the fence about ordering a Model S, Tesla has brought back Free Lifetime Supercharging when you order a new Model S on or after December 13, 2024. As always, Free Lifetime Supercharging is restricted to the buyer’s Tesla account and to that specific vehicle. It cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner after ownership transfer. It’s worth noting, that it also doesn’t exclude the owner from receiving Supercharger idle fees or congestion fees. There is currently no end date for this promotion.

There are currently no changes to the Model X, neither a price increase nor the addition of Lifetime Superchargering. However, when Tesla makes changes to one of their premium vehicles, it usually affects the other one as well. So be on the lookout for potential changes to the Model X offering in the coming days.

We’ve seen Tesla value Lifetime Supercharging at $5,000, so this falls in line with the price increase we’re seeing. It’s possible that Tesla will begin to bring back Lifetime Supercharging as a perk for buying into their more premium Model S and Model X cars, or this could be another temporary promotion to get buyers who are on the fence to go ahead and make their purchase while this promotion lasts.

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