Netflix's latest apocalyptic thriller, "Leave the World Behind," has stirred some fears about cars that are too technologically advanced, which means Tesla takes a starring role. Spoiler alert: if you haven’t watched it, I will give away some details.
The film portrays a world teetering on the brink of technological collapse. Amidst this chaos, a memorable scene has the characters dodging a fleet of Model 3s. The cars have been hacked, and operating under full self-driving (FSD) are now smashing into one another, causing traffic jams along all major freeways. Netflix used the scene starring Julia Roberts to promote the movie on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X.
Elon Musk, always one to engage directly with public discourse about his companies, responded to this portrayal on social media. Rather than addressing the depicted nightmare scenario head-on, Musk highlighted the resilience of Tesla vehicles in extreme conditions. He emphasized their ability to charge from solar panels, even in a dystopian, fuel-deprived world. While not directly tackling the depicted misuse of Tesla's FSD capabilities, this response subtly reassures the public of Tesla's utility and foresight in dire circumstances.
It is doubtful that many of you predicted that Model 3s would show up in an end-of-day movie, considering Tesla just started rolling out Cybertruck, a vehicle that would do well in a movie like that. After the bulletproof video demonstration during the delivery event, Musk said, “Sometimes you get these late civilization vibes, you know the apocalypse could come along at any moment, and here at Tesla, we have the finest in apocalypse technology.”
Community Notes Strikes Again
The Netflix post was ‘community noted’ on X. A user, likely a big Tesla fan, pointed out that Tesla's website clearly states that while their vehicles possess FSD capabilities and the necessary hardware, FSD currently operates as a Level 2 assistant feature. This means a driver must always be present and ready to take control. The system is designed to disengage if it detects no driver interaction. This safeguard starkly contrasts the autonomous anarchy depicted in the film. Where is the fun in that?
The Reality of the Situation
While sensational, Netflix's portrayal echoes public fears about the reliability and security of autonomous vehicles. The scene from "Leave the World Behind" taps into anxieties about smart technology and its potential misuse. In reality, accidents involving Teslas potentially with Autopilot engaged are under investigation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is seemingly in constant contact with Tesla about autonomous driving. It's a potent reminder that as technology evolves, so must our understanding and regulations governing it.
For Tesla and Elon Musk, the movie provides an opportunity to reassess public perceptions and address concerns head-on. As "Leave the World Behind" shows, the road ahead is as much about managing fears and perceptions as it is about advancing technology.
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The road to bringing FSD to Europe has been a long and complex one and filled with regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles. Elon Musk, as well as other members of Tesla’s AI team, have previously voiced their grievances with the regulatory approval process on X.
However, it appears that there is finally some progress in getting things moving with recent changes to upcoming autonomy regulations, but the process still seems slow.
Waiting on the Dutch
Elon commented on X recently, stating that Tesla is waiting for approval from Dutch authorities and then the EU to start rolling out FSD in Europe. Tesla is focusing on acquiring approvals from the Dutch transportation authority, which will provide them with the platform they need to gain broader acceptance in Europe. Outside of the Netherlands, Tesla is also conducting testing in Norway, which provides a couple of avenues for them to obtain national-level approval.
The frustration has been ongoing, with multiple committee meetings bringing up autonomy regulation but always pulling back at the last second before approving anything. The last meeting on Regulation 157, which governs Automated Lane Keeping Systems, concluded with authorities from the UK and Spain requesting additional time to analyze the data before reaching a conclusion.
Tesla, as well as Elon, have motioned several times for owners to reach out to their elected representatives to move the process forward, as it seems that Tesla’s own efforts are being stymied.
This can seem odd, especially since Tesla has previously demoed FSD working exceptionally smoothly on European roads - and just did it again in Rome when they shared the video below on X.
— Tesla Europe & Middle East (@teslaeurope) June 12, 2025
DCAS Phase 3
While the approval process has been slow, Kees Roelandschap pointed out that there may be a different regulatory step that could allow FSD to gain a foothold in Europe.
According to Kees, the European Commission is now taking a new approach to approving ADAS systems under the new DCAS Phase 3 regulations. The Commission is now seeking data from systems currently operational in the United States that can perform System-Initiated Maneuvers and don’t require hands-on intervention for every request.
This is key because those are two of the core functionalities that make FSD so usable, and it also means that there may not be a need to wait years for proper regulations to be written from scratch. Now, the Commission will be looking at real-world data based on existing, deployed technology, which could speed up the process immensely.
What This Means
This new, data-driven regulatory approach could be the path for Tesla to reach its previous target of September for European FSD. While the cogs of bureaucracy are ever slow, sometimes all it takes is a little data to have them turn a bit faster in this case.
Alongside specific countries granting approval for limited field testing with employees, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for FSD in Europe, and hopes are that a release will occur by the end of 2025. With Europe now looking to North America for how FSD is performing, Tesla’s Robotaxi results could also play a role.
Tesla’s marketing has always been relatively unconventional, relying on word-of-mouth rather than traditional advertising. The passion of the owner’s community is always massive, but it is especially high now with the launch of the Robotaxi network just around the corner.
Tesla is now tapping into that spring of fan creativity and announced the TeslaVision video contest, with some seriously impressive prizes up for grabs.
Announcing the TeslaVision fan video showcase
Tesla owners & supporters have always been able to see our products & mission for what they truly are.
Your word of mouth has made Tesla what it is today.
The OGs will remember that in 2017, we held our first video contest. 8 years… pic.twitter.com/6pPpkqmqOH
The core of the contest is simple. Create a video that shows how your Tesla gives you more in life. Tesla is looking for submissions that highlight themes of freedom, safety, fun, and convenience.
Prizes
The prizes definitely make this contest worth entering if you’re good with a camera and have some basic video editing abilities.
For North America, the prizes include a brand new Model Y AWD Long Range, alongside an all-expenses-paid trip to Austin for a tour of Giga Texas. The grand prize winner will also be able to custom order their Model Y, allowing them to select their preferred wheels and color.
The two runners-up won’t get a Model Y, but they’ll also enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Giga Texas for a tour of the factory.
The travel and tour include lodging in Austin for 2 nights, as well as economy-class round-trip tickets from anywhere in North America. Tesla will also provide a vehicle for use during the trip.
For long-time followers of Tesla, this contest may feel familiar. The contest is a direct throwback to the 2017 Project Loveday contest, which was inspired by a letter to Tesla from a 10-year-old aspiring marketer. That contest was won by MKBHD, with his submission below:
How to Enter
If you’re ready to start filming, here are the key pieces of information you’ll need to know:
Video must be 90 seconds or less
Video must be uploaded to YouTube with a public URL
Make a post on X and Instagram tagging “@Tesla” and include the words “TeslaVision contest” in the post.
Provide links to both social media posts in your submission to Tesla’s form
Provide your personal details in the form
You have until July 17th, 2025, or until Tesla receives 10,000 entries, whichever comes first.
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