Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta version 12 has a new feature that makes the computer on wheels drive much more naturally. As we’ve reported, v12.1.2, which is now going out to some customers, is not just another FSD update; it’s said it removes more than 300,000 lines of code and replaces it with an end-to-end neural network.
The neural network has been trained on millions of video clips, improving the system's capability to handle complex driving situations. Now AI is regulating another aspect of FSD, automatic speeds. Instead of following the speed limit and the offset you provide in settings, FSD will now determine appropriate speeds based on a variety of factors.
Automatic Set Speed Offset
FSD Beta v12 automatically adjusts the vehicle's speed to match the surrounding environment better. This optional feature, found under the "Controls > Autopilot" menu, gives the vehicle more freedom regarding its speed, allowing it to keep up with traffic even if it’s higher than the speed limit (which is already in the current FSD Beta), and the vehicle ends up acting more like a human.
In FSD Beta v11.4.7, Tesla added the ability for the vehicle to override the maximum speed set by the user. When this happened, the vehicle’s max speed on the display would turn blue and the message “Maintaining speed for traffic flow” would appear. This allowed the vehicle to temporarily increase its maximum speed to keep up with traffic. The new ‘Automatic Set Speed Offset’ seems to be a natural progression of this feature.
FSD Beta will sometimes override the user's max speed to keep up with traffic
DirtyTesla
With this update, Tesla owners no longer need to manually set a speed offset as a percentage of the speed limit. Instead, the "Automatic Set Speed Offset" option allows Autopilot to determine the most natural driving speed based on road type, traffic and other conditions. When the option is enabled, Tesla will display “Auto” on the vehicle’s display where the vehicle’s max speed is normally shown.
How Automatic Speed is Determined
Tesla explains the feature in the vehicle’s menu, stating, “Automatic Set Speed Offset allows Autopilot to drive at the speed that it determines is most natural. This considers factors like road type, traffic flow, environmental conditions, speed limit, and the selected Full Self-Driving (Beta) Profile setting (Chill, Average, or Assertive).”
This feature was also observed in action during Elon Musk's livestream, where his maximum speed was set quite high yet the car consistently maintained a reasonable speed limit. This demonstrates the feature's ability to adapt to various driving conditions while ensuring safety and compliance with traffic laws.
After a post on X, Tesla has confirmed that it recently exported its 1 millionth car from Giga Shanghai. That’s a massive number of vehicles from a factory that only opened in December 2019.
Since Q3 2021, Giga Shanghai has been responsible for producing over 50% of global EV production – with the single exception of Q2 2022 – where production fell to about 40% while the factory was retooling. That’s a jaw-dropping figure for a single factory.
1 Million Exports
Giga Shanghai produces Teslas for practically the entire world, including the European, Australian, Chinese, and other Southeast Asian markets. For now, it also produces cars for Canada; however, an upcoming tariff could change this.
Giga Shanghai also celebrated the shipping of 100,000 vehicles to Australia with the 1 million vehicles exported mark. While the majority of vehicles end up in Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia are still massive markets for Tesla.
Going forward, Giga Shanghai, with its continued expansions, will be at or above 1 million vehicles produced per year. A good chunk of these vehicles stay within China, while the rest are exported. Tesla sells on average 40 to 80,000 cars per month in China, depending on the season, with an average of 90,000 cars produced per month in 2024 so far.
Automated Production
This is all thanks to Giga Shanghai’s 95% automated production line. Giga Shanghai is likely one of the most automated and advanced factories in the world, a testament to Tesla’s manufacturing and engineering expertise. Giga Shanghai produces one vehicle every 40 seconds.
We’re looking forward to seeing how Tesla’s expansions and factory innovations continue in the coming months and years.
Giga Shanghai operates a 95% automated production line, enabling a cycle time of less than 40 seconds! From taking 2.5 years for the first million cars to be produced, the second million was done in just 12 months 🚘🪄 pic.twitter.com/IF1w27AFPr
Tesla’s last app update, version 4.37.1, introduces support for critical alerts on the iPhone. These alerts are designed for emergency situations and will override standard notification settings, including the mute switch, Focus modes, and Do Not Disturb. This ensures that owners are notified when immediate action is required, even if their phone is set to silent.
How to Enable Critical Alerts
Activate Dog Mode: Open the Tesla app and turn on Dog Mode.
Main App Screen: After activating Dog Mode, go back to the main section of the app.
Enable Critical Alerts: A new option called Critical Alerts will appear under Live Camera and the quick action icons (Tip: You can add up to 5 quick actions). It’ll state, “Grant permissions to receive critical notifications.” Tap it, and you’ll see a system dialog asking for permission to allow critical alerts for the Tesla app.
Confirm Permission: Choose to allow the Tesla app to send critical notifications, which will grant the app special privileges for sending urgent alerts.
This new feature is likely intended for situations where Dog Mode needs to be turned off unexpectedly. For example, if the vehicle’s battery drops below 20% or if the temperature inside the cabin rises or falls drastically outside of your set temperature, the Tesla app is expected to send a critical alert to the owner, ensuring they are informed right away.
What Are Critical Alerts?
Critical Alerts are a type of iOS notification available only to approved apps, which must meet specific criteria set by Apple. These alerts are designed to be used in emergencies and bypass all standard notification restrictions. This means that regardless of whether your phone is silenced or in Do Not Disturb mode, the alert will play a sound and appear prominently.
By adding support for Critical Alerts, Tesla is prioritizing the safety of pets who may be left inside the vehicle with the expectation that Dog Mode will keep conditions safe. This change makes the app more reliable for alerting owners when immediate attention is needed, ensuring they are always kept informed—even when their phone’s settings would typically prevent other notifications from coming through.