In a post on X, Elon Musk confirmed that vehicles with Hardware 3 will be receiving FSD V12.5 in about 10 days.
When FSD V12.5 was rolled out initially, it only rolled out to Model Y vehicles with AI4 (Hardware 4). However, just a few days later, FSD V12.5 started rolling out to most AI4-based vehicles.
Hardware 3
Hardware 3 owners have been left feeling behind on this, especially since the divergence between Hardware 3 and AI4 wasn’t supposed to start happening until later this year. Elon has mentioned that even though AI4 is still emulating Hardware 3, the additional compute capacity available on the newer hardware makes it easier to develop.
This pretty much means that Tesla is developing for Hardware 3 but is using the unconstrained compute power of AI4 to test and do initial rollouts. After optimization, it then rolls out to Hardware 3 vehicles. This is similar to how most software is often made – on far better PCs, and then scaled down and optimized to better fit the average computer.
But Tesla clearly isn’t abandoning their Hardware 3 and Tegra-based infotainment (MCU 1) customers just yet. Update 2024.26.3 brings FSD V12 to MCU1 vehicles for the first time. These vehicles are based on an older infotainment chipset from NVIDIA. That’s a great leap in optimization and compatibility and demonstrates Tesla and Elon’s commitment to bringing Unsupervised FSD to any vehicle produced after 2016.
V12.5 is Significant
FSD V12.5.1 has also shown some amazing improvements, with the capability to navigate parking lots and unpaved/unmarked roads being demonstrated by AIDRIVR on X below. That’s one of the key components that Tesla will need for its Robotaxi, as well as for Actually Smart Summon, Park Seek, and Banish Autopark. And Elon has said that there is more to come.
We haven’t heard about these features making it to FSD V12.5 just yet, but we do know that sunglasses-capable hands-free, end-to-end highway stack, more natural lane changes, and Cybertruck FSD are supposed to be coming soon. This laundry list of improvements is found in the Update 2024.20.15 Release Notes, all listed as Upcoming Improvements.
We’re excited to see FSD V12.5 coming to Hardware 3 vehicles – especially as the vast majority of Tesla’s current fleet is still on Hardware 3, not AI4. While Elon has said Tesla doesn’t envision an upgrade path between Hardware 3 and AI4 due to the complexity, there’s always a chance Tesla will develop new AI4-based hardware that meets the power consumption capabilities and space constraints of vehicles running HW3.
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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.
Tesla recently showed off a demo of Optimus, its humanoid robot, walking around in moderately challenging terrain—not on a flat surface but on dirt and slopes. These things can be difficult for a humanoid robot, especially during the training cycle.
Most interestingly, Milan Kovac, VP of Engineering for Optimus, clarified what it takes to get Optimus to this stage. Let’s break down what he said.
Optimus is Blind
Optimus is getting seriously good at walking now - it can keep its balance over uneven ground - even while walking blind. Tesla is currently using just the sensors, all powered by a neural net running on the embedded computer.
Essentially, Tesla is building Optimus from the ground up, relying on as much additional data as possible while it trains vision. This is similar to how they train FSD on vehicles, using LiDAR rigs to validate the vision system’s accuracy. While Optimus doesn’t have LiDAR, it relies on all those other sensors on board, many of which will likely become simplified as vision takes over as the primary sensor.
Today, Optimus is walking blind, but it’s able to react almost instantly to changes in the terrain underneath it, even if it falls or slips.
What’s Next?
Next up, Tesla AI will be adding vision to Optimus - helping complete the neural net. Remember, Optimus runs on the same overall AI stack as FSD - in fact, Optimus uses an FSD computer and an offshoot of the FSD stack for vision-based tasks.
Milan mentions they’re planning on adding vision to help the robot plan ahead and improve its walking gait. While the zombie shuffle is iconic and a little bit amusing, getting humanoid robots to walk like humans is actually difficult.
There’s plenty more, too - including better responsiveness to velocity and direction commands and learning to fall and stand back up. Falling while protecting yourself to minimize damage is something natural to humans - but not exactly natural to something like a robot. Training it to do so is essential in keeping the robot, the environment around it, and the people it is interacting with safe.
We’re excited to see what’s coming with Optimus next because it is already getting started in some fashion in Tesla’s factories.
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