Tesla Launches FSD V12.6.2, Finally Available for HW3 Model 3

Not a Tesla App
Karan Singh

Last night, Tesla released software update 2024.45.32.5, which includes updated versions of FSD for HW3 and HW4 vehicles. More specifically, this update includes FSD V12.6.2 for HW3 and FSD V13.2.5 for HW4 models (how to check if you have HW3 or HW4).

While there aren’t new features in this update and the FSD release notes remain the same, it does include bug fixes, which should help these FSD updates go to a wider audience.

HW3 Model 3

What’s most interesting about this update is that it’s the first time a version of FSD V12.6 is going out to the Model 3 with HW3. Previously, it was only available for the redesigned Model S, Model X, and Model Y. The Cybertruck has only ever been available with HW4, which makes the Model 3 the lone vehicle left out of the FSD 12.6 release for unknown reasons.

The FSD hardware for the Model 3 and Model Y is identical, but the camera placements shift slightly due to the different vehicle body shapes, so it’s possible that played a role.

After a long wait, Model 3 owners are finally getting a chance to try out End-to-End on the Highway, as well as many other improvements.

FSD V12.6.2 Improvements

FSD V12.6.2 shares the same changelog as V12.6.1 - so we’re not expecting major changes besides bug fixes on this particular release, at least for vehicles coming from V12.6.1. Instead, it seems the primary focus of this update is to address compatibility for the Model 3.

V12.6 is a big step upwards from V12.5.4.2 - and we did an in-depth comparison of V12.6 and V13 here. V12.6 brings End-to-End on Highway, improved behavior on City Streets, Smoother and More Accurate Tracking, as well as Speed Profiles on high-speed roads and highways.

Overall, V12.6 is far closer to V13 than it is to V12.5.4.2 - and it really does feel that way. It is an impressive feat from Tesla to make such big and positive changes for a platform that they’ve admittedly been having some difficulties in obtaining better results. However, this really underlines the fact that they’re still committed and trying very hard to achieve Unsupervised FSD even on HW3.

In fact, in an upcoming FSD update, HW3 vehicles will gain the ability to shift into and maneuver in reverse. This should also add other FSD V13 features, such as three-point turns.

The other bit of good news is that this latest FSD update is based on update 2024.45.32.x, which means that it will be available to all vehicles. While Tesla has released the next major update, version 2025.2, it’s currently only available internally. If you’ve been thinking about subscribing to FSD, now may be a good time, since you’ll qualify to receive the latest HW3 or HW4 FSD version once it rolls out widely.

Legacy Model S and Model X

While the update has begun to roll out to Model 3’s for the first time, at this point in time, we haven’t seen any legacy Model S or Model X vehicles included in this update. Those vehicles, for now, are still on FSD V12.5.4.2. 

However, we do expect Tesla to add support for these vehicles. The question is whether that’s included in this update or whether it’ll be a future release.

Update 2024.45.32.5

Percent of Fleet

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Installs on Feb 26

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When Does It Arrive?

This update has barely started rolling out - the first vehicles started receiving the update last night in a small batch. However, we will hopefully see more waves in the coming days that will progressively get larger. Expect this update to take at least two weeks to go out to the majority of HW3 vehicles if major issues aren’t found.