Tesla FSD Beta: Rolling stops to be removed due to NHTSA

By Nuno Cristovao

Tesla introduced FSD Profiles with FSD Beta 10.3 last October.

FSD Beta to stop rolling stop signs
Matt Simmons/YouTube

FSD Profiles let you pick from three different driving styles and assertiveness. By adjusting your FSD profile your vehicle will adjust its following distance, acceleration, how aggressively it makes lane changes, and more.

When using the 'Assertive' FSD Profile, the vehicle may also perform rolling stops at a stop sign when certain conditions are met.

The NHTSA is now asking Tesla to remove the ability for Teslas to roll stop signs. It's not clear if this recall is delaying the release of FSD Beta 10.9 to all testers.

Only about 38% of FSD Beta users are on version 10.9, with the majority (61%) still on the previous beta, version 10.8.1.

This change is making headlines, but it impacts a very small amount of owners. Tesla recently revealed that it has almost 60,000 FSD Beta testers. This change will only affect those testers who have their FSD Profile set to assertive, which is not the default setting. So it's going to be a fairly small amount of users.

It's pretty clear why Tesla added FSD Profiles and the ability to roll stop signs. If you go out on the roads and perform four-second stops at every stop sign, drive the speed limit and follow every traffic law under every condition, you're likely to run into some pretty angry drivers.

It was forward-thinking of Tesla to add driving profiles, letting you set Autopilot to your preference and match the driving style in your area. Drivers in New York City and drivers on country roads are clearly not driving the same way.

What's interesting in this recall is that Tesla outlined exactly when a Tesla may perform a rolling stop. It's not enough to have just your FSD Profile set to assertive. The vehicle goes through a checklist to confirm that it's safe to make a rolling stop, much like a human might do when coming up to a stop sign. You look around, make sure there are no other cars coming, there are no police cars, no pedestrians, etc.

FSD Beta will only perform a rolling stop if all these conditions are met:

1. The functionality must be enabled within the FSD Beta Profile settings; and

2. The vehicle must be approaching an all-way stop intersection; and

3. The vehicle must be traveling below 5.6mph; and

4. No relevant moving cars are detected near the intersection; and

5. No relevant pedestrians or bicyclists are detected near the intersection; and

6. There is sufficient visibility for the vehicle while approaching the intersection; and

7. All roads entering the intersection have a speed limit of 30 mph or less.

After going through the list above, one may actually be able to argue that FSD Beta will perform a rolling stop much safer than a human.

After speaking with NHTSA, Tesla agreed to send out an update to FSD Beta testers that will disable rolling stops when using the assertive driving profile. The recall outlines that Tesla will release the update as version 2021.44.30.15.

Tesla to remove the ability to roll stop signs from FSD Beta

Tesla's latest FSD Beta, Beta 10.9 is version 2021.44.30.10.

It's not clear whether this update will simply be a point release of FSD Beta 10.9 or if it will be part of FSD Beta 11, which Elon has previously said was coming after Beta 10.9.

Everyone in the Tesla community knows that this is a simple software update, but in NHTSA's safety report, they're still calling these kinds of issues recalls, which could be misleading.

It'd be nice to see NHTSA use different language when a vehicle needs to be physically brought in and when it can simply be performed as a remote software update that requires almost no owner intervention.

A Closer Look at Tesla's Ambient Lighting Feature in the New Model 3 and Cybertruck [Video]

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
crospotter13

If you look up ambient lights for Tesla, you'll see several ads for third-party light kits. Perhaps this is why Tesla added its own Ambient Lights feature to the new Model 3. So, let's get enlightened.

Tesla's ambient lights are thin light strips that are embedded in each of the vehicle's doors near the top edge. It also curves around the dashboard near the windshield, giving passengers a near 360-degree light effect.

Supported Models

Tesla new ambient light feature is available on the new Model 3 (2024+), and will be available on the Cybertruck in a similar manner. With a refresh ongoing for the Model Y, known as Juniper, it will likely also have ambient lights. That just leaves out the most luxurious flagship vehicles, the Model S and X, for now.

The Model S and Model X could be due for a minor refresh that would not only add ambient lighting, but also include a front-bumper camera that the Cybertruck has and the new Model 3 is expected to have in the near future.

Customization

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
AutoTopNL

The ambient light settings allow you to light up the interior in a color that reflects your mood or preference. Under Controls > Lights > Accent Lights, you are handed the freedom to choose virtually any color to adorn the interior of your Tesla.

You have control over whether the ambient lights are on, off, or set to an "Auto" setting, though not fully clarified, seems to promise intelligent lighting adjustments akin to our control over dome lights, offering a reduction in reflections during drives.

While the ability to control the brightness level seems missing, Tesla did include color presets, letting you curate a series of your favorite colors.

It should be noted that the changes are confined to the light strips on the doors and dash, steering clear of the footwell lights and other interior lighting.

Future Enhancements

With Tesla, we can be assured there will be enhancements to this feature in a future update. In fact, the Tesla community is already busy coming up with useful suggestions. Some owners thought Tesla should take advantage of the lighting to provide driver feedback, such as automatically changing the ambient lighting to a red hue when there's a vehicle in your blind spot. Tesla could also glow the light strip on a door if it's not closed properly, or use the lighting to provide feedback when Sentry Mode is enabled.

Other uses could be more fun, such as cycling the light through various colors when the 'Rainbow Road' easter egg is activated.

Ambient Lighting in Action

While the possibilities are endless and Tesla engineers will surely have fun coming up with creative uses for the feature, the biggest improvement we can hope for in the near future is the ability to adjust the light intensity.

Tesla Model 3 'Highland' Performance Details Discovered in European Documents

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades
Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades
Tesla

Tesla outdid itself with the refreshed Model 3, known as the Highland. Despite all the fantastic upgrades, something is missing - the Performance version or perhaps the Plaid. The letter "T" has shown up on vehicle certificates in Europe, and despite Elon Musk's sense of humor, it is unlikely this is a Mr. T reference.

Deciphering the 'T'

A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor
A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor
eivissacopter / X

Diligent scrutiny of the European Type Certificate, issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW and shared on the TFF Forum, revealed a subtle yet pivotal alteration — including the letter 'T' in the eighth digit of the Model 3 Performance's VIN.

This seemingly minor detail, indicative of the vehicle's motor/drive unit type, sparked curiosity and speculation on the forum. Could it be a tri-motor setup to usher in a new Plaid version of the Model 3? This vehicle has already got endless amounts of zip, but three motors? May The Schwartz Be With You!

This could also explain the Model 3+ badging that was spotted during the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China inspection of the refresh. However, the regulatory filings highlighted just two distinct variants of the car: a rear-wheel drive (RWD) with a 194 kW motor and an all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor setup that combines to deliver a formidable 331 kW of maximum power.

Initial conjectures leaned towards the possibility of a tri-motor setup, drawing parallels with the Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X. However, a deeper dive into the certification document clarified that the Model 3 Performance retained its Dual Motor setup, dispelling the possibility of a tri-motor upgrade.

Strategic Enhancements: A Glimpse into Potential Upgrades

Given the documented specifications, it becomes plausible that Tesla has strategically enhanced one of the dual motors, potentially aligning it with the advanced motor found in the Model S/X Plaid. This modification is poised to augment the top-end speed and acceleration of the Model 3 Performance, addressing its comparative limitations in extended races against traditional gas-powered supercars.

Meanwhile, the Model 3 refresh has become the new Bigfoot of the roads of North America, with rare sightings posted on social media. However, it appears the continent is excluded from the initial launch of the Model 3 Highland. Internal communications within Tesla suggest North American enthusiasts might have to exercise patience until 2024.

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