Tesla's early FSD Betas included driving visualizations that used simple wireframe boxes to represent vehicles and lane markings were made up of individual dots.
Tesla adds scalable vehicle models to the latest FSD Beta
The visualizations were a great look into some of the information that is provided to Autopilot, but even then only a fraction of the information Autopilot uses was actually displayed onscreen.
In reality, Autopilot is creating a 3D representation of every object it tracks. Each object detected then has various attributes. For example, a detected vehicle will have attributes for how fast it's going, how far away it is, the type of vehicle, its predicted path, and more.
Tesla's visualizations in early FSD Betas
The car visualizations are an important part of FSD because they help us better understand what the car is capable of seeing and reacting to. However, the information and visualization Autopilot needs is drastically different than what humans need.
In order for Tesla to achieve FSD, they essentially need to be able to build a highly accurate video game that represents the real world, in real-time.
The car wants access to as much information about each object as possible. Meanwhile, humans want a visualization that closely resembles the real world.
With the introduction of FSD Betas 9.x, Tesla released a more human consumable visualization. One that included proper 3D models of general vehicle types, road pylons, and solid lane markers.
The road edges and lane markings are more distinguished lines, 3D models have working brake lights, and other objects such as speed bumps, bike lanes, and crosswalks are depicted using visualizations that match the real world.
In order for Tesla to achieve FSD, they essentially need to be able to build a highly accurate video game that represents the real world, in real-time.
However, something that has been missing is visualizations is dynamic vehicle sizing. The 3D vehicle models that Tesla has been using have a static size. When the vehicle sees a bus, it calculates its length, width, and height in addition to a bunch of other metrics. However, the 3D model that is shown onscreen is a predefined size, meaning that it does not actually match what the vehicle saw.
This is why you may have seen a tractor-trailer shift forward and backward or you may have seen two vehicles on top of each other. One is signifying the start of the vehicle and since the vehicle is so much longer than the model, it's adding another vehicle to the end to signify the end of the vehicle.
Scalable Vehicle Models
However, in the latest 10.10.2 FSD update, we are now seeing Tesla scale individual vehicle models so that they represent the calculated size of surrounding vehicles. Contextually this could be helpful in better understanding our car’s situation in the world.
In 10.10.2, the car shrinks or stretches the 3D vehicle models in each dimension so that the 3D model matches the calculated dimensions for each vehicle. This is especially apparent in longer vehicles such as buses, trucks, and tractor-trailers, where the vehicle lengths are more likely to vary, but you can also see it scale other vehicle models such as very small cars.
In this example below, you'll see that Tesla is now able to accurately represent buses of different sizes. Tesla only has a model for a full length bus, but in this case, Tesla detected that the length of one of the buses is considerably shorter than the vehicle model so it chose to reduce the length of the bus to the length Autopilot had calculated. In the image below you can see how the same bus model is shown in two different sizes.
Tesla can now accurate render vehicles of different sizes
It's important to realize the difference between the visualizations and what Autopilot uses. The visualizations are there merely to help us better understand what Autopilot can see. The FSD computer itself has always been taking note of the size of surrounding objects and various other data points. Trajectory, approach velocity, proximity, and so forth have also been a part of this, but this update helps Tesla achieve visualizations that provide a more accurate representation of reality.
It's not only buses and trucks that are scaled up or down. Tesla resized a bobcat down to a vehicle that is about half the length of its normal sedan model.
Tesla can now accurate render vehicles of different sizes
Models are adjusted in all three dimensions. We witnessed some truck models that were stretched to become taller while also having their length reduced. It's not perfect because you're scaling all components of the truck at the same rate, but it produces a much more accurate representation of the vehicle and the amount of space it takes up.
Vehicles are resized in three dimensions to better match the vehicle's length, width and height
Tesla has come a long way in a short period with how many objects they're able to detect, but obviously, when you compare the environment the car sees today, there is still a lot missing.
In the short term, we'd like to see more objects visualized. Objects that are commonly encountered while driving, such as trailers and gates.
We'd also like to see other common objects added, such as additional traffic light configurations, crosswalks, mailboxes, and maybe even a generic object that lets us know the vehicle sees something it needs to maneuver around, but it may not know exactly what it is.
In the future, I think we'll see Tesla display a rich, fuller 3D environment that will display static and moving objects that are important for the vehicle to avoid, objects such as barriers, buildings, trees, sidewalks, and more. Today Tesla is one step closer to achieving this goal.
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.