Tesla reintroduces Enhanced Autopilot in the US for $6k

By Alex Jones
Tesla has reintrouced Enhanced Autopilot in the US
Tesla has reintrouced Enhanced Autopilot in the US

Following the return of Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) to Australia and other countries, Tesla has once again begun offering the package in the US.

Enhanced Autopilot is priced at $6,000, exactly half of Tesla's FSD package.

Longtime Tesla owners are no stranger to EAP and its functionality. Enhanced Autopilot was offered as an option in the US several years ago, but the option was removed in 2019 when Tesla restructured their Driver Assitance System (DAS) options.

Prior to 2019, Teslas did not include any Autopilot features with their vehicles, but offered two paid add-ons, Enhanced Autopilot and FSD.

In 2019 Tesla introduced basic Autopilot that came standard with every vehicle.

Date FSD Cost
April 2019 $5,000
May 2019 $6,000
August 2019 $7,000
July 2020 $8,000
October 2020 $10,000
January 2022 $12,000

Basic Autopilot includes traffic-aware cruise control and lane keeping, basically allowing your vehicle to drive on the highway. Basic Autopilot however does not include the ability for your vehicle to change lanes based on traffic or your route.

When Tesla introduced basic Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot was removed as an option and the FSD package became the sole add-on.

The FSD option has slowly increased in price as Tesla has increased its capabilities. With the last price increase in January 2022, FSD now costs $12,000 in the US.

With FSD's increased capabilities and price, there was now a large gap between basic Autopilot and FSD, in terms of function and price. This made it an ideal time for Tesla to reintroduce Enhanced Autopilot.

Subscription

Tesla also offers a FSD subscription for $99 - $199, depending on your current Autopilot package.

For vehicles with EAP, the FSD subscription costs $99, while for those with basic Autopilot, it's a $199/month subscription.

The subscription requires your vehicle to have the FSD computer (hardware 3.0).

Enhanced Autopilot and FSD packages are non-transferrable (tied to the car, not the driver), but the monthly subscription can be stopped on one vehicle and added to another at any time. There is currently no monthly subscription for Enhanced Autopilot.

What's Included

Enhanced Autopilot, Tesla's new mid-tier option, offers several features that are not available in basic Autopilot, including:

Auto lane change: The ability for your vehicle to perform lane changes on the highway and take on ramps and off ramps automatically (driver will need to confirm by applying tension on the steering wheel).

Autopark: Your vehicle will be able to park itself when it detects an available parking spot.

Summon: The ability to retrieve your car from a tight parking spot by having it move forward or backward.

Smart summon: Your vehicle will be able to drive to you in a parking out.

The only major self-driving feature missing from Enhanced Autopilot is the ability for the car to navigate city streets, which is only included in the FSD package.

While the parking and summoning features of Enhanced Autopilot are fun, the biggest advantage to upgrade to EAP is to have automated lane changes on the highway and the ability to subscribe to a cheaper FSD subscription.

Enhanced Autopilot is available for purchase now through the Tesla app.

Spectacular Tesla Light Show Dazzles to the Tunes of Academy Award-Winning 'Naatu Naatu' [Video]

By Kevin Armstrong
Hundreds of Tesla cars synced to the Indian blockbuster film RRR's award-winning song 'Naatu Naatu'
Hundreds of Tesla cars synced to the Indian blockbuster film RRR's award-winning song 'Naatu Naatu'
Vamsi Koppuravuri/YouTube

Tesla owners recently came together in New Jersey for an incredible display of technology and art. Hundreds of Tesla cars synced to the Indian blockbuster film RRR's award-winning song "Naatu Naatu" to create an unforgettable light show. The energizing event showcased Tesla's upgraded light show feature, part of the Christmas update.

The Twitter account for the movie, @RRRMovie, posted a video, which can be viewed below, of the mesmerizing light show. Elon Musk responded with two heart emojis. After Tesla retweeted the unique video, @RRRMovie replied by expressing their love for Elon Musk. "Naatu Naatu," composed by M.M. Keeravani and Chandrabose, became the first-ever song from an Indian film to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Try the Synced Light Show

A recent update allows owners to schedule their light shows up to 10 minutes in advance or even create multi-car orchestras by starting them simultaneously. This feature can be accessed by tapping the Application Launcher > Toybox. The update also allows Tesla owners to activate the light show using their smartphone app, making it more convenient and fun for those who use the feature as part of their exterior decorations.

The New Jersey event displayed the innovative capabilities of Tesla vehicles and highlighted the growing influence of Indian cinema worldwide. As more Tesla owners come together for events like this, we can expect to see even more mesmerizing light shows in the future, celebrating the convergence of technology and the arts.

Tesla continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with its electric vehicles. Features like the light show demonstrate that the company is committed to creating an experience beyond driving a car.

Some additional light shows are viewable below.

Defending Tesla's CEO Elon Musk: Senator Josh Hawley and Joe Rogan Respond to Critics

By Kevin Armstrong
Senator Josh Hawley defends Elon Musk
Senator Josh Hawley defends Elon Musk
Fox News

Prominent figures such as Senator Josh Hawley and media personality Joe Rogan have come to the defense of Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk. Both spoke against the negative public perception and criticism while highlighting the importance of free speech. While Rogan spoke about the unfair treatment of Musk by members of the media, Hawley went after one — on his own show.

Senator Calls out Reporter

St. Louis’ KSDK News political editor Max Maxwell set up a recorded segment with the republican senator. While crews were getting the technical aspects sorted out, Hawley confronted Maxwell about his anti-Elon Musk tweets, which the Senator described as "vitriolic." The senator read one of Maxwell's tweets aloud, calling Musk's supporters "bootlickers." Hawley questioned Maxwell's intentions and expressed concern about the journalist's use of a public platform to attack people he disagreed with.

Maxwell explained that his tweet was a moment of frustration and defended his comments as satire, protected under the First Amendment. But it got more awkward as the reporter suggested he was drinking at the time of the tweets. Hawley emphasized that journalists like Maxwell have a lot of access, making their public comments particularly influential and potentially concerning.

Rogan to the Rescue

In another instance of public defense, popular podcaster Joe Rogan discussed the shifting public perception of Elon Musk on his show. According to Rogan, any narrative about Musk's political ideology is baseless. He questioned why people have gone from viewing Musk as a savior who brought about electric cars and reusable rockets to someone who is an "alt-right piece of shit." Rogan argued that the resistance against Musk and the publicity campaign against him have been fascinating to watch.

“The narrative has spread through progressive people where they'll just say it now,” Rogan continued. “It’s like they've reached the memo, the memo’s got to them… I hear people I know like, ‘Oh, Elon's just so crazy. Something happened to him. He went nuts, and he’s a right-winger now… They just have this narrative that reaches them as a signal. Like, ‘Elon bad now.’”

Senator Hawley and Joe Rogan's reactions to the criticism against Elon Musk and his supporters emphasize the importance of free speech and raise questions about the fairness of the media's treatment of the world's richest person. As public figures continue to engage in these discussions, it remains to be seen how perceptions of Musk will evolve in the future and how his tweets will impact Tesla.

Latest Tesla Update

Confirmed by Elon

Take a look at features that Elon Musk has said will be coming soon.

Subscribe

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Sponsors

Find out how to become a sponsor and have your site listed here.

Although we share official Tesla release notes, we are not affiliated with Tesla Motors. We are Tesla fans and supporters.

Latest Tesla Update

Confirmed by Elon

Take a look at features that Elon Musk has said will be coming soon.

Subscribe

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.