Tesla drops Safety Score to 80; sends FSD Beta to new testers

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla is expanding the FSD Beta pool
Tesla is expanding the FSD Beta pool
Not a Tesla App

Tesla is finally expanding the FSD Beta to more testers who have been patiently waiting and maintaining high Safety Scores.

Elon Musk announced the expansion on Twitter and said Tesla would expand the beta to 160,000 testers in the United States and Canada, up from 100,000.

He has said the program could only improve with more real-world driving data input. The real-world experience could have been drivers achieving nearly perfect Safety Scores.

Lower Safety Score

Tesla has now lowered the Safety Score required to get into the FSD Beta program. Anyone in the U.S. or Canada or who has driven more than 100 miles with a Safety Score of 80 is now eligible to receive the beta.

Early this morning owners began waking up to a surprise update from Tesla. Tesla started sending out the latest FSD Beta, 10.69.2.2 (update 2022.20.17) to new testers overnight.

Only for those on 2022.20 or earlier?

It appears that those receiving the beta have been on a version of 2022.20 or earlier. Owners on update 2022.24 or 2022.28 haven't been offered the beta yet.

It's possible Tesla wants to prevent rolling owners backward in terms of updates, causing some features to be removed. Potentially features that the owners may have just started getting used to such as blind spot camera placement, alternate routes, or other features included in update 2022.24 or 2022.28.

Elon has already commented on the next version of FSD Beta, revealing that it will be beta 10.69.3 and it's expected to be released shortly after AI Day Part II. This version could be based on update 2022.24 or 2022.28 and include testers currently on those updates.

Update 2022.20.17

FSD 10.69.2.2
Installed on 0% of vehicles
0 Installs today
Last updated: Mar 27, 5:00 pm

For those unfamiliar, just because someone purchases FSD doesn’t mean they have access to the FSD Beta. No, the driver is graded by Tesla and given a score. That score has to be above a certain point to be enrolled in the FSD Beta. Tesla’s CEO has said that more than 100 million FSD miles should be logged by the end of 2022. In July, that number stood at 35 million miles. Of course, to triple that number, more testers are needed.

In August, Tesla’s CEO was confident FSD had a breakthrough and told shareholders the next update would be so great that he had to break the order of numbers, “… we’ve made some pretty significant architectural improvements. So, it is really more than 10.12 to 10.13 release. It might, I don’t want to speak too soon, but it might qualify for 10.69. It has to earn that, obviously!”

While the price of FSD continues to go up, Musk says this about making the roads safer, “We’re solving a very important part of AI and one that can ultimately save millions of lives. And prevent 10 of millions of serious injuries by driving just an order of magnitude safer than people.”

Autonomous vehicles have been a goal for years. Musk publicly discussed it in 2017 and believed the feat could be done in two years. However, a few months ago, he admitted it was a much more significant challenge than he predicted. “The sheer amount of work required to do this boggles the mind,” he told the Tesla Owners Club of Silicon Valley. “I’ve seen a lot of tough technology problems, and solving real-world AI such that a car can drive itself is one of the hardest problems I’ve ever seen. It is way harder than I originally thought, by far.”

Since 10.69 was released on August 20, updates have included several improvements to FSD. The most recent update can be found here. Now with 60% more users, there will be more updates to address what Teslas are experiencing. Plus, there is already FSD Beta 10.69.3 expected just after AI Day on September 30.

Have you just received Tesla's FSD Beta for the first time? Let us know in our forum.

Tesla Advances with 5G: A Future of Enhanced Connectivity for Cars and Robotics

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla building 5G private network
Tesla building 5G private network

Tesla appears to be planning an ambitious project to build a private 5G network. This initiative would revolutionize connectivity for its vehicles and the robot, Optimus, as well as any other plans the company is likely to develop in the future.

Innovative Job Posting Reveals Big Plans

Although now removed, a recently spotted job posting for a Cellular Systems Integration Engineer on Tesla's career page shed light on the company's intentions. The role demands expertise to elevate Tesla's vehicle and Optimus robot connectivity, promising to push the boundaries of low latency and high data rates.

Tesla's journey from 3G to the anticipated 5G upgrade will bring about ultra-reliable communication and high-speed data transfer, crucial for over-the-air software updates, autonomous driving features, and real-time data analytics. These communications could be product to product, such as vehicles communicating with each other or with other products such as Optimus. However, the job posting also talks about products being able to communicate with Tesla’s internal 5G network. It’s not clear whether the private network would be internal such as at a Gigafactory, or a broader network out in the world.

Tesla is pursuing an internal 5G network for product communication
Tesla is pursuing an internal 5G network for product communication

The Strategic Role of Private 5G Networks

Deploying its private 5G network, Tesla aims to create a seamlessly connected environment in its manufacturing facilities, research labs, and outdoor spaces. This infrastructure is not just about enhancing vehicle connectivity; it's also pivotal for the operational efficiency of the Optimus robot in various scenarios, including warehouse operations.

Tesla's foray into private 5G networking places it in an advantageous position in the automotive and tech industries. This strategic move aligns with the global trend towards adopting private 5G networks, which promise to revolutionize industries with their reliability and speed. Tesla's efforts to develop a private 5G protocol stack that integrates with any cellular infrastructure globally will set new industry standards.

With 5G, Tesla vehicles and Optimus robots will benefit from significantly reduced latency, offering under 5 milliseconds compared to the 60-98 milliseconds of 4G networks. This technological advancement is expected to enhance the functionality and responsiveness of Tesla's products, paving the way for advanced autonomous driving capabilities and efficient robot operations.

Tesla's interest in developing a private 5G network is a logical step. By building an infrastructure that supports the fastest connectivity standards, Tesla is preparing for its vehicles and laying the groundwork for sophisticated robotics applications. This endeavor reflects Tesla's ongoing commitment to innovation and its role in shaping the future of transportation and automation.

Tesla Is in Talks To Produce Electric Vans in Italy According to Report

By Kevin Armstrong
Van rendering
Van rendering

Italy has been discussing with Tesla about potentially establishing a factory producing electric trucks and vans. This information came to light in an Italian media outlet, Il Sole 24 Ore, which reported that the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (Mimit) spearheaded talks to secure Tesla's investment.

Tesla and Italy: A Strategic Dialogue

Since last summer, Italy has broadened its industrial horizons by engaging in talks with Tesla, alongside negotiations with prominent Chinese manufacturers such as BYD, Great Wall Motors, and Chery Automobile. Notably, the discussions with Tesla have centered around producing electric commercial vehicles, highlighting a departure from conventional car manufacturing and reflecting the evolving demands of the global market.

Under the leadership of Minister Adolfo Urso, Italy aims to invigorate its automotive sector by encouraging the presence of multiple manufacturers. This approach is designed to stabilize the national components sector, which faces challenges due to the shift towards electric vehicles. Italy aims to produce 1.3 million vehicles annually, including a significant contribution from a new yet-to-be-determined manufacturer.

A Geopolitical and Industrial Balancing Act

Italy's engagement with Tesla occurs amidst a delicate phase of negotiations with Stellantis for increased vehicle production within the country. This strategic dialogue with Tesla, alongside discussions with Chinese competitors, is a pivotal element in Italy's industrial and geopolitical maneuvering.

A multipurpose van is the next logical step for Tesla to produce once the less expensive next-gen platform is released (code name Redwood). However, engineers seem to be busy perfecting the next-gen Roadster, and the van has had little discussion. Given the company's leaks, if a van were in the works, you would think we would’ve heard about it. Perhaps this is the nudge Tesla needs to get the van into production.

As Italy endeavors to become a key player in the electric vehicle industry, its negotiations with Tesla signify a promising development. The possibility of Tesla establishing a facility for electric trucks and vans in Italy underscores the country's commitment to sustainable transportation and positions Italy as an attractive destination for automotive innovation.

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