Elon Musk reveals Tesla Full Self Driving is close in Europe & China

Elon Musk has recently announced that Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology is now operational in Germany and is awaiting approval in other left-hand drive countries within the next few weeks. Tesla is demonstrating the FSD stack to regulators to secure approval, with version 12 believed to be ready for supervised self-driving in these regions. Although not yet fully autonomous, requiring driver supervision, Tesla is positioning itself for future advancements. The company has been focusing on left-hand drive markets, which account for approximately 80% of global car sales, including China and Europe. Tesla's supercomputer is continuously learning from edge cases, leading to rapid improvements in FSD capabilities. If approved, Tesla's stock price could potentially double, and the company's technology could disrupt services like Uber, as self-driving cars would significantly reduce operational costs.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) is now operational in Germany and awaiting approval from regulators.
• 🌍 FSD is expected to be available in other left-hand drive countries in Europe and China within the next couple of weeks.
• 🚀 Tesla believes that version 12 of their FSD stack is ready for supervised self-driving in left-hand drive countries, with right-hand drive countries to follow.
• 🤖 Tesla is using its supercomputer to process data from edge cases, allowing the FSD system to learn and improve rapidly.
• 💰 The company has been offering FSD at a lower price in North America, currently at $88,000.
• 🔍 German regulators have approved Mercedes' autonomous driving system under certain conditions, which could be a positive sign for Tesla's FSD approval.
• 🚀 Tesla's FSD is not yet at the level where drivers can completely remove their hands from the wheel and go to sleep.
• 🌐 Tesla is focusing on left-hand drive markets, which account for approximately 80% of global car sales.
• 📈 Tesla executives suggest that the company is close to launching full self-driving in other markets, with an emphasis on left-hand drive regions first.
• 🧠 The FSD system is not compute-constrained and is capable of absorbing a large amount of data, leading to significant improvements in a short time.
• 💸 If Tesla's FSD is approved and launched in Europe, China, and North America within the next two years, it could significantly impact companies like Uber and potentially double Tesla's stock price.

Q & A

What is the current status of Tesla's Full Self Driving in Germany?

Tesla's Full Self Driving is now running in Germany, and they are giving demonstrations to regulators to get it approved.

What does Tesla believe about version 12 of their Full Self Driving stack?

Tesla believes that version 12 is ready for supervised full self-driving in left-hand drive countries.

How does the approval process for Tesla's Full Self Driving compare to Mercedes' self-driving system?

German regulators have approved Mercedes' self-driving system, which has limitations, suggesting that Tesla's system, which is more advanced, is likely to be approved as well.

What is the current price for Tesla's Full Self Driving in North America?

Tesla is currently offering Full Self Driving at a price of $88,000 in North America.

What is the status of Full Self Driving in left-hand drive regions according to Tesla?

Tesla believes that the supervised software could be ready to debut in left-hand drive regions soon.

What is the main difference between Full Self Driving and supervised self-driving?

With Full Self Driving, theoretically, you could take your hands off the steering wheel, but with supervised self-driving, you are required to keep your hands on the wheel.

Why is Tesla focusing on left-hand drive markets?

Left-hand drive markets, which include Europe, China, and North America, account for about 80% of car sales worldwide, making it a priority for Tesla.

What is the significance of Tesla's discussions with the United Nations Economic Commission?

The discussions indicate that Tesla is actively engaging with international bodies to discuss and potentially gain approval for its self-driving technology on a global scale.

What is the precursor to Tesla launching Full Self Driving in China?

Tesla China has launched subscriptions for enhanced autopilot, which is seen as a step towards the launch of Full Self Driving in the country.

How is Tesla's supercomputer aiding in the development of Full Self Driving?

Tesla's supercomputer is used to process and learn from edge case scenarios, allowing the self-driving system to improve and adapt quickly.

What potential impact could Tesla's Full Self Driving have on companies like Uber?

If Tesla's Full Self Driving is approved and becomes widely available, it could disrupt companies like Uber, as the main cost of their service, the driver, would be eliminated.

How does the host of the channel feel about the rapid technological changes in the automotive industry?

The host is excited about the changes and finds them interesting, which is why they enjoy working in the field.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Tesla's Full Self-Driving Stack Goes Live in Germany

The video discusses the recent activation of Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) stack in Germany and the anticipation of its expansion to other left-hand drive countries in the near future. Sam Evans, the host of the Electric Viking channel, welcomes viewers and expresses enthusiasm for the development. Tesla is currently demonstrating the FSD technology to German regulators to gain approval. Version 12 of the FSD is believed to be ready for supervised self-driving in left-hand drive countries, while right-hand drive approval is expected to take more time. The host contrasts Tesla's progress with Mercedes' self-driving system, which has limited functionality and has been approved despite its constraints. Tesla has been promoting its FSD in North America, reducing its price to $88,000, and is moving towards international expansion. The video also touches on the legal and regulatory challenges, the need for software training for right-hand drive countries, and the potential impact on the automotive and ride-sharing industries once full self-driving is approved more widely.

05:00

📈 Implications of Tesla's Full Self-Driving Approval on the Market

The second paragraph delves into the potential market implications if Tesla's full self-driving technology receives approval in major markets like Europe, China, and North America within the next two years. The host speculates that Tesla's stock price could double, considering the transformative effect that approved self-driving technology could have on the transportation industry. The video highlights the challenge that companies like Uber would face, as the primary cost of their service— the driver— would be eliminated with self-driving vehicles. The host ponders the future business models in the context of autonomous driving and suggests that Tesla's technology could also be utilized for training other AI systems, such as robots. The video concludes with a reflection on the rapid pace of change and the host's personal excitement about its impact on the world.

Keywords

💡Full Self-Driving (FSD)

Full Self-Driving (FSD) refers to a system in which a vehicle can navigate and drive itself without human intervention. In the context of the video, it's about Tesla's technology that is being tested and approved in various regions, including Germany. FSD is central to the video's theme as it discusses the potential for Tesla to revolutionize transportation and compete with companies like Uber.

💡Germany

Germany is a country in Europe where Tesla is seeking approval for its Full Self-Driving technology. It's significant in the video because German regulators have already approved certain self-driving systems from other manufacturers, which sets a precedent for Tesla's FSD approval. The video suggests that approval in Germany could be a stepping stone for wider acceptance in Europe.

💡Regulators

Regulators are government officials or agencies responsible for overseeing certain industries and ensuring compliance with laws and safety standards. In the video, they play a crucial role in the approval process for Tesla's FSD technology. The interaction between Tesla and regulators is a key narrative as it determines the future deployment of FSD.

💡Left-hand Drive Countries

Left-hand drive countries are regions where vehicles are designed to be driven with the driver's seat on the left side of the vehicle, which is the norm in countries like the UK, Australia, and Japan. The video mentions that Tesla's FSD is imminent in left-hand drive regions, indicating a broader rollout of the technology.

💡Right-hand Drive Countries

Right-hand drive countries, such as the United States and China, have vehicles with the driver's seat on the right side. The video discusses the challenges Tesla faces in adapting its FSD technology for right-hand drive markets, which are a smaller portion of the global car sales but still significant.

💡Supervised Self-Driving

Supervised self-driving is a term used to describe a level of vehicle automation where the car can drive itself under certain conditions, but a human driver must be ready to take control at any time. Tesla has been offering this in North America and is looking to expand it to other regions, as discussed in the video.

💡Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is a German automobile manufacturer mentioned in the video as an example of another company that has received approval for a self-driving system, albeit with limitations. The comparison is used to argue that Tesla's FSD might also gain approval, despite the skepticism from some quarters.

💡Tesla Stock Price

The Tesla stock price refers to the market value of a single share of Tesla, Inc. The video suggests that if Tesla's FSD technology is approved and successfully implemented, it could significantly increase the company's stock price, reflecting the potential impact of FSD on Tesla's market position and profitability.

💡Uber

Uber is a ride-hailing company that the video uses as a point of comparison to Tesla's potential impact on the transportation industry. If Tesla's FSD technology becomes a reality, it could disrupt Uber's business model by reducing the need for human drivers, which is a major cost for such services.

💡Supercomputer

A supercomputer, as mentioned in the video, is a powerful computer capable of performing calculations much faster than a standard computer. Tesla uses its supercomputer to process and learn from vast amounts of data collected from its vehicles, which is crucial for improving the FSD system's capabilities.

💡Edge Cases

Edge cases in the context of the video refer to unusual or extreme scenarios that a self-driving system might encounter, such as someone attempting to drive into the vehicle. These are important for the development of FSD as they test the limits of the system's ability to respond appropriately and safely.

Highlights

Tesla's Full Self Driving (FSD) is now operational in Germany and is awaiting approval in other left-hand drive countries.

Tesla is demonstrating FSD to German regulators to obtain approval, with a belief that version 12 is ready for supervised self-driving in left-hand drive countries.

Right-hand drive countries will take longer to implement FSD due to the need for additional software training and adjustments.

Despite criticisms, German regulators have approved Mercedes' autonomous driving under certain conditions, suggesting Tesla's FSD may also gain approval.

Tesla has been offering FSD at a reduced price of $88,000 in North America and is moving towards expansion in other regions.

Elon Musk has indicated that left-hand drive regions, including Europe and China, are imminent for FSD launch.

Tesla's FSD is not yet at the level where drivers can completely remove their hands from the wheel.

Left-hand drive regions account for approximately 80% of global car sales, which is why Tesla is focusing on these markets.

Tesla executives suggest the company is close to launching full self-driving in other markets, with an emphasis on left-hand drive countries.

Tesla has been in dialogue with the United Nations Economic Commission regarding self-driving technology.

Tesla China has launched subscriptions for enhanced autopilot, a precursor to full self-driving in the country.

Tesla's supercomputer is used to process data from edge cases, allowing the FSD system to learn and improve rapidly.

The potential approval of FSD in Europe, China, and North America could significantly impact Tesla's stock price and the competitive landscape for ride-sharing services like Uber.

The main cost for Uber is the hourly wage of the driver; with FSD, this cost could be eliminated, disrupting Uber's business model.

Tesla's advancements in self-driving technology also have implications for training their robots, indicating a broader application of the software.

The rapid pace of change in self-driving technology is both exciting and daunting, with significant implications for the future of transportation.