Issue 388 - Reasoning coming to FSD
Rental
Rental program opens with unlimited miles, FSD, free Supercharging and more
A first-party rental program has rolled out in several new states, offering Model 3 and Y for $60 a day, Cybertruck for $75, and Model S or X for $90, with perks like unlimited miles, free Supercharging, and supervised FSD included in the price. The target is clearly competitors like Hertz and Turo, but here you can rent for up to seven days and, if you decide to buy within a week, you get $250 off your purchase. The only catch is that you must stay within the state where you picked up the car, but for anyone considering a new Tesla, this is about the most generous extended test drive you could ask for.
FSD
Reasoning coming to FSD with smaller distilled models
Plans call for taking FSD to the next level by adding a “reasoning” layer, basically giving the system some much-needed common sense to handle tricky situations like construction zones or unpredictable drivers. The approach is to train massive reasoning models in data centers and then use distillation to create smaller, faster versions that run efficiently on the car itself. This could mean big improvements for current hardware, especially for edge cases where FSD sometimes hesitates or makes mistakes.
Automakers still hesitant to license FSD, Musk says
Frustration was shared over legacy automakers dragging their feet on licensing Tesla’s Full Self-Driving tech, with most either stalling discussions or setting conditions that make a deal almost impossible. The main sticking points appear to be a slower OEM pace and a reluctance to overhaul vehicle hardware, which is needed to fully adopt the autonomy stack.
New attention required icons coming, “Beta” to be removed from Autosteer
Plans are underway to drop the “Beta” label from Autosteer, signaling a strong vote of confidence in the core driver assistance software. Smarter driver monitoring is also coming, with new attention icons that ramp up or relax based on how confident the car feels about its driving. One more bit hidden in the update: FSD may soon roll out in Europe and adapt features automatically at country borders, so the car knows where it is allowed to drive itself.
FSD v14.2’s best new feature is the stats tracker 📷
The standout feature in the Full Self-Driving v14.2 update is a new stats tracker, letting owners see exactly how many miles they’ve driven using FSD versus manually. It is mostly a fun bragging tool, but for those using telematics-based insurance, it could provide real-world insights into premiums. The update also fixes the infamous brake hesitation, makes the overall drive smoother, and polishes speed profiles, although in my own experience, it makes the car really hesitant to change lanes, resulting in multiple disengagements to change lanes. Hoping 14.2.1 is out soon and fixes that!
Huge improvements teased for the next FSD update
The upcoming FSD v14.3 is being hyped as the update where “the last big piece of the puzzle finally lands.” The just-released v14.2 has already fixed major issues, especially abrupt braking, and relaxed driver monitoring a bit. Autopilot has now logged over 10 billion kilometers, ticking off a milestone outlined in the Master Plan and making a strong case for faster worldwide approval.
Superchargers
World’s largest Supercharger opens in California, fully solar and off-grid 📹
The massive Lost Hills Supercharger off I-5 in California has switched on, now the largest in the world with 164 stalls, all powered by a giant solar array and 10 Megapacks. Covering over 30 acres, the entire site runs off-grid, meaning it charges cars with renewable power day or night without touching the utility network. This flagship station was built in record time, and more of these solar charging “oases” are already being hinted for other busy routes, perfect for road trips between LA and SF without the guilt trip about your electricity source.
Tinkering
ToolBox 3 unlocks FSD computer upgrade config, is an HW3 retrofit coming?
A new option quietly enabled in the ToolBox 3 diagnostics software lets technicians manually configure an Autopilot computer upgrade. This opens the door for third-party shops to prep HW3 vehicles for future FSD computer retrofits, hinting that an official upgrade path could be on the horizon, at least once the physical retrofit kit is ready. While a “V14 Lite” software version for HW3 owners is planned for 2026, this move suggests real progress toward a hardware upgrade for legacy vehicles.
How nearly 400 pounds were cut from Model X
Engineers managed to trim almost 400 pounds from the Model X by making many smaller improvements across the car instead of a single big redesign. Changes included swapping out heavy components in the powertrain and battery, using more efficient wiring and cooling solutions, and rethinking seats and interior materials, all while keeping safety and performance sharp.
Model Y
Model Y Standard: first impressions from a Premium owner 📷
A Premium Model Y owner tries out the new Standard trim and finds most differences are inside rather than outside: the Standard has a more basic storage area, a simpler seat material which is still comfortable and practical, and a less powerful sound system with more cabin noise. The main thing missed is the glass roof, which adds a lot to the ownership experience for families like ours. While some features are trimmed, the Standard still nails the Tesla feel at a more accessible price, but be aware of the simpler interior and sound setup if you are picky about those.
🤓 What the acronym
As a Tesla fan, I find myself sometimes having to remember what are all those acronyms, here is a list of the ones you can find in this issue.
FSD: Full Self-Driving
OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer
Now 14.3 is the answer. Bull, by all accounts 14.2 is not as good as 13.2.9, which I am keeping.