Issue 396 - Unsupervised robotaxi rides launch in Austin
FSD
FSD subscription price set to rise as capabilities grow
Tesla is making the FSD subscription front and center when buying a new vehicle and will phase out the option to buy FSD outright after February 14, shifting everyone to the monthly plan. Elon warned the $99/month price will go up as FSD becomes more capable, especially if things get to a point where you can literally nap or text during your ride.
Model Y camera housing updated to reduce cabin vapor buildup
Tesla has redesigned the front camera housing on new Model Ys, now fully sealing the enclosure so air from the cabin can't mix with the cameras. This should finally tackle the annoying haze and glare caused by interior plastics off-gassing onto the windshield in front of the cameras, an issue that has tripped up FSD and Autopilot. The new sealed housing matches what we've seen in Cybercab prototypes, paving the way for low-maintenance camera setups.
Hardware 4.5 spotted in new Model Y triggers speculation
Rumors are swirling after owners discovered new Model Ys coming off the line with AP45 or Tesla's Hardware 4.5 computer lurking behind the glovebox. While Tesla hasn't officially spilled the beans, hacker types and curious owners say it's a stealthy step between current HW4 and the upcoming AI5 chip, possibly sporting three SoCs for a big boost in FSD power and reliability.
Optimus
Optimus robot training to begin at Gigafactory Texas soon
Tesla is gearing up to start training its Optimus humanoid robots at Giga Texas, moving from collecting factory worker data in Fremont to scaling up real-world learning at one of its biggest and most advanced factories. By capturing video from worker headcams instead of focusing just on mocap suits, Tesla hopes to supercharge Optimus’ ability to learn and adapt to complex manufacturing jobs, aiming for the robots to handle increasingly challenging tasks by 2026 and even launch consumer versions by 2027.
Robotaxi
Model Y robotaxis add four camera washers, Cybercab extends to all cameras 📹
Tesla's Model Y Robotaxis now feature active camera washers on the rear and both repeater cameras, a big step up from the old setup where only the rear lens could be cleaned. The Cybercab goes even further, adding spray jets on all cameras except the cabin one, tackling the huge issue of blocked views in fully autonomous vehicles.
Unsupervised robotaxi rides launch in Austin 📹
Tesla has officially launched unsupervised robotaxi rides in Austin, allowing the public to hail a Model Y with no safety monitor inside for the first time. Early rides may still be shadowed by trailing Tesla vehicles just in case, but this is seriously next-level stuff compared to the old tests with a human in the car.
Cybercab
Expectations for Cybercab production outlined
Elon is keeping expectations realistic for the Cybercab's rollout, pointing out that because almost everything about it is new, early production will crawl before it soars. He’s sticking to the idea of no steering wheel or pedals, just two seats and a screen, so it is really designed for robotaxi duty from day one.
Cybercab efficiency and cost advantage outlined
Elon Musk shared that Tesla’s upcoming Cybercab aims for an incredibly low cost of operation, targeting just 20 cents per mile, half the projected price of Waymo’s robotaxi and dramatically cheaper than owning a new car or using rideshares like Uber or Lyft. Achieving this involves high energy efficiency, streamlined manufacturing, fewer parts, and no human drivers, though Elon cautioned that scaling up production will start off slow given so much is new. If these goals pan out, Cybercab will set a new bar for affordable and efficient transportation when the robotaxi service rolls out at scale.
Software Updates
Release notes for update 2026.2.3
The 2026.2.3 update adds the ability to unlatch the charge cable by pulling and holding the rear left door handle for three seconds on Model 3 and Y, which is extra handy if your charger doesn’t have a release button. In even cooler news, those with AMD Ryzen screens can check out expanded 3D maps of Supercharger sites in Europe, now showing real-time occupancy and what Tesla model is charging where.
New “if this then that” automations roll out in China
Tesla's latest China update introduces a new Automation app, letting drivers set up custom "if this then that" rules for automating everything from reminders to potential location-based or climate actions. Dashcam improvements now allow up to 24 hours of rolling footage with larger USB drives, addressing a big pain point for anyone who wants more peace of mind from Sentry Mode. There are also fun infotainment touches, like new music apps and karaoke features, plus navigation and voice control upgrades, making Teslas in China feel even more high-tech and tailored to daily life.
Incentives
Free upgrade on Model 3 and Model Y inventory until February 2
Tesla is sweetening the deal for anyone eyeing a Model 3 or Model Y from its existing inventory with a free upgrade offer, but only until February 2. This means inventory vehicles now come bundled with their most valuable available upgrade, like premium paint or bigger wheels, automatically included in the price, translating to up to roughly $2,000 USD in extra value. The promo is mostly for US buyers though, with Canada only seeing this perk on certain Model 3 demos, so if you want to take advantage, jump on inventory while it lasts.
🤓 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
When do HW3 purchasers of FSD (I paid $10,000 in 2021) get a REFUND or HW4.5/5????