Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has instructed that all Tesla staff are now required to install and demonstrate the company’s driver-assistance technology before handing cars over to buyers in North America. This is a “hard requirement” that Musk says will slow deliveries.
Employees are to perform a “short test ride” with customers to show the system Tesla markets as Full Self-Driving. Workers will also have to perform checks on any vehicles returned from service. Musk stated that this is very important due to the unfamiliarity with the Tesla system’s capabilities.
This directive shows how Tesla is tightening the reins on technology that is both a significant source of revenue and a magnet for controversy. The automaker has drawn scrutiny over its marketing of features with names such as Full Self-Driving and Autopilot, which could suggest the cars drive themselves despite requiring fully attentive drivers to keep their hands on the wheel.
Musk said in the memo that “almost no one actually realizes how well (supervised) FSD actually works.” The move could also help justify for buyers the cost of FSD, which Tesla currently sells for $12,000. The company promises in marketing materials that “your car will be able to drive itself almost anywhere with minimal driver intervention and will continuously improve.”
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