Tesla Enhances Full Self-Driving with Significant v14 Updates, Boosting Owner Satisfaction

Tesla is rolling out substantial improvements to its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software with the v14 update, addressing key owner concerns and enhancing the overall driving experience. This latest iteration, v14.1.4, focuses on refining existing features and introducing more intuitive controls, signaling a significant step forward in autonomous driving technology.

Key Takeaways

• Improved lane-switching behavior on highways, making FSD more courteous.

• Enhanced awareness of merging traffic and cross-traffic, leading to more considerate maneuvers.

• Increased confidence in navigating around slower vehicles like mail trucks and Amish buggies.

• Better object avoidance, including hazards like dead animals.

• More consistent speed management and an intuitive interface for speed profile adjustments.

Enhanced Highway Driving and Lane Courtesy

Previous versions of FSD sometimes exhibited a tendency to linger in the left lane on highways. Tesla's v14 update addresses this, promoting more courteous lane behavior. The system now more readily returns to the right lane after passing slower vehicles, aligning with traffic laws and driver preferences.

Improved Awareness and Courteous Maneuvers

FSD v14 demonstrates a heightened awareness of its surroundings, particularly concerning merging traffic and cross-traffic. Testers have observed the system making considerate moves, such as yielding to vehicles attempting to merge onto busy expressways or allowing cars to enter traffic during congested periods. These actions often exceed the courtesy shown by many human drivers.

Confident Navigation Around Obstacles

The software has shown marked improvement in confidently navigating around slower or unusual vehicles, including mail trucks and Amish buggies, which can be common in certain regions. Additionally, object avoidance has been refined. Unlike earlier versions where FSD might have missed hazards, v14 successfully detected and maneuvered around a dead animal carcass on the highway, showcasing a more robust safety system.

Streamlined Speed Management

Tesla has removed the separate 'Max Speed' setting in v14, simplifying speed control. Drivers can now intuitively adjust the vehicle's speed using the right scroll wheel to select different Speed Profiles. This change, coupled with better acceleration and speed consistency on both local roads and highways, reduces the need for constant manual adjustments and leads to a smoother, less frustrating experience.

Addressing Past Issues

While v13 had some inconsistencies with speed management on local roads, v14 offers much-improved acceleration and maintains more comfortable speeds. The software now reaches desired speeds more efficiently and fluctuates less, reducing potential frustration for drivers behind the Tesla.