Tesla Full-Self Driving (Supervised) for Australian Model Y and Model 3 available imminently

---

Tesla has always maintained its key advantage in the market isn’t its cars, but the autonomous capability baked into them. 

Until now, the brand’s so-called Full Self Driving software has been off limits for Australian owners, but it’s being phased in via over-the-air software updates in Supervised (FSD (S)) guise. 

Australia and New Zealand will be the world’s first right-hand drive markets to get the technology, owing to road rules that are actually written in a way to be accommodating to the technology. 

There is no movement yet for other major right-hand-drive countries such as the UK and Japan. You can watch our first ‘drive’ video below.

What is Full Self Driving (Supervised)?

Tesla’s Full Self Driving suite can be essentially thought of as a more advanced version of the adaptive cruise control system already available in most modern cars; its abilities simply go far further.

FSD (S) uses cameras to read the road ahead and around, while onboard computers interpret the surroundings to driver hand- and foot-free driving. 

It is the next step from Tesla’s current Enhanced Autopilot which only functions without driver input on the motorway. 

Full Self Driving (Supervised) allows the vehicle to change lanes, overtake other vehicles, recognise pedestrians and navigate intersections (including roundabouts) without driver input on all roads. 

The vehicle’s onboard navigation needs a destination set for FSD (S) to work. 

As a Level 2 system in SAE classification, Tesla’s Full Self Driving suite requires the driver to monitor the road and be ready to take control back at any time. 

Interior cameras monitor driver attention and will give you five ‘strikes’ for being distracted before bringing the car to a stop. 

The driver takes responsibility for incidents that occur while driving — that’s a simple fact for the Supervised suite. 

In select areas in the US, Tesla’s unsupervised Full Self Driving is in trial stages.

When will it be available to the public?

Tesla has yet to confirm exactly when the software will be downloadable, but it is imminent. 

Also unknown is how FSD (S) will be added to vehicles. Presumably, those who paid $10,100 for FSD capability at time of purchase will be the first to access the technology. 

From then, it’s unclear whether owners will have to pay the full $10K to get access, though Tesla executives discussed the possibility of subscription services, and even a 30-day free trial. 

Both Model Y and Model 3 models delivered after late 2023 run Hardware 4 (HW4) and can support FSD (S) in Australia. Earlier Tesla vehicles will need to be retrofitted with the technology by the manufacturer, with pricing unconfirmed.

How is Full Self Driving (Supervised) legal in Australia?

Australia’s road rules differ between states, but Chasing Cars was told there are no legal barriers to using FSD (S) on Australian roads. 

The road rules specify that the driver must be in control of the vehicle, with no direct need for hands to be in contact with the steering wheel or feet to be on the pedals. 

And by being in control, drivers must still be fully paying attention to the road. Notably, all states forbid the use of mobile phones while driving (unless in an approved cradle) and FSD (S) does not change this legislation.