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Elon Musk admits millions of Tesla owners need upgrades for true ‘FullSelf-Driving’

Elon Musk announced that millions of Tesla owners will require hardware upgrades to access future Full Self-Driving software, revealing a failure to deliver on earlier promises. This may lead to legal challenges, as cars sold between 2019 and 2023 may need new computers and cameras for true automation, sparking frustrations among current owners.

Key points

  • Musk admitted millions of Tesla cars need hardware upgrades for upcoming Full Self-Driving software.
  • Cars with Hardware 3 (sold from 2019 to 2023) require new computers and cameras, contrary to earlier expectations.
  • Tesla plans to create 'micro-factories' in metropolitan areas to handle upgrades more efficiently.
  • Musk stated the process will be painful but necessary to achieve full automation.
  • Tesla's CFO had previously claimed Hardware 3 might still support future software, indicating conflicting messages from the company.

Why it matters

  • This situation reflects ongoing debates in the tech and automotive industries regarding the reliability of autonomous systems.
  • Legal challenges may arise similar to issues faced by software companies in regard to product representations.
  • The demand for major hardware upgrades is a growing trend in the tech industry, highlighting the challenges of rapid innovation versus customer expectations.

The future of Tesla's Full Self-Driving software depends heavily on necessary hardware upgrades, which could lead to customer dissatisfaction and legal repercussions, indicating a challenging path ahead for autonomous vehicle adoption.