UPDATED 14:59 EST / JANUARY 02 2017

EMERGING TECH

Tesla begins rolling out autopilot updates for newer cars

Tesla Motors Inc. has finally started rolling out software updates that will activate the missing autopilot features in its newest vehicles, bringing the cars up to speed with the older models that already had those features.

Tesla’s newer hardware 2 or “HW2” vehicles, which were manufactured after October 2016, include a wide range of new sensors and other improvements that will eventually allow them to be fully autonomous, but they initially launched without many of the autopilot features that are already found in Tesla’s older vehicles. These include features such as auto windshield wipers, parking assist, blind spot detection and so on.

Unfortunately, not everyone will see the new update right away, as it will first roll out to only 1,000 vehicles. However, Tesla CEO and founder Elon Musk says that the update will be going out to the rest of the fleet within the next week once the company ensures that there are “no field issues” with the first batch.

While the new update is aimed at bringing HW2 Tesla vehicles up to par with older models, future updates will add features that are impossible on the older hardware. Tesla has not officially announced when exactly those updates will arrive, but Musk has previously stated that he believes the vehicles will be capable of full autonomy by the end of 2017.

Autopilot: Safe or not?

Autopilot is one of standout features for Tesla’s vehicles, but the system has drawn quite a few critics over the last few months. Several Tesla vehicles have been involved in highly publicized accidents that allegedly occurred while autopilot was active. This has led to a few regulators clamping down on the company.

For example, Germany asked Tesla in October to no longer use the term “autopilot” in its promotional materials after the German Federal Highway Research Institute released a report calling autopilot a “considerable traffic hazard.” Tesla noted at the time that its autopilot feature is still in beta testing, and the company informs all drivers that they should always be prepared to manually take over at any moment. A spokesperson for the company also noted that autopilot makes vehicles safer by assisting drivers rather than replaces them.

“Just as in an airplane, when used properly, Autopilot reduces driver workload and provides an added layer of safety when compared to purely manual driving,” a spokesperson told Reuters in October.

Image courtesy of Tesla Motors

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