Elon Muskthe CEO of Tesla Inc TSLAsaid this week all U.S. vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) functionality will be activated for a month-long trial.
What happened: Musk announced on his social media platform, X, in response to a user’s request. The trial will be extended to all existing owners who have not yet experienced FSD Beta, as Musk said in response to a Teslamojo post.
The news comes on the heels of Musk’s recent directive to Tesla employees that the latest FSD version be installed and demonstrated to customers before the vehicle is delivered in North America. This move aims to showcase the capabilities of the FSD system, which is marketed as a premium driver assistance feature.
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Despite the potential slowdown of the delivery process, Musk highlighted the importance of this requirement in an email to Tesla employees. The company is trying to avoid a decline in year-over-year deliveries for the first quarter.
Because matter: Tesla has been focusing on FSD functionality, with Musk previously saying it would be a significant growth catalyst for the company. However, the FSD has also been the subject of controversy and legal challenges, particularly following a fatal accident involving that function.
Despite these challenges, Musk has consistently emphasized the importance of FSD to Tesla’s future. The recent move to offer a free one-month trial to all eligible US vehicles is likely a strategic move to increase adoption and showcase the capabilities of the FSD system.
Despite the potential impact on delivery times, this move could have significant implications for Tesla’s FSD revenue and overall long-term growth.
Read next: Elon Musk reacts to Jeff Bezos saying ‘You can’t have Tesla and SpaceX without’ Him: ‘He must be a very capable leader’
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