Autopilot
Tesla switched on Autopilot for Model S owners with a software update in October 2015: traffic-aware cruise control and lane keeping on highways, with the driver responsible. It was one of the first mass-market Level 2 systems and the first to arrive over the air. The name drew criticism from the start, and after several fatal crashes in which drivers were inattentive, the NTSB and NHTSA both pressed Tesla on how the system monitored drivers; a 2023 recall added more warnings and stricter attention checks to about two million cars.
Full Self-Driving (Supervised)
FSD is the paid package, sold as a one-time purchase or a subscription, that extends the system to city streets: traffic lights, stop signs, turns and lane changes. Tesla renamed it "FSD (Supervised)" in 2024 to make explicit what the small print always said: it is a Level 2 system, and the driver must watch the road. Its versions since late 2023 use an end-to-end neural network trained on fleet video, and it relies on cameras alone. Owners and reviewers report it has improved markedly; it also still requires interventions, and the rate is not published.
The robotaxi service
Elon Musk promised a million robotaxis for 2020. The service actually began in June 2025: invitation-only rides in a limited part of Austin, Texas, in Model Ys with a Tesla employee in the passenger seat as a safety monitor, later expanding its area and adding the Bay Area with safety drivers. Texas requires no state permit beyond insurance and registration; California does, which is why the Bay Area service ran with a human at the wheel. Whether and when Tesla removes the human entirely is the open question.
The Cybercab
In October 2024 Tesla showed the Cybercab: a two-seat vehicle with gull-wing doors, no steering wheel and no pedals, meant to be built cheaply in volume and charged by induction. Tesla said production would start before 2027. A vehicle without manual controls needs a federal exemption or new rules to be sold in the United States, which is one of several reasons its timeline is uncertain.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Tesla drive itself?
Not without supervision. Autopilot and FSD (Supervised) are Level 2 systems: the driver is responsible at all times. Tesla's separate robotaxi pilot in Austin runs without a driver in the driver seat but, as of its launch, with a Tesla safety monitor aboard.
Why doesn't Tesla use lidar?
Tesla argues that cameras and neural networks can match human vision at far lower cost and that lidar is a crutch. Most other developers disagree and use lidar, radar and cameras together. The dispute will be settled by safety records.