Tesla has rolled out Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v12.6 to vehicles equipped with HW3/AI3 self-driving computers through software update 2024.45.25.10. Tesla was planning to release this update for cars with older hardware before the end of the year, and while they were able to meet that timeline, the initial rollout is limited to a subset of HW3 vehicles.
According to the release notes, and Tesla AI VP Ashok Elluswamy, this latest update brings significant enhancements to highway and city street driving, also bringing with it aspects of FSD v13’s capabilities to create a more confident driving experience. While initially having a targeted release date of before the end of the year, this initial rollout will be limited to Model S and Model X cars with HW3 computers, before expanding to Model 3 and Model Y cars within a week.
“Pulled in a few important improvements from v13 into this 12.6 release for AI3. Initially rolling out to S/X customers, other platforms should be within a week,” Elluswamy said in a post on X.
2024.45.25.10 Release Notes
Here’s a breakdown of the release notes, and what it will mean for your FSD experience.
End-to-End Highway Driving
For the first time, HW3 vehicles gain access to Tesla’s end-to-end neural network for highway driving, previously available only for city streets, bringing at least this aspect of FSD inline with HW4/AI4 cars. This switch will enable more intuitive lane selection, smoother merging, and enhanced decision-making at high speeds.
Improved City Streets Behaviour
Tesla has targeted issues with false braking at green lights and erratic obstacle detection, addressing a key user complaint from the previous version of FSD. This enhancement should yield smoother navigation through urban environments, reducing unnecessary slowdowns and improving obstacle avoidance.
Customizable Speed Profiles
FSD v12.6 introduces three distinct driving profiles, allowing drivers to choose between Chill, Standard, and Hurry modes, which are available on roads and highways with a speed limit of 80km/h (50mph) or more. This flexibility gives users greater control over how their vehicle responds to varying road conditions and traffic density.
Enhanced Lane Change Logic
Lane selection and exit anticipation have long been pain points for Tesla drivers using FSD. The latest update refines lane change decisions, making them earlier and more natural.
Redesigned Controller
This is probably the biggest part borrowed from FSD v13 mentioned by Elluswamy above. The redesigned controller significantly enhances object tracking and vehicle path prediction. This leads to smoother acceleration, braking, and cornering, improving the overall driving experience. The upgraded controller also enhances the vehicle’s situational awareness, allowing for more confident maneuvers in complex environments.
Max Speed Update
Max Speed Offset allows drivers to set speed limits based on percentage offsets. Tesla recommends a 40% offset, but what you set it at will depend on the types of roads you typically drive on, and how eager your local police are to pull drivers over for going a certain amount over the speed limit.
BREAKING: FSD v12.6 is now rolling out to customers with HW3/AI3 cars. (2024.45.25.10)
— Drive Tesla (@DriveTeslaca) December 31, 2024
Here are the release notes:
•End to End on Highway
•Improved City Streets Behavior, which reduces false slowdowns and improves obstacle avoidance
•Customizable Speed Profiles, which apply… https://t.co/AV8uqjEknA pic.twitter.com/W5r5oPYPRe
