Tesla CEO Elon Musk has provided an updated timeline in when we can expect to see the release of the next version of the Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta software, and FSD subscription.
FSD Beta V9.0
The current set of FSD beta testers are on V8.3, and have been waiting more than two months to get upgraded to V9.0. There is more anticipation with this release as more owners are expected to be added to the testing group.
The lengthy wait is a considerable change from the previous pace of updates, which was seeing a new version being deployed almost weekly since it first came out in October 2020.
Part of the reason for the delay is a move to use “pure vision”, removing the need and use of radar in the vehicle when FSD is engaged.
Last month Musk said the update was almost ready, and would hopefully come out in May or June. Half way through the month, he now says it is still “maybe a month or two away.” Giving his recent trend of missing timelines when it comes to the wide release of FSD beta, many owners are not feeling optimistic with this latest tweet.
I think we’re maybe a month or two away from wide beta. But these things are hard to predict accurately.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 12, 2021
The work we had to do for pure vision driving was needed for FSD, so much more progress has been made than it would seem.
Musk also reaffirmed the reason for the delay was the removal of radar from the equation and shift to a “pure vision” approach.
We had to focus on removing radar & confirming safety. That release goes out next week to US production. Then a week or two to polish pure vision FSD & v9 beta will release. Difference between v8 & v9 is gigantic.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 12, 2021
FSD Subscription
Another aspect to FSD that people have been waiting for is the release of the subscription model. Musk’s most recent comments on the service was that a release in May was a “sure thing.”
With another early morning tweet, he has pushed it back once more, now saying it will be released in about a month.
Subscription rolls out in about a month
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 12, 2021
There has still been no indication on what the FSD subscription is going to cost. It won’t be cheap though, as Musk has said several times buying it outright, currently at $10,600 CAD ($10,000 USD), will be cheaper in the long run.
