Issue 297 - FSD v12.1 rolling out to employees

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Cybertruck

Cybertruck Easter Eggs, Features & Design 📹
Jay Leno is joined by Franz, Tesla's Head Designer, and Lars, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering. Together they talk about the Cybertruck Foundation Series, including some other Tesla matters. Long but interesting!

The Cybertruck's front bumper camera washer in action 📹
In the video, we can see the front camera washer at work. The washer is activated manually through the Camera app. When viewing the front bumper camera, there is a small icon in the corner of the video feed that activates the new washing feature. The camera also features a heater for melting snow or ice.

Under the hood

OCDetailing's first look at the Cybertruck 📹
Joe from OCDetailing was lucky enough to get his hands on a Cybertruck. His first comment is about how big the windshield wiper is, but that is required because the visible space in the windshield is 66 x 69, which means it is allowed to tint it. No build quality issues strike him right off the bat, and that coming from Joe means a lot, as he is one of the most famous Tesla detailers in the Bay Area.

How to remove Cybertruck side mirrors 📹
Our friends at Teslabros were lucky to get their hands on a Cybertruck. In this video, they show us how to remove the Cybertruck side mirrors. They also mention that the car includes covers for them in the glovebox.

FSD

FSD v12.1 rolling out to employees
In a new firmware just rolling out to employees, 2023.44.30.10, Tesla is widening the number of testers for FSD v12 by adding more employees. As we have mentioned before, v12 is the first version of FSD where everything from perception to driving is done by neural nets, and not C++ code. This version is supposed to be a leap forward in the possibilities and quality of FSD, as it can mimic humans, instead of having hundreds of thousands of lines of code determining what to do.

Software Updates

Custom Tesla lock sounds
Tesla's recent holiday update introduces a new feature allowing owners to customize their car's lock sound. Alongside pre-set sounds like a screaming goat, quacking duck, or prison door closing, this article provides a step-by-step guide on how to download custom sounds for it.

High-fidelity comparison 📹
Great video showing a comparison of the front end accuracy for the high fidelity park feature. This was taken immediately after pulling in, not from starting in Park.

Synchronized light show 📹
Great video showcasing another feature from the holiday update.

Safety

Are Teslas the most or least safe vehicles?
Tesla vehicles have consistently achieved high safety ratings in tests by agencies like NHTSA, IIHS, and Euro NCAP, excelling in occupant protection, vulnerable road user safety, and advanced driver assistance system effectiveness. Real-world data, including Tesla's own reports and third-party studies, suggest that Tesla cars are comparable or superior to similar vehicles in terms of fatal accident rates, though there is some debate about non-fatal accidents. Recent controversies, including recalls related to Autopilot misuse and claims of high accident rates among Tesla drivers, have been met with skepticism due to methodological flaws or data misrepresentation.

🤓 What the acronym
As a Tesla fan, I find myself sometimes having to remember what are all those acronyms, here is a list of the ones you can find in this issue.

FSD: Full Self-Driving
IIHS: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
NCAP: New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration