Issue 346 - Putting FSD safety to the test

Energy & Charging

Tesla nears completion of Shanghai Megapack factory for 40GWh output
Tesla's new Shanghai Megafactory, positioned to complement the existing Gigafactory Shanghai, is set to become operational in Q1 2025 with a yearly goal of 40 GWh energy storage output, projected to produce an impressive 10,000 Megapacks annually. Tom Zhu, Tesla's Senior Vice President, remarked on the significance of this strategic investment in China, reinforcing Tesla's role in the energy transition.

Tesla's supercharger growth and environmental impact in 2024
2024 has been a big year for the Tesla Supercharger Network, with 11,500 new stalls added, growing the network by 19% and achieving an average of 30 new stalls per day. Globally, there are now over 67,000 Superchargers, and with the addition of roughly 1,000 new locations, Tesla has become one of the fastest-growing real estate entities. Their energy delivery topped 5.2 TWh, helping to replace 2.4 billion liters of gasoline and offset over 5.5 billion kg of CO2, emphasizing Tesla's significant role in reducing fossil fuel dependence. Max de Zegher highlights the network's substantial contribution to CO2 and gasoline reduction.

V4 superchargers set to electrify China in 2025
Tesla China is gearing up to introduce their V4 Superchargers in 2025 as teased in promotional material circulating social media, hinting the rollout of their fastest electric vehicle chargers yet, capable of 500 kW speeds. The Supercharger V4, alongside the V4 Cabinet, will also support charging the Tesla Semi at a hefty 1.2 MW, and is adaptable to a wide vehicle voltage range from 400V to 1000V. Given Tesla's existing Supercharger factory in Shanghai, which previously could produce 10,000 V3 stalls annually, there's potential for a swift V4 deployment not just in China, but possibly in the surrounding regions as well.

Model Y

Tesla Model Y 'Juniper' prototypes hint at new light bar 📷
Spotted in the wild, Tesla Model Y ‘Juniper’ prototypes have enthusiasts buzzing with the reveal of a red light bar on the rear, signaling an aesthetic update to the highly anticipated Model Y refresh. Additionally, the sightings include aggressive-looking headlights and a notably stable suspension, hinting at the performance variant of the vehicle. Can’t wait to see it!

FSD

FSD v12.6 released for HW3 equipped Teslas
Tesla's latest Full Self-Driving v12.6 update, geared for vehicles with HW3 self-driving computers, brings highway and city driving improvements, along with features from the upcoming FSD v13. Major enhancements include access to Tesla's end-to-end neural network for highway driving, improved city streets behavior, and customizable speed profiles to allow drivers to fine-tune their driving experience. Also notable is the redesigned controller from FSD v13, which improves vehicle motion prediction and object tracking for a smoother ride.

Putting FSD safety to the test 📹
Tesla rigorously tests every Full Self-Driving (FSD) release to ensure it performs reliably in various scenarios, including rare and adversarial ones. Tesla has released a video demonstrating 16 different examples to validate FSD’s responses and safety measures under controlled conditions.

Cybertruck

Cybertruck's new features from holiday update 📷
Tesla updated the Cybertruck with a slew of new features in their Holiday release, including a rearview camera that spans the entire width of the maps interface and offers zoom functionality. Additionally, the Tesla app now supports opening all Cybertruck doors within Bluetooth range—an especially handy feature during winter or for passenger convenience. Plus, Offroad Light Bars are confirmed to hit the Tesla Shop, prioritizing Foundation-series Cyberbeast owners.

Cybertruck rave 📹
This video highlights one of two new light shows that Tesla has open-sourced. In the video, you can see eight Cybertrucks synchronized with off-road light bars.

Software Updates

Tesla adds new long-awaited voice commands
The anticipated 2024 Holiday Update has brought new voice commands to Tesla vehicles, allowing drivers to control HOV lane settings, toggle toll route avoidance, and operate both headlights and fog lights by voice. Drivers can now enjoy faster responses and better recognition, with expectations running high for a new voice system potentially emerging in the first half of 2025. Just remember, using these commands for headlights could switch them from Auto to On, so you might need to revert settings manually later.

🤓 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.