Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system has made its first documented appearance on Australian roads, marking a significant milestone for the brand’s autonomous ambitions in right-hand-drive markets. While a demonstration video confirms its capabilities in local conditions, the semi-autonomous driving technology remains unavailable for customer use, awaiting regulatory approval and further development.
Get a Roadworthy Certificate fast and conveniently with CARS24, book an appointment for the inspection; the rest is simple.
First public demonstration in right-hand drive
A recent video posted by Tesla on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shows a Tesla vehicle navigating Melbourne’s notoriously complex ‘hook turn’ without hands on the steering wheel. Although a driver is present, they are not visibly controlling the car, highlighting the system’s hands-free, eyes-on-the-road capability.
This appearance marks Australia as the first right-hand-drive market to showcase FSD in operation, following rollouts in left-hand-drive markets like North America and China. Europe is expected to follow, contingent on local regulatory processes.
Watch: How the FSD tech works.
What is Full Self-Driving (Supervised)?
Despite its name, Full Self-Driving is still not a fully autonomous system. Tesla labels the current version as ‘Supervised’ to reflect the legal requirement for constant driver attention. A driver-facing camera monitors eye movement to ensure compliance, and the person behind the wheel remains responsible for the vehicle’s actions.
This system goes beyond Tesla’s standard Autopilot features available in Australia, such as Autosteer and Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, by operating on all types of roads and performing more complex manoeuvres without driver input.
FSD rollout and customer frustration
Australian Tesla owners have been able to purchase the FSD feature since 2017, with the current cost set at $10,100. Despite this, the full functionality has never been unlocked, pending both technological readiness and local regulatory approval.
Buyers have been assured that a future software update will activate the features once all requirements are met. A limited function, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, is already available, allowing vehicles to recognise signals and halt automatically.
The full FSD package includes Enhanced Autopilot features, such as automated lane changes, motorway overtaking, and auto parking. These sit above Tesla’s base Autopilot system, which includes adaptive cruise control and lane centring.
Timelines and missed launch windows
Elon Musk first suggested a 2022 rollout for right-hand-drive markets. More recently, a launch between March and May 2025 was proposed, yet the technology remains unavailable to Australian customers.
Tesla has reportedly been testing FSD locally for at least two years, including hiring drivers for internal evaluations on public roads. Despite these efforts, no formal release timeline has been confirmed.
Watch: Tesla AI posted a video of self-driven car in Maelbourne.
Meanwhile, Musk continues to promote the vision of a fully autonomous Tesla capable of door-to-door travel without human input. Such a version is claimed to be launching soon in Austin, Texas, although previous timelines have yet to materialise.
Conclusion
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Supervised system has taken a significant step closer to Australian roads with its first local demonstration. However, until regulatory approval is granted and technical challenges addressed, customers who’ve paid for the feature will need to remain patient. The path to true autonomy continues to evolve, with no firm dates yet confirmed for public release in Australia.
Comments
New Comment