Definition

Self-driving technology refers to autonomous vehicle systems that can operate without human driver input. Tesla’s self-driving efforts include Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) capabilities.

Tesla’s Approach

  • FSD v13: Camera-only stack deployed in Miami robotaxi July 2026; no LiDAR (2026-07-06-tesla-robotaxi-miami-techtimes)
  • NHTSA engineering analysis (March 2026) on degraded visibility performance
  • Cybercab: Robotaxi service expanding; FSD v15 rewrite awaited for scaling

Industry Context

  • Major tech companies investing in autonomous vehicles
  • Regulatory frameworks evolving
  • Safety remains primary concern
  • Robotaxi services beginning to launch in select cities

Sources