Automobile manufacturer Tesla has clocked in 50,000 autonomous miles at its manufacturing facilities in Texas and Fremont.
In a significant development, Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software is demonstrating impressive improvements in real-world, unpredictable environments. This advancement is particularly evident in the forthcoming FSD v14 update, which is currently being tested at Tesla's production facilities in Austin, Texas, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the Austin robotaxi FSD build is approximately six months more advanced than the public release, performing exceptionally well and sometimes feeling "eerily human" in complex scenarios. This advanced version of the software is undergoing rigorous real-world testing in these locations, utilising Tesla's own facilities and robotaxi service areas as key proving grounds.
The upcoming FSD v14 update promises a major leap forward with a 10x increase in AI parameter size and superior video and sensor processing capabilities, enabling smarter, safer driving decisions. While these advances greatly reduce the need for driver attention, Tesla still emphasises that drivers must remain alert, especially in complex intersections, heavy weather, or unusual events—indicating that full unsupervised autonomy is not yet achieved.
Real-world testing in Texas and California helps Tesla collect extensive data to refine neural networks and improve the system’s reliability and safety. This data contributes to making driving with FSD reportedly nearly 10 times safer compared to human drivers. However, as of mid-2025, Tesla continues to classify this as partial automation requiring supervision, with incremental improvements rolled out frequently and real-world performance visibly improving, such as better following distances and fewer system nags to drivers.
The Cybertruck, Tesla's latest vehicle, is also being tested in challenging conditions. Its path includes elevation changes, variable lighting, and transitions through underpasses, providing a different set of challenges for the FSD system. Recently, the Cybertruck autonomously navigated a 0.6-mile route beneath one of America's fastest highways, including a steep 17% grade, through the new Boring Company tunnel.
In addition, Tesla's FSD software is now in use at Giga Texas, allowing production vehicles to navigate autonomously from the assembly line to the outbound logistics area. At Giga Texas, the Model Y completes a 1.4-mile (2.25km) route after production, sharing the road with other vehicles, pedestrians, semi-trucks, and construction equipment. This deployment at Tesla's production facilities is a precursor to the launch of the robotaxi network, allowing the company to test its software in structured but unpredictable environments.
Tesla plans to launch a paid robotaxi network in Austin this June, marking a significant step towards full autonomy. The referral link for buying a Tesla can provide three months of FSD if enjoyed and helpful in the decision-making process. As the technology continues to evolve, Tesla is accumulating autonomous miles, with over 50,000 autonomous miles already logged between Tesla's factories in California and Texas. The Model Y autonomously slows for cross-traffic, makes turns, and continues on its way with no human input, providing valuable structured feedback on how the autonomous system performs in an active industrial setting.
In summary, Tesla's FSD software, especially in its advanced robotaxi builds tested in Texas and California production environments, is progressing rapidly with enhanced AI and real-world capability. However, it still requires driver engagement and is not fully autonomous in unpredictable or complex conditions. As Tesla moves closer to its goal of fully autonomous vehicles, the company continues to collect valuable data and make incremental improvements to its software.
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