Tesla Responds w/ Huge Hardware Change to Improve Autonomy

Tesla's Hardware and Software Updates

🚗 Q: What major hardware change is Tesla implementing to improve autonomy?
A: Tesla is adding new front-facing cameras to enable full self-driving and robotaxi services, with a total of nine cameras providing a 360-degree view around the vehicle.

🔄 Q: Will existing Tesla owners need to retrofit their vehicles for the new hardware?
A: Retrofitting will be required for older vehicles without the new cameras, but it will be free for those who have already purchased full self-driving.

Robotaxi Service

🚕 Q: How reliable is Tesla's robotaxi service based on recent experiences?
A: Tesla's robotaxi service has perfect rides in 9 out of 10 experiences, with one incident of phantom braking due to sun glare.

📱 Q: How do users access and pay for Tesla's robotaxi service?
A: Users access the service through a separate app from the Tesla app, requiring Tesla sign-in and linked credit card information for payment.

Tesla Model Updates and Pricing

🔋 Q: What changes were made to the refreshed Model S and X?
A: The refresh includes new hardware for improved autonomy, new color options, wheel design, and ambient lighting, with a $5,000 price increase and 5-7% range increase.

🛡️ Q: What does Tesla's new extended warranty plan offer?
A: Tesla's plan extends coverage for 4 years or 100,000 miles at $50-150 per month depending on the model, covering most manufactured parts except the high-voltage battery, tires, and glass.

Competitor Updates

🇨🇳 Q: How successful was Xiaomi's U7 SUV launch in China?
A: Xiaomi's U7 SUV sold 200,000 orders in 3 minutes, featuring 11 cameras, LAR sensor, and starting at $35,000, which is $1,400 less than a Model Y in China.

🚙 Q: What recent action did Rivian take regarding its workforce?
A: Rivian is laying off 140 manufacturing employees (1% of workforce) to improve efficiency for the upcoming R2 SUV launch in 2026.

Industry Challenges

⚠️ Q: Why is BMW recalling 70,000 EVs?
A: BMW is recalling EVs due to a software glitch causing system shutdown and motor power loss while driving, with warnings appearing 15-20 seconds before power loss.

🔬 Q: How does Lucid's full self-driving development compare to Tesla's?
A: Lucid's full self-driving is still in development, with secured funding and LAR and radar in vehicles, but behind Tesla in capabilities.

Autonomy and Hardware Updates

🚗 Tesla confirms massive hardware change for improved autonomy, including new front-facing cameras and updated FSD on some Model Ys, but details on implementation and availability remain undisclosed.

🔍 The new front-facing camera on refresh Model S and X will be utilized for autopilot, full self-driving, and autonomy, though specifics on integration are not provided.

🛑 Phantom braking remains a major concern for robo taxi users, with incidents occurring even with updated FSD and in conditions of heavy sun glare.

Tesla's Robo Taxi Service

🚕 Tesla's robo taxi service is essentially identical to the Cyber Cab service, utilizing the same Model Ys with updated FSD and hardware, but features a separate app and different pricing structure.

💰 The new hardware change for autonomy improvement will likely be free for FSD purchasers, but its impact on resolving phantom braking issues is uncertain.

Competition and Market Dynamics

🇨🇳 Xiaomi's U7 SUV is disrupting the EV market with 200,000 orders in 3 minutes, outpacing Tesla's Model Y sales in China, and offering features like massaging seats, Nappa leather, and advanced sensor systems.

🚙 Rivian is preparing to launch its R2 SUV in 2026, positioned as a smaller Model Y competitor and expected to be a profitable successor to the R1T pickup truck.

Recalls and Warranty

🔧 BMW is recalling 70,000 EVs in the US and Europe due to a software glitch causing high voltage battery and control unit shutdowns, leading to potential motor power loss while driving.

📅 Tesla introduces an extended warranty plan as a monthly subscription, offering 4 years or 100,000 miles of coverage for a fee ranging from $50 to $150 per month, depending on the model.

Tesla Model Updates

🔄 The refresh of Tesla's Model S and X disappoints some owners, lacking features like massaging seats, fridge, and Wi-Fi capabilities found in competitors, while including minor updates and a $5,000 price increase.

🔋 The refreshed Model S and X offer a modest 5-7% range increase, alongside updates to color options, wheel design, bumper camera, and ambient lighting.

• 00:00 🤖 Tesla confirms massive hardware change to improve autonomy amid concerns over phantom braking and feature issues with their robo-taxi and Autonomy features.
  • Tesla confirms a massive hardware change to improve autonomy, and other tech news, including Xiaomi's U7 SUV and robo taxi, will be discussed.
  • The speaker had 10 robo-taxi rides, 9 of which were smooth, but experienced phantom braking during a 10th ride while racing against Whimo.
  • The speaker experienced an issue with Tesla's Autonomy feature, possibly caused by sun glare, and seeks transparency and a hardware change to resolve the problem.
  • The speaker shares their experience with a Tesla robo taxi event, clarifying that their seatbelt was on, but the microphone placement and handling made it appear otherwise.
• 03:59 🤖 Tesla responds to feedback with a huge hardware change to improve autonomy in some vehicles.
  • Tesla appreciates feedback from content creators and takes it into consideration, as evident from their response to criticism and invitation to creators to continue providing input.
  • Tesla jokingly allowed users to "tip" their non-existent drivers during a recent ride experience, charging a fee despite previously offering free rides in exchange for user data.
  • Tesla is introducing new hardware to improve autonomy in some of its vehicles, following experience with its robo-taxi service and data collection efforts.
  • The speaker uses Delete Me, a service that removes personal data from data brokers, to protect online safety and recommends it, having seen experts remove 4 listings of their personal info.
• 07:36 🤖 Tesla adds a front-facing camera to improve Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features, shifting focus to vision-based autonomy.
  • Tesla now indicates the front-facing camera in new vehicles will be used for Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features, a new use case for this camera.
  • Tesla is adding a front-facing camera to improve autonomy, which will be integrated into the bumper and potentially retrofitted for free for owners who have already purchased full self-driving capabilities.
  • Tesla's Full Self-Driving system uses 9 cameras and AI to provide 360-degree visibility, but can still be affected by sun glare, causing hard braking incidents.
  • Tesla, led by Elon Musk, is committed to using vision, specifically cameras, for autonomy, whereas other companies use a combination of radar, sonar, and ultrasonics, which Musk considers a "fool's errand".
  • Adding LiDAR units to Tesla vehicles would increase the cost by $500 to $1,000, potentially impacting sales of higher-priced models.
  • Tesla considers activating ultrasonic sensors in older vehicles or retrofitting them with a front-facing camera to improve autonomy for its robo-taxi service.
• 13:02 🤖 Tesla faces high stakes in autonomous vehicle development, with severe consequences for accidents, and responds with hardware changes to improve autonomy.
  • The speaker reflects on a surprising moment when their vehicle experienced an issue during a drive that was previously completed without problems.
  • Tesla's safety supervisor encouraged sharing feedback on their Full Self-Driving update, which seemed to have resolved a previous issue.
  • The speaker tries to stay honest about Tesla's products, sharing both positive and critical views, despite sometimes being nervous about being excluded from events.
  • Tesla faces high scrutiny and potential severe consequences, including stock price drops and executive firings, if their autonomous vehicles are involved in a fatal accident, similar to what happened with Waymo in 2020.
  • Tesla's refresh of the Model S and X, dubbed the "SNX", has left some fans and reviewers disappointed due to its lack of premium features, such as massaging seats and Starlink Wi-Fi, compared to competitors.
• 17:51 🚗 Tesla updates its vehicles with minor changes, but faces declining sales, high-level departures, and criticism for lacking significant features, while prioritizing autonomy and full self-driving capabilities.
  • Tesla's refresh brings minor aesthetic changes, a new color, and a negligible 5-7 mile range increase, but lacks significant updates, especially in design, and comes with a $5,000 price increase.
  • The speaker feels disappointed that Tesla did not include highly requested features like a fridge and massaging seats, which they believe would have added a "wow factor" to the vehicle.
  • Tesla needs to implement basic features like vehicle-to-home charging and interval architecture in their high-end vehicles, such as the Model X, to compete with other luxury electric vehicles and prevent customers from jumping ship.
  • Tesla's current focus on full self-driving capabilities prioritizes owner convenience over robo-taxi use, with future confidence in autonomy expected to increase with Hardware 4 and real-world testing.
  • Tesla faces declining sales in North America and Europe, leading to high-level departures, including the head of global operations and sales, amid increased competition in the EV market.
  • Omid, Elon Musk's right-hand man and recent promotion to North American and European sales, unexpectedly departs.
• 24:05 🚗 Tesla introduces extended warranty coverage, starting at $50/month, for most models, excluding Cybertruck, offering additional protection for parts and components.
  • Tesla now offers an extended service agreement for purchase on a monthly basis for most models, excluding the Cybertruck.
  • Tesla offers extended warranty coverage, starting at $50/month, which adds 4 years or 100,000 miles of protection, but does not cover the high voltage battery.
  • Tesla's extended warranty covers replacement for defects and materials in most manufactured parts, but not wear and tear, and costs vary by model, such as $150/month for Model X owners.
  • Tesla offers a transferable warranty with a $100-$200 deductible, covering certain parts for a monthly fee of $50-150, but excludes coverage for items like glass, body work, and damages from accidents or vandalism.
  • Tesla offers separate warranties, including a vehicle warranty and a glass warranty, with the latter being a $15 monthly subscription and $100 deductible, but it doesn't cover Cybertruck and is currently only available in the US.
• 28:28 🤖 Tesla shifts focus to Full Self-Driving and future robotics profits, potentially over lower-priced vehicle features, amid competition from Xiaomi's SU7 and other EV makers.
  • The speaker asks viewers to share their monthly glass coverage insurance costs in the comments.
  • Xiaomi's new SUV, the U7, has garnered 200,000 orders in 3 minutes in China, offering competitive features and pricing, potentially posing a threat to Tesla's Model Y.
  • Tesla may be prioritizing Full Self-Driving (FSD) and future robotics and AI profits over adding features to lower-priced vehicles, viewing car sales as a secondary business.
  • Xiaomi's SU7 car, with advanced hardware including 11 high-def cameras and a roof-mounted lidar sensor, has received 200,000 orders in China, posing a significant threat to Tesla's sales in the market.
  • Rivian laid off 1% of its workforce, or 140 manufacturing employees, to improve operational efficiency ahead of the launch of its new R2 SUV in 2026.
  • BMW is recalling 70,000 EVs due to a software glitch that can cause the high-voltage battery system to shut down, leading to motor power loss and potential stalling, but a software update can fix the issue.
• 34:26 👋 The video ends with a request for viewers to subscribe, share ideas for testing, and follow the channel for future updates.

WatchUrl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr7eAM2D4Wc