A team of three drivers recently made history by completing the fastest “Cannonball Run” across the United States using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. The journey took the black Tesla Model 3 from Manhattan’s Red Ball Garage to the Portofino Inn in Redondo Beach, California, in an impressive 49 hours, 55 minutes, and 57 seconds.
The Cannonball Run, which originated in the 1970s as a daring sprint from New York City to Los Angeles, is an unsanctioned event that celebrates American car culture and challenges federal speed limits. This record-breaking feat was accomplished by Dan Burkland, Zack, and Aaron, who relied on the latest FSD version 14.3.2 to complete the 2,833-mile trip without any human intervention or disengagement. The software handled lane changes, highway navigation, and even parking and unparking at each Supercharging station along the route.
Surpassing the previous FSD record by approximately eight and a half hours, the team’s achievement demonstrates the remarkable capabilities of Tesla’s autonomous driving technology. Zack, the owner of the Model 3, emphasized that he did not have to touch the pedals or turn signals throughout the entire cross-country journey. Tesla’s official X account celebrated this milestone, with company engineers describing the performance of the latest software version as “magic.”
Despite encountering severe rain, cold weather, high winds, and occasional speeds exceeding 80mph, the Model 3 maintained impressive efficiency, averaging just 248Wh/mi (over 4mi/kWh) across the entire country. This efficiency not only extends the vehicle’s range but also reduces the cost of driving and operating it.
While Tesla CEO Elon Musk had originally predicted a fully autonomous drive from L.A. to New York by the end of 2017, the team’s successful Cannonball Run showcases the capabilities of FSD Supervised mode. This achievement marks another significant step in proving the endurance and reliability of autonomous driving systems over long distances.
The team plans to release high-quality video footage of the entire trip in the coming days, further showcasing the seamless integration of Tesla’s FSD technology in real-world scenarios.