Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that customers who purchased Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) package will receive a free upgrade from Hardware 3 to Hardware 4. This announcement was made during a recent earnings call, where Musk addressed questions from investors about the company’s plans for hardware upgrades.
During the call, a retail investor inquired about the possibility of Tesla needing to upgrade Hardware 3 vehicles, as well as the timeline and potential impact on the company’s capital expenditures. Musk responded candidly, stating that Tesla will indeed need to upgrade the Hardware 3 computers for customers who have purchased FSD. He acknowledged that this process may be challenging but assured that Tesla is committed to completing the upgrades.
“I mean, I think the honest answer is that we’re going to have to upgrade people’s Hardware 3 computers for those that have bought Full Self-Driving, and that is the honest answer, and that’s going to be painful and difficult, but we’ll get it done. Now I’m kind of glad that not that many people bought the FSD package,” Musk explained.
Tesla’s Chief Financial Officer, Viahbhav Taneja, also chimed in during the call, emphasizing that the company is still actively working on improving Hardware 3. Taneja mentioned the recent release of software updates for Hardware 3, such as the 12.6 release, which he described as a significant improvement over previous versions. Despite the focus on Hardware 4 releases, Tesla is not abandoning its efforts to enhance Hardware 3.
“We released the 12.6 release recently, which was like a baby V13, but it’s a significant improvement compared to what they had previously. People are still finding ways to distill larger models in the smaller models. So, we’re not giving up on Hardware. We’re still working on it. Just will trail the Hardware 4 releases,” said Tesla’s CFO.
Overall, Tesla remains committed to providing the best possible experience for its FSD customers by offering free upgrades to Hardware 4. This commitment underscores the company’s dedication to innovation and ensuring that customers have access to the latest technology. As Tesla continues to evolve its hardware and software offerings, customers can expect ongoing improvements and advancements in autonomous driving technology.