Tesla is on the verge of launching its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software in Israel in the near future, according to statements from Israel’s Ministry of Transportation. This move comes after a group of Tesla owners in Israel launched a petition urging Transportation Minister Miri Regev to approve FSD, citing its potential to improve road safety in the country.
Minister Regev has responded proactively to the petition, emphasizing the importance of introducing advanced driving systems like FSD to the Israeli market. The ministry is currently expediting approvals, pending necessary safety checks. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also expressed his excitement about the convenience and safety benefits of FSD.
Tesla officially entered the Israeli market in 2021, making its vehicles easily accessible to the country’s residents. With the support for Hebrew added in 2023, many vehicles on the road already have Tesla’s latest FSD hardware, HW4, installed. This means enabling FSD on these vehicles could be as simple as a software update.
The rollout process for FSD in Israel is expected to follow a similar pattern to previous launches in other countries. Tesla will likely grant early access to AI4 owners before expanding the feature to legacy HW3 owners. The approval of FSD in Israel could pave the way for its expansion into the Middle East.
Furthermore, the potential introduction of Robotaxi services in Israel could accelerate Tesla’s international expansion, providing more data on unique driving scenarios in the region. As FSD continues to roll out globally, Israel’s market could play a significant role in shaping the future of autonomous driving technology.