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SpaceX is about to have a fleet of Starship rockets
SpaceX has finished the last major stacking event for the business half of its fifth full-scale Starship prototype, meaning that the company may be a week or less from having a fleet of Starships for the first time ever.
As of now, Starship serial number 5 (SN5) is on track to be completed in under a month, continuing a trend that SpaceX has managed over the entirety of 2020. Beginning in mid-January, SpaceX has completed several nosecone pathfinders, three test tanks, and three full-scale Starship prototypes – soon to be four once SN5 is finished. Once it is, however, SpaceX will be entering a new era of operations – fleet operations.
Up to this point, every full-scale Starship prototype and test tank SpaceX has built – excluding the tank SN2 was turned into in March – has been quickly destroyed over the course of one or two tests. For better or for worse, this has meant that SpaceX’s test and launch pad has always been more or less self-clearing, making way for the next prototype to roll out and begin testing after the scraps of its predecessor were removed. This time around, barring Starship SN4’s imminent demise, SpaceX will now have to deal with multiple completed Starship prototypes at the same time – a tiny taste of things to come.
For unknown reasons, SpaceX decided to swap out Starship SN4’s lone Raptor engine (likely SN18) after multiple wet dress rehearsals, partial engine tests, and two static fire tests – at least one of which was confirmed a success by CEO Elon Musk. Most recently, SpaceX removed Raptor SN18 to perform a more ambitious cryogenic pressure test, pushing Starship SN4’s propellant tanks all the way to 7.5 bar (~110 psi) at the same time as hydraulic rams simulated the thrust of three Raptor engines at the rocket’s base.
Instead of reinstalling Raptor SN18, SpaceX transported Raptor SN20 to the launch pad and installed it on Starship SN4 on May 10th, less than 24 hours after the prototype passed an orbital-class pressure test.
Aside from installing Raptor SN20, SpaceX teams have spent the last few days adding new COPVs (composite overwrapped pressure vessels) and plumbing to Starship SN4’s exterior – purpose largely unknown. While the new hardware is mostly a mystery, it is known that SpaceX is in the process of preparing SN4 and its new Raptor engine for a third wet dress rehearsal (WDR) and static fire test, necessary to ensure that Raptor SN20 is properly installed and functioning as expected.
Assuming that third static fire is successful, SpaceX’s will prepare Starship SN4 for its first flight, a ~150m (500 ft) hop test that will also be the first intentional flight of any full-scale Starship prototype since the program’s birth. For that hop test, SN4 will need some kind of attitude control system (ACS) thrusters to control its rotation and provide fine trajectory tuning to assist the ship’s lone Raptor engine. This is the likeliest explanation for the new hardware being installed on Starship SN4, as the ship does not currently appear to have ACS thrusters installed.
Starship Troopers
Of course, the first flight of a full-scale Starship prototype will probably be the riskiest test yet for the program and there’s a good chance that SN4 will meet its demise at some point during that flight. Enter Starship SN5.
As of May 12th, Starship SN5’s final two tank sections were stacked, effectively completing the most important half of the rocket (minus one final circumferential ring weld). SN5’s final outfitting of avionics and plumbing is still pending and will take at least a few days to a week or more, but that work can and has been completed after prototypes are transferred by road to the launch pad. Currently, Starship SN4 is occupying SpaceX’s one and only pad test stand, however, meaning that it wouldn’t make much sense to immediately move SN5 to the launch pad – at least until SN4 is done testing.
SN5 will also need a nose section and, perhaps, flaps installed, meaning that the full ship is likely still at least a week or two away from being finished, but that likely wont stop SpaceX from proof testing the rocket’s tanks if or when SN4 makes space at the launch pad.
According to comments made by Elon Musk, SN5 will likely become the first Starship prototype to have three Raptor engines installed and the first to attempt a truly high-altitude flight test if Starship SN4 is met with success in the coming weeks. As absurd as it feels to say, if SN5 completes triple-Raptor testing and a 20 km (~12 mi) flight test without issue, Musk has stated that the next step would be orbital flight tests. Starship SN6’s steel rings, meanwhile, are already being formed and stacked as SN5 nears completion.
Tesla has scaled back driver monitoring to be less naggy with the latest version of the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) suite, which is version 14.3.3.
The latest version is already earning praise from owners, who are reporting that the suite is far less invasive when it comes to keeping drivers from taking their eyes off the road. The first to mention it was notable Tesla community member on X known as Zack, or BLKMDL3.
14.3.3 nags less too https://t.co/IuiWzuYO6O
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2026
Musk confirmed that v14.3.3 was made to nag drivers significantly less, something that Tesla has worked toward in the past and has said with previous versions that it is less likely to push drivers to look ahead, at least after looking away for a few seconds.
This refinement aligns with Tesla’s ongoing push toward unsupervised FSD. The update also brings faster Actual Smart Summon (now up to 8 mph), reliable “Hey Grok” voice commands, richer visualizations, smoother Mad Max acceleration, and an intervention streak counter that rewards consistent use. Reviewers describe the drive as more human-like and confident, with fewer twitches or unnecessary maneuvers.
Musk has repeatedly signaled this direction. In late 2025, he stated that FSD would allow phone use “depending on context of surrounding traffic,” noting safety data would justify relaxing rules so drivers could text in low-risk scenarios like stop-and-go traffic.
We tested this, and even still, the cell phone monitoring really seems to be less active in terms of alerting drivers:
Tesla Full Self-Driving v14.2.1 texting and driving: we tested it
Earlier, ahead of v14, Musk promised the system would “nag the driver much less” once safety metrics improved.
In 2023, he confirmed the steering wheel torque nag would be “gradually reduced, proportionate to improved safety,” shifting reliance to the cabin camera. Subsequent updates like v13.2.9 and v12.4 further loosened monitoring, cracking down on workarounds while easing legitimate distractions.
These steps reflect Tesla’s data-driven approach: FSD’s safety record—reportedly averaging millions of miles per crash—now outpaces human drivers in many scenarios, giving the company confidence to dial back interventions. Reduced nags improve usability and trust, encouraging more drivers to rely on the system rather than disengaging out of frustration.
However, there are certainly still some concerns. In many states, it is illegal to handle a cell phone in any way, requiring the use of hands-free devices. In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to use your cell phone at stop lights, which is definitely a step further than using it while the car is actively in motion.
v14.3.3 represents tangible progress. Making FSD less adversarial and more seamless is definitely a step forward, but drivers need to be aware of the dangers of distracted driving. FSD is extremely capable, but it is in no way fully autonomous, nor does its performance warrant owners to take their attention off the road.
Tesla has officially expanded its Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite in Europe once again, as it will now be offered to customer vehicles in Lithuania, marking a significant milestone as the second European Union country to offer the system.
Tesla confirmed FSD’s rollout in Lithuania this morning:
FSD Supervised now rolling out to Teslas in Lithuania 🇱🇹!
Making European roads safer, one by one pic.twitter.com/Uuj0bNG7pP
— Tesla Europe, Middle East & Africa (@teslaeurope) May 20, 2026
Tesla showed several clips of Full Self-Driving navigation in Lithuania to mark the announcement, while Lithuanian Transport Minister Juras Taminskas highlighted the system’s potential to assist with lane-keeping, speed adjustment, and traffic tasks on longer drives, while emphasizing that drivers must stay alert and ready to intervene.
Just a few weeks ago, Tesla officially entered Europe with Full Self-Driving in the Netherlands. The expansion of FSD on the continent is now officially underway.
Full Self-Driving’s European Journey
Europe has long posed one of the toughest regulatory challenges for Tesla’s autonomy ambitions due to stringent safety standards under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) framework, particularly UN Regulation 171 for Driver Control Assistance Systems.
The Netherlands’ RDW authority granted the pioneering approval after over 18 months of rigorous testing, including 1.6 million kilometers on European roads and extensive data submissions.
This approval enables mutual recognition across the EU, allowing other member states to adopt it nationally without full re-testing. Lithuania quickly leveraged this mechanism, becoming the second adopter. Tesla positions FSD Supervised as a tool to incrementally improve road safety, with the company claiming it reduces incidents when used properly.
Bottlenecks slowing broader European deployment include fragmented national regulations, varying levels of regulatory skepticism, and requirements for robust driver monitoring. Some EU officials have raised concerns about performance in adverse conditions like icy roads or speeding scenarios, alongside frustrations over Tesla’s public advocacy approach.
Additional hurdles involve data privacy, liability frameworks, and the need for EU-wide harmonization. While countries like Belgium appear to be fast-tracking adoption, larger markets such as Germany, France, and Italy are expected to follow in the coming months, with potential EU-wide progress targeted for later in 2026.
Tesla Full Self-Driving Across the World
As of May, Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is available in approximately ten countries.
In North America, it has been live for years in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Asia-Pacific additions include Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, while China utilizes what Tesla calls “City Autopilot.” In Europe, the Netherlands and now Lithuania join the list, with more countries mulling the possibility of also approving FSD.
Tesla offers FSD via monthly subscriptions (around €99 in Europe) or one-time purchases (with deadlines approaching in many markets), shifting toward recurring revenue models. Today is the final day Europeans will be able to purchase the suite outright.
This expansion underscores Tesla’s push for global autonomy, starting with supervised and building toward greater capabilities. With Lithuania now online, momentum is building across Europe, though regulatory caution will continue shaping the pace. Owners in approved regions report smoother highway and urban driving, but the system remains Level 2, which requires human oversight.
Elon Musk
Tesla ditches India after years of broken promises
Tesla has ditched its plans to build a factory in India after years of failed negotiations.
Tesla’s long-running effort to establish a manufacturing presence in India is officially over. India’s Minister of Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy confirmed on May 19, 2026 that Tesla has informed authorities it will not proceed with a manufacturing facility in the country.
Tesla first signaled serious interest in India around 2021, when it began hiring local staff and lobbying the Indian government for lower import tariffs. The ask was straightforward: reduce duties enough for Tesla to test the market with imported vehicles before committing capital to a local factory. India’s position was equally firm, with an ask of Tesla to commit to manufacturing first, then receive tariff relief. Neither side moved, and the talks quietly collapsed.
Tesla to open first India experience center in Mumbai on July 15
India had offered a policy that would reduce import duties from 110% down to 15% on EVs priced above $35,000, provided companies committed at least $500 million toward local manufacturing investment within three years. Tesla declined to participate. The tariff standoff was only part of the problem. Analysts pointed to significant gaps in India’s local supply chain, inadequate industrial infrastructure, and a mismatch between Tesla’s premium pricing and the purchasing power of India’s automotive market as additional factors that made the investment difficult to justify.
First signs of an unraveling relationship came in April 2024, when Musk abruptly cancelled a planned trip to India where he was set to meet Prime Minister Modi and announce Tesla’s market entry. By July 2024, Fortune reported that Tesla executives had stopped contacting Indian government officials entirely. The government at that point understood Tesla had capital constraints and no plans to invest.
The more fundamental issue is that Tesla’s existing factories are currently operating at approximately 60% capacity, making a commitment to building new manufacturing capacity in a new market difficult to defend to investors. Tesla will continue selling imported Model Y vehicles through its existing showrooms in Mumbai, Delhi, Gurugram, and Bengaluru, but local production is no longer part of the plan.
Tesla scales back driver monitoring with latest Full Self-Driving release
Tesla Full Self-Driving expands in Europe, entering its second country
