Connect with us
tesla autopilot tesla autopilot

News

Tesla owners report complimentary Enhanced Autopilot for 30 days as a holiday perk

Credit: Tesla

Published

on

It appears that Tesla’s holiday perks for some of its customers do not end with this year’s holiday software update, which was released earlier this month. As reported by several Tesla owners online, the electric vehicle maker is also rolling out free access to Enhanced Autopilot for 30 days as a complimentary service for the holidays. 

Reports of the new complimentary service were posted by Tesla owners from Australia and New Zealand on Thursday night, both on social media and in the r/TeslaMotors subreddit. Tesla veteran and electric vehicle advocate @techAU observed that some features of Enhanced Autopilot would likely be appreciated by Tesla owners who have not purchased any of the company’s advanced driver-assist suites. 

While every Tesla produced today automatically comes with Basic Autopilot as standard — which includes traffic-aware cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring — the additional features of Enhanced Autopilot present a notable upgrade. In a way, Enhanced Autopilot is a great alternative for those who wish to not purchase the Full Self-Driving suite, as it includes notable advanced features for just $6,000. In comparison, FSD costs $15,000.

With Enhanced Autopilot, owners are able to access all the features of Basic Autopilot, as well as functions such as Navigate on Autopilot and Auto Lane Change. Navigate on Autopilot is among Tesla’s most advanced driver-assist features as it allows vehicles to travel from a highway on-ramp to an off-ramp without input from the driver. Auto Lane Change is just as impressive as it allows vehicles to change lanes as needed, also without the driver manually performing the maneuvers. 

Other notable features of Enhanced Autopilot include Autopark, Summon, and Smart Summon, which are all pretty much like neat party tricks in their current iterations. Smart Summon in particular has made headlines in the past, as it allows Teslas to navigate a parking lot and pick up their owners at a designated spot. Elon Musk has previously noted that an improvement to Smart Summon (fondly called “Actual Smart Summon”) is in the works and will likely be released in the future. 

Advertisement
-->

For now, it remains to be seen if Tesla’s free Enhanced Autopilot 30-day trial will be rolled out to other countries apart from Australia and New Zealand, though it would make sense if the offer is released worldwide. Enhanced Autopilot, after all, is still a $6,000 option, so the best way to encourage vehicle owners to opt-in for the service is to have them try it out themselves at one of the busiest times of the year. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

Advertisement
Comments

News

Tesla Full Self-Driving appears to be heading to Europe soon

For years, Musk has said the process for gaining approval in Europe would take significantly more time than it does in the United States. Back in 2019, he predicted it would take six to twelve months to gain approval for Europe, but it has taken much longer.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla Full Self-Driving appears to be heading to Europe soon, especially as the company has continued to expand its testing phases across the continent.

It appears that the effort is getting even bigger, as the company recently posted a job for a Vehicle Operator in Prague, Czech Republic.

This would be the third country the company is seeking a Vehicle Operator in for the European market, joining Germany and Hungary, which already have job postings in Berlin, Prüm, and Budapest, respectively.

This position specifically targets the Engineering and Information Technology departments at Tesla, and not the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence job category that relates to Robotaxi job postings.

Although there has been a posting for Robotaxi Operators in the Eastern Hemisphere, more specifically, Israel, this specific posting has to do with data collection, likely to bolster the company’s position in Europe with FSD.

The job description says:

“We are seeking a highly motivated employee to strengthen our team responsible for vehicle data collection. The Driver/Vehicle Operator position is tasked with capturing high-quality data that contributes to improving our vehicles’ performance. This role requires self-initiative, flexibility, attention to detail, and the ability to work in a dynamic environment.”

It also notes the job is for a fixed term of one year.

The position requires operation of a vehicle for data collection within a defined area, and requires the Vehicle Operator to provide feedback to improve data collection processes, analyze and report collected data, and create daily driving reports.

The posting also solidifies the company’s intention to bring its Full Self-Driving platform to Europe in the coming months, something it has worked tirelessly to achieve as it spars with local regulators.

For years, Musk has said the process for gaining approval in Europe would take significantly more time than it does in the United States. Back in 2019, he predicted it would take six to twelve months to gain approval for Europe, but it has taken much longer.

This year, Musk went on to say that the process of getting FSD to move forward has been “very frustrating,” and said it “hurts the safety of the people of Europe.”

Elon Musk clarifies the holdup with Tesla Full Self-Driving launch in Europe

The latest update Musk gave us was in July, when he said that Tesla was awaiting regulatory approval.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla celebrates 75k Superchargers, less than 5 months since 70k-stall milestone

Tesla’s 75,000th stall is hosted at the South Hobart Smart Store on Cascade Road, South Hobart, Tasmania.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla Charging/X

Tesla has crossed another major charging milestone by officially installing its 75,000th Supercharger stall worldwide. The electric vehicle maker chose South Hobart, Tasmania, as the commemorative location of its 75,000th Supercharger. 

Tesla’s 75,000th Supercharger

Tesla’s 75,000th stall is hosted at the South Hobart Smart Store on Cascade Road, South Hobart, TAS 7004, as noted in a techAU report. The location features four next-generation V4 Superchargers, which are built with longer cables that should make it easy even for non-Teslas to use the rapid charger. The site also includes simplified payment options, aligning with Tesla’s push to make V4 stations more accessible to a broader set of drivers.

For Tasmanian EV owners, the installation fills an important regional gap, improving long-distance coverage around Hobart and strengthening the area’s appeal for mainland travelers traveling by electric vehicle. Similar to other commemorative Superchargers, the 70,000th stall is quite special as it is finished in Glacier Blue paint. Tesla’s 50,000th stall, which is in California, is painted a stunning red, and the 60,000th stall, which is in Japan, features unique origami-inspired graphics.

https://twitter.com/TeslaCharging/status/1991019320584122471?s=20

Accelerating Supercharger milestones

The Tesla Supercharger’s pace of expansion shows no signs of slowing. Tesla celebrated its 70,000th stall at a 12-stall site in Burleson, Texas late June 2025. Just eight months earlier, Tesla announced that it had celebrated the buildout of its 60,000th Supercharger, which was built in Enshu Morimachi, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Tesla’s Supercharger Network also recently received accolades in the United Kingdom, with the 2025 Zapmap survey naming the rapid charging system as the Best Large EV Charging Network for the second year in a row. Survey respondents praised the Supercharger Network for its ease of use, price, and reliability, which is best-in-class. The fact that the network has also been opened for non-Teslas is just icing on the cake. 

Advertisement
-->
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7JCwOa-IYuE?feature=share
Continue Reading

News

Luminar-Volvo breakdown deepens as lidar maker warns of potential bankruptcy

The automaker stated that Luminar failed to meet contractual obligations.

Published

on

Volvo-bev-production-europe-vs-china
(Credit: Volvo)

Luminar’s largest customer, Volvo, has canceled a key five-year contract as the lidar supplier warned investors that it might be forced to file for bankruptcy. The automaker stated that Luminar failed to meet contractual obligations, escalating a dispute already unfolding as Luminar defaults on loans, undergoes layoffs, and works to sell portions of the business.

Volvo pulls back on Luminar

In a statement to TechCrunch, Volvo stated that Luminar’s failure to deliver its contractual obligations was a key driver of the cancellation of the contract. “Volvo Cars has made this decision to limit the company’s supply chain risk exposure and it is a direct result of Luminar’s failure to meet its contractual obligations to Volvo Cars,” Volvo noted in a statement.

The rift marked a notable turn for the two companies, whose relationship dates back several years. Volvo invested in Luminar early and helped push its sensors into production programs, while Luminar’s technology bolstered the credibility of Volvo’s safety-focused autonomous driving plans. Volvo’s partnership also supported Luminar’s 2020 SPAC listing, which briefly made founder Austin Russell one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the industry.

Damaged Volvo relations

The damaged Volvo partnership comes during a critical period for Luminar. The company has defaulted on several loans and warned investors that bankruptcy remains a possibility if restructuring discussions fall through. To conserve cash, Luminar has cut 25% of its workforce and is exploring strategic alternatives, including partial or full asset sales. 

One potential buyer is founder Austin Russell, who resigned as CEO in May amid a board-initiated ethics inquiry. The company is also the subject of an ongoing SEC investigation.

Advertisement
-->

Luminar, for its part, also noted in a filing that it had “made a claim against Volvo for significant damages” and “suspended further commitments of Iris” for the carmaker. “The Company is in discussions with Volvo concerning the dispute; however, there can be no assurance that the dispute will be resolved favorably or at all,” the lidar maker stated.

Continue Reading