News
Tesla owners poke fun at NHTSA for paper notices telling them their cars are already fixed through OTA update
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently maintained that it is not convinced that Tesla’s safety-focused over-the-air (OTA) software updates need a new terminology. In a comment to Teslarati, the NHTSA stated that any defect, regardless of whether a remedy to an issue is fixed through an OTA update or a visit to a dealership, fits the bill of a recall.
While the NHSTA is justified in this point considering the agency’s focus on vehicle safety, one would find it difficult to argue that Tesla’s software update that slightly increases the font size of three icons is a serious safety issue. And considering that about 2 million Teslas are affected by the “recall,” the NHTSA has started “informing” Tesla owners about the issue.
The thing is, manufacturers are required to mail physical letters to affected Tesla owners informing them about recalls on their vehicles. This is understandable of course, but letters for some of Tesla’s recalls — particularly those that have already been addressed through an OTA software update — seem redundant and extremely wasteful. As shared by some Tesla owners on social media, the paper letters from the NHTSA are basically informing owners that their vehicles have already been fixed through a free over-the-air software update.
Do I need to return the recall letter back to NHTSA since my Tesla car was already fixed! They can use the letter for the next recall! pic.twitter.com/2g4IokJy5D— Tesla?Charge (@BabuNair) February 16, 2024
The NHTSA’s paper recall notices to Tesla’s software-based recalls have become a running joke of sorts among EV owners on social media. Some Tesla owners joked that since the NHTSA’s recall notices are printed on high-quality paper, a good number of trees were probably used just to tell owners that they have nothing to do since their cars have already been fixed.
@NHTSAgov @USDOT <— Save a tree and get with the times. The font size was changed a month ago in my garage while I slept, but thanks for the heads up ? pic.twitter.com/qnwl1QvxYg— Morgan (@l_LlKE_CAKE) February 16, 2024
With the advent of electric vehicles, over-the-air software updates are no longer a Tesla-only affair. Other EV makers such as Rivian and Ford have also started rolling out constant software updates for their electric cars. These cars will likely receive safety-focused software optimizations over time, so it might be in the best interests of the NHTSA to more accurately distinguish a software update from a legitimate recall.
Happy valentines .@NHTSAgov ♥️ pic.twitter.com/TUCABbHC3a— Meccanica (@dictionaryhill) February 15, 2024
There is a big difference between Tesla’s update to increase the font size of three icons, after all, to Toyota’s previous recall of the bZ4x, which was initiated by the Japanese automaker after it was observed that the all-electric crossover showed a risk of losing its wheels while driving.
“We’ve been trying to reach you about your displayed font size” –@NHTSArecalls https://t.co/1N6hBpEMxM pic.twitter.com/J14N94AyRf— The Kilowatts ?⚡️ (@klwtts) February 16, 2024
Like many of you, I am tired of receiving paper letters from @NHTSAgov for issues that were already remediated via over-the-air (OTA) software updates. It is high time we update the terminology used to describe these type of enhancements as well as end the wasteful practice of… pic.twitter.com/23oMSpsaAW— Dan Burkland (@DBurkland) February 15, 2024
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announces major update with texting and driving on FSD
“Depending on context of surrounding traffic, yes,” Musk said in regards to FSD v14.2.1 allowing texting and driving.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced a major update with texting and driving capabilities on Full Self-Driving v14.2.1, the company’s latest version of the FSD suite.
Tesla Full Self-Driving, even in its most mature and capable versions, is still a Level 2 autonomous driving suite, meaning it requires attention from the vehicle operator.
You cannot sleep, and you should not take attention away from driving; ultimately, you are still solely responsible for what happens with the car.
The vehicles utilize a cabin-facing camera to enable attention monitoring, and if you take your eyes off the road for too long, you will be admonished and advised to pay attention. After five strikes, FSD and Autopilot will be disabled.
However, Musk announced at the Annual Shareholder Meeting in early November that the company would look at the statistics, but it aimed to allow people to text and drive “within the next month or two.”
He said:
“I am confident that, within the next month or two, we’re gonna look at the safety statistics, but we will allow you to text and drive.”
“I am confident that, within the next month or two, we’re gonna look at the safety statistics, but we will allow you to text and drive.”
Does anyone think v14.3 will enable this? pic.twitter.com/N2yn0SK70M
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) November 23, 2025
Today, Musk confirmed that the current version of Full Self-Driving, which is FSD v14.2.1, does allow for texting and driving “depending on context of surrounding traffic.”
Depending on context of surrounding traffic, yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 4, 2025
There are some legitimate questions with this capability, especially as laws in all 50 U.S. states specifically prohibit texting and driving. It will be interesting to see the legality of it, because if a police officer sees you texting, they won’t know that you’re on Full Self-Driving, and you’ll likely be pulled over.
Some states prohibit drivers from even holding a phone when the car is in motion.
It is certainly a move toward unsupervised Full Self-Driving operation, but it is worth noting that Musk’s words state it will only allow the vehicle operator to do it depending on the context of surrounding traffic.
He did not outline any specific conditions that FSD would allow a driver to text and drive.
News
Tesla Semi just got a huge vote of confidence from 300-truck fleet
The confidential meeting marks a major step for the mid-sized carrier in evaluating the electric truck for its regional routes.
The Tesla Semi is moving closer to broader fleet adoption, with Keller Logistics Group wrapping up a key pre-production planning session with the electric vehicle maker’s team this week.
The confidential meeting marks a major step for the mid-sized carrier in evaluating the electric truck for its regional routes.
Keller’s pre-production Tesla Semi sessions
Keller Logistics Group, a family-owned carrier with over 300 tractors and 1,000 trailers operating in the Midwest and Southeast, completed the session to assess the Tesla Semi’s fit for its operations. The company’s routes typically span 500-600 miles per day, positioning it as an ideal tester for the Semi’s day cab configuration in standard logistics scenarios.
Details remain under mutual NDA, but the meeting reportedly focused on matching the truck to yard, shuttle and regional applications while scrutinizing economics like infrastructure, maintenance and incentives.
What Keller’s executives are saying
CEO Bryan Keller described the approach as methodical. “For us, staying ahead isn’t a headline, it’s a habit. From electrification and yard automation to digital visibility and warehouse technology, our teams are continually pressure-testing what’s next. The Tesla Semi discussion is one more way we evaluate new tools against our standards for safety, uptime, and customer ROI. We don’t chase trends, we pressure-test what works,” Keller said.
Benjamin Pierce, Chief Strategy Officer, echoed these sentiments. “Electrification and next-generation powertrains are part of a much broader transformation. Whether it’s proprietary yard systems like YardLink™, solar and renewable logistics solutions, or real-time vehicle intelligence, Keller’s approach stays the same, test it, prove it, and deploy it only when it strengthens service and total cost for our customers,” Pierce said.
News
Tesla extends FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe by three months
Needless to say, it does appear that FSD fever is starting to catch in Europe.
Tesla appears to be doubling down on its European Full Self-Driving (Supervised) push, with the company extending its demo ride-along program by three months until the end of March 2026. The update seems to have been implemented due to overwhelming demand.
Needless to say, it does appear that FSD fever is starting to catch in Europe.
Extended FSD demonstrations
Tesla EU Policy and Business Development Manager Ivan Komušanac shared on LinkedIn that the company is offering ride-along experiences in Germany, France and Italy while working toward FSD (Supervised) approval in Europe.
He noted that this provides a great feedback opportunity from the general public, encouraging participants to record and share their experiences. For those unable to book in December, Komušanac teased more slots as “Christmas presents.”
Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt highlighted the extension on X, stating that dates now run from December 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, in multiple cities including Stuttgart-Weinstadt, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf in Germany. This suggests that the FSD ride-along program in Europe has officially been extended until the end of the first quarter of 2026.
Building momentum for European approval
Replies to Merritt’s posts buzzed with excitement, with users like @AuzyMale noting that Cologne and Düsseldorf are already fully booked. This sentiment was echoed by numerous other Tesla enthusiasts on social media. Calls for the program’s expansion to other European territories have also started gaining steam, with some X users suggesting Switzerland and Finland as the next locations for FSD ride-alongs.
Ultimately, the Tesla EU Policy and Business Development Manager’s post aligns with the company’s broader FSD efforts in Europe. As per recent reports, Tesla recently demonstrated FSD’s capabilities for Rome officials. Reporters from media outlets in France and Germany have also published positive reviews of FSD’s capabilities on real-world roads.