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Tesla pure vision FSD Beta completes LA to SF border trip with no disengagements
Tesla’s FSD Beta 9.1 software recently accomplished another milestone. Without using radar data, the advanced driver-assist system was able to complete a trip from Los Angeles to the San Francisco border with zero disengagements. This shows that Tesla’s bold shift to a pure vision approach may indeed be the right strategy to achieve autonomous driving.
Tesla Model 3 owner and FSD Beta tester Whole Mars Catalog recently posted a video of the ~380-mile trip on YouTube. The journey started from a Tesla Supercharger near the SpaceX headquarters in Los Angeles to San Francisco. Due to the length of the trip, the Model 3 had to stop at the Kettleman Supercharger to recharge its batteries. After its brief charging session, FSD Beta 9.1 proceeded to head over to San Francisco.
The trip was quite uneventful, and that’s precisely what made the trip so remarkable. While the video was sped up, it was evident that FSD Beta 9.1 behaved very much like a human driver during the journey, weaving in and out of traffic and safely navigating through inner-city streets. Highway driving seemed refined as well, with FSD Beta 9.1 traveling at a comfortable speed over long stretches of road.
FSD Beta 9.1’s trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco was very similar to a feat achieved by a Model 3 with radar+camera earlier this year, which involved a trip from SF to LA. Similar to that trip, however, the pure vision Model 3’s entire trip still required some manual driving, particularly when the driver pulled up to a stall at the Kettleman Supercharger. The driver also opted to manually take over for a left turn well after the Model 3 crossed the San Francisco border.
Tesla’s approach to autonomy is quite different than those being pursued by other companies and automakers that are also developing self-driving software. Instead of using numerous sensors and pre-mapped data, FSD Beta uses AI and camera feeds to enable Teslas to navigate through roads, similar to a human driver. This is much more difficult than pre-mapping a freeway or a specific geofenced area, but it should allow the system to operate practically anywhere in the world.
This was one of the reasons why the shift to a pure vision approach was deemed controversial even by some of Tesla’s most ardent fans. But based on the performance of FSD Beta 9.1 so far, and considering feats like the Whole Mars Catalog team’s Los Angeles to San Francisco drive, it appears that the company’s decision to pursue autonomy with a pure vision approach may bear fruit in the long run.
Watch FSD Beta 9.1 complete a drive from Los Angeles to the San Francisco border with zero disengagements in the video below.
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EV tax credit rule adjustment provides short-term win, but long-term warning
There are broader implications of the credit’s new rules, which could be viewed as an “extension,” although, fundamentally, the credit could mask the true issue that many EV makers will face: generally speaking, electric cars are still too expensive.

The IRS adjusted the EV tax credit rule last week, which was a big win for consumers. It now allows car buyers to lock up an agreement to buy a vehicle instead of having to take delivery before the deadline of September 30.
This has tremendous advantages for both consumers and companies. For consumers, they are no longer rushed to take delivery of a car that might not be their exact pick just to qualify for the tax credit. Instead, they can build the car they want, make a marginal down payment on it, and still take delivery, even after September 30, and still get the $7,500 off.
For carmakers, they are no longer restricted by production capacity or supply bottlenecks, and can get a vehicle to a buyer after the deadline instead of delivering bad news. The consumer just needs to commit monetarily first.
However, there are broader implications of the credit’s new rules, which could be viewed as an “extension,” although, fundamentally, the credit could mask the true issue that many EV makers will face: generally speaking, electric cars are still too expensive.
Consumer Behavior and Market Dynamics
Everyone is expecting EV makers’ Q3 sales to be slightly higher than normal, as this is the final quarter when the $7,500 EV credit will be available. Buyers are rushing to take advantage of the credit before it expires.
The urgency of car buyers to take advantage of the credit seems to be a positive in the short term. However, there are some indications that this could lead to a “boom-and-bust” cycle, and how EVs sell in subsequent quarters could be a very disappointing reality.
If EVs were at a price point where they were more affordable and people did not need $7,500 off to buy one, we would not be seeing this influx of orders. The fundamental issue with the tax credit is the fact that it is a bit of a crutch for automakers, and that crutch is about to be removed — abruptly.
Sustained incentives for EVs are something that was never going to be available under the Trump Administration. The true demand of EVs will be revealed in Q4, and likely over the first two quarters of 2026.
Policy Instability is a Barrier for Consumers…and Automakers
With the One Big Beautiful Bill that the Trump Administration rolled out, the tax credit’s sunset came abruptly.
Previously, the credit’s termination was set for 2032, but the change, which is absolutely justified in terms of the White House’s powers, sets a tough precedent moving forward: different administrations and different planning for how government funds are spent could dramatically alter plans.
For consumers, their confidence in the stability of these types of programs will be decreased. If a Democrat gets elected in 2028, will the credit return? It’s likely that the credit could become an “On for 4, Off for 4” type of arrangement, depending on the party in the White House, as well as the concentration of that party in the House and Senate.
For automakers, the long-term planning of their supply chains, including whether domestic manufacturing is prioritized and how much capital to allocate toward EVs, becomes a significant question.
If it needs volume to bring down EV prices, the absence of a credit will impact that drastically. Fewer people being able to afford EVs because of their premium prices could put companies in a very strange predicament.
Their roadmaps for their future lineups will be impacted, and they may have to go back to the drawing board for future plans.
Environmental and Economic Stakes
It is important to remember that the EV tax credit was not just a way to make cars more affordable. It was a tool to reduce emissions from passenger transportation. This is the largest source of greenhouse gases in the United States.
Ending the credit risks slowing progress toward climate goals and ceding ground to global competitors, especially China, a global tech hub that has a large population willing to embrace new tech.
Xiaomi CEO congratulates Tesla on first FSD delivery: “We have to continue learning!”
The U.S. needs a stable, long-term strategy to incentivize both consumers and manufacturers to reach climate goals. Short-term band-aids are not going to drive innovation or adoption forward.
Call to Action
To secure a thriving and equitable future for the EV industry, Congress could consider a variety of alternatives that benefit buyers who could use assistance. A tiered incentive program that prioritizes affordability and American innovation would benefit buyers who prefer an EV while making them accessible to lower and middle-income families and buyers.
Higher credits for EVs priced under $40,000 to reach these income levels would be ideal. Additionally, bonuses for vehicles and batteries that are domestically sourced would also encourage car companies to bring manufacturing to the United States, while also helping car buyers lean toward vehicles built here.
The rush to secure credits by consumers proves that incentives work. The United States should be working toward a long-lasting framework that makes EVs accessible to all, while giving the country a competitive edge to compete against powerhouses like China.
Elon Musk
Tesla reveals it has expanded its Robotaxi fleet in Austin
there has never been an exact count of the Robotaxi fleet size, and Tesla continues to speak in cryptic fashion, only hinting at what the number of active vehicles could be.

Tesla revealed that it has expanded its Robotaxi fleet in Austin, Texas, but has not yet disclosed the exact number of vehicles currently operating as driverless ride-hailing cars in the city.
Before Tesla launched the Robotaxi fleet in Austin on June 22, CEO Elon Musk stated that the fleet would be initially small, comprised of between ten and twenty vehicles in total.
The small fleet size was a way to limit rides and not overwhelm the company as it launched into a new territory: offering driverless rides to those looking to get around Austin. With safety being prioritized, it was understood.
However, there has never been an exact count of the Robotaxi fleet size, and Tesla continues to speak in cryptic fashion, only hinting at what the number of active vehicles could be.
On Tuesday, it expanded its geofence for the third time, increasing the service area in Austin beyond the downtown area and into the suburbs, including the airport and even the Gigafactory Texas.
Tesla one-ups Waymo once again with latest Robotaxi expansion in Austin
The size of the geofence is now 173 square miles, up from 91 square miles, which is what it grew to in early August with its second expansion.
The company also said it “increased the number of cars available by 50 percent,” but would not give an exact count:
Increased service area from 91 to 173 sq miles
Also increased # of cars available by 50%
— Tesla Robotaxi (@robotaxi) August 27, 2025
Skeptics of the Robotaxi platform usually point to two things: the presence of a Safety Monitor in the vehicle and the lack of transparency regarding fleet size.
Tesla has done an excellent job of expanding the service area over the past two months, but it is also expanding the number of people it allows to hail a Robotaxi.
This makes the need for an increased fleet size more imperative.
However, no good reason comes to mind for the company not to tell an exact number, but Tesla has its justifications for it. Grok suggests the Robotaxi fleet could be anywhere from 30 to 75 vehicles in total, but this includes the Bay Area.
Musk did say Tesla is working to get the Bay Area fleet to over 100 vehicles. Hopefully, some clarification regarding fleet size will be provided in the coming weeks or months as the service area in Austin continues to expand.
News
Tesla China working overtime to deliver Model Y L as quickly as possible
This was, at least, hinted at by Tesla China VP Grace Tao in a post on Weibo.

The Tesla Model Y L appears to be a big hit in China, and this has resulted in Giga Shanghai doing all it can to meet all the orders for the extended wheelbase all-electric crossover.
This was, at least, hinted at by Tesla China VP Grace Tao in a post on Weibo.
Model Y L demand
The demand for the Model Y L in China seems to be substantial. Just days following the vehicle’s release, industry watchers estimated that Tesla received about 35,000 orders for the vehicle on the day of its launch. More recent estimates from industry watchers have suggested that Tesla China might have doubled its usual vehicle orders for August thanks to the new variant.
Considering the seemingly strong demand for the new Model Y L, it was no surprise that Tesla China would be extremely busy trying to address all the orders for the vehicle. Fortunately, VP Grace Tao highlighted in her Weibo post that Tesla is pushing hard to ensure that deliveries of the extended wheelbase all-electric crossover could start as soon as possible.
“Our colleagues at the Shanghai Gigafactory are working overtime to get the new car to you as soon as possible,” the Tesla China executive wrote in her Weibo post.
Model Y L deliveries
When the Model Y L was initially released, Tesla China listed the vehicle’s first deliveries to be sometime in September 2025. As of writing, however, new orders of the new Model Y L are listed with an estimated delivery date of October 2025. This suggests that the Model Y L has been sold out for September.
The new Model Y L has the potential to be a best-seller for the electric vehicle maker, thanks in part to its comfortable six-seat configuration and its reasonable starting price of RMB 339,000 ($47,180).
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