Elon Musk hands over a Model Y car to a customer during the opening ceremony of the new Tesla Gigafactory for electric cars in Gruenheide, Germany, March 22, 2022.
Patrick Pleul | Pool | Via Reuters
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is now requiring employees to install and show customers how to use the latest version of the company’s premium driver assistance system, which is marketed as “FSD” or Full Self-Driving, before completing a vehicle delivery in North America.
“Going forward, it is mandatory in North America to install and activate FSD V12.3.1 and take customers on a short test ride before handing over the car,” Musk wrote in an email to staffers on Monday. “Almost no one actually realizes how well (supervised) FSD actually works. I know this will slow down the delivery process, but it is nonetheless a hard requirement.”
Bloomberg first reported on Musk’s email, which was also viewed by CNBC.
While all new Tesla vehicles have a standard driver assistance system installed called Autopilot, the company’s FSD option costs $199 per month for most customers in North America.
Tesla’s FSD system does not turn cars into autonomous vehicles. According to the Tesla owners’ manuals, drivers must remain attentive to the road and ready to steer or brake at any time when using FSD or FSD Beta.
Owners with FSD can also get access to the FSD Beta system, which allows them to test and help debug newer driver assistance features on public roads.
Under pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Tesla has implemented voluntary recalls to improve the safety of its Autopilot, FSD and FSD Beta systems in recent years.
Tesla didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a separate memo distributed to staff at Tesla, the company is asking salaried and hourly workers to sign up for additional shifts to deliver cars to customers in the last days of the first quarter.
“Join us in delighting customers as they take delivery!” the memo said. “While our production capacity…
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