- Tesla is set to introduce its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system in New Zealand.
- The system will be available on the latest models with 'Hardware 4' first.
- No released date has been announced yet.
Tesla is set to introduce its advanced FSD-S - or Full Self-Driving (Supervised) - technology in New Zealand, positioning the country, alongside Australia, as one of the first right-hand-drive markets to receive the system.
FSD-S goes beyond Tesla's existing Autopilot feature, which primarily handles highway driving, and is designed for more complex driving environments, including city streets, turns, traffic signals, intersections, and roundabouts, reacting to real-world conditions.
The system relies entirely on eight exterior cameras connected to Tesla's in-house FSD computer, utilising a "vision-based artificial intelligence" approach to process visual data and build a 3D model of the road. Unlike many competitors, Tesla does not incorporate lidar or radar into its system.
Despite its name, Tesla emphasises that FSD-S is not autonomous driving: it is classified as a Level 2 driver-assist system, meaning the driver must remain in control and is legally responsible at all times. An infrared camera monitors the driver's head and eye movement, escalating alerts if inattention is detected and potentially disabling the feature.
As it is technically still a Level 2 system it is legal under New Zealand law, as it requires a person to be "in control" of a vehicle. Currently New Zealand does not mandate "hands-on-wheel" operation.
Globally Tesla has faced backlash from both consumers regulators over the use of the "Full Self-Driving" name, with the "supervised" coda only being added in April 2024 when Tesla renamed it from "Full Self-Driving (Beta)".
For New Zealand drivers, FSD-S will be available for $11,400 if purchased outright, however the company is also exploring options for a subscription model and a 30-day free trial for new deliveries.
The initial rollout will prioritise the latest Model 3 and Model Y vehicles equipped with Tesla's latest "Hardware 4" suite that was introduced in 2023, with existing Full Self-Driving package purchasers expected to be first in line.
This expansion into Australia and New Zealand contributes to the broader global autonomous vehicle market, which analysts predict could exceed US$800 billion by 2035.