Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk dropped some tantalizing hints over the weekend about where the company's Full Self-Driving technology is headed, and it sounds like he thinks they're finally approaching the finish line for true autonomy.
The Final Piece Falls Into Place
Musk responded Saturday on X to a post from influencer Devin Olsen, who had written extensively about his experience with the latest FSD v14 update. Olsen praised the system's smoothness and refinement compared to earlier versions, which apparently caught Musk's attention.
"14.3 is where the last big piece of the puzzle finally lands," Musk wrote. It's the kind of statement that gets Tesla watchers excited, especially given Musk's previous comments during the company's Q3 earnings call about unsupervised Full Self-Driving. During that call, the billionaire reiterated his prediction that Robotaxis operating in Austin would go completely driverless by year's end.
Wall Street and Investors Weigh In
The latest FSD update has been generating positive buzz beyond just enthusiasts. Ross Gerber, co-founder of investment firm Gerber Kawasaki, called it a "big step up" from what came before, though he noted some lingering mapping problems that still need work.
Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley (MS) analyst Adam Jonas has been particularly bullish, stating that Tesla has essentially "solved" autonomous driving. He's predicting the technology could generate over $1.2 billion in revenue for the electric vehicle maker. Gary Black of Future Fund LLC has also joined the chorus of praise for FSD v14's improvements.
Tesla isn't just focused on the domestic market, either. The company is reportedly planning a European expansion in 2026, after conducting FSD demonstrations with regulators across several European Union countries.
Safety Concerns Haven't Disappeared
Not everyone is celebrating, though. Dan O'Dowd, founder of The Dawn Project, recently criticized Musk and Tesla after posting a video showing a Tesla Robotaxi safety driver apparently asleep at the wheel while the car drove itself. The driver only woke up when the attention alarm sounded—not exactly the confidence-inspiring scenario Tesla wants publicized.
The regulatory environment remains challenging too. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation covering 2.88 million Tesla vehicles after reviewing multiple incidents of traffic violations and accidents involving cars using either FSD or Autopilot systems. That's a substantial portion of Tesla's vehicle fleet under scrutiny, and it underscores the high stakes involved in deploying autonomous driving technology at scale.
Price Action: TSLA closed Friday down 1.05% at $391.01, then climbed 0.70% to $393.83 in after-hours trading, according to market data.