#Japan #Tesla #Full Self-Driving #Model 3

Tesla's Full Self-Driving Testing Begins in Japan

Tesla has taken a significant step by starting its Full Self-Driving (FSD) (Supervised) testing in Japan. This initiative aims to enhance road safety and convenience through advanced driving assistance systems that Tesla has been developing and deploying worldwide. The test focuses on assessing the capabilities of FSD v13, which was showcased during Tesla's 'We, Robot' event in October 2024. The vehicle used for these tests is the mid-size Model 3, equipped with the latest AI hardware (AI 4) and Tesla Vision based on camera technology.

Observations from the Testing

Link to Test Driving Updates: Tesla Japan.

Technology Overview

The Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system operates under the requirement of constant driver supervision. It combines several core features, including:

• - 360-degree Visual Recognition: Utilizing eight cameras for real-time environmental recognition, the system does not rely on traditional radar or ultrasonic sensors, operating solely with the cameras.
• - Neural Networking: With FSD v13, Tesla has moved to an end-to-end deep learning architecture, abandoning conventional rule-based algorithms. The technology learns from over 1 billion miles of driving data collected from more than 6 million Tesla cars globally.

Functions of FSD (Supervised)

FSD (Supervised) is designed to provide several driving support functionalities:

• - Parking Assistance: Automatically starts, drives, and parks the vehicle from one parking spot to another.
• - Urban Driving: Recognizes traffic signals and signs, executes lane changes, crosses intersections, and responds to pedestrians and cyclists.
• - Smart Summon (ASS): This feature allows drivers to summon their vehicles via a smartphone app, utilizing GPS and camera systems to navigate within a distance of approximately 85 meters.
• - Safety Features: Integrating emergency braking, collision warnings, and lane-keeping assistance while continuously monitoring driver attention through torque on the steering wheel or facial recognition via an onboard camera.

Tesla claims that its driving assistance systems are 9.5 times safer than conventional vehicles, based on statistics from the U.S. Here, an average of 1 crash occurs every 1,130,000 kilometers, compared to Tesla vehicles with autopilot turned on, which report 1 crash every 10,770,000 kilometers. While no vehicle can prevent every accident, Tesla is committed to minimizing incidents through continuous improvements.

Transition to Camera-Based Recognition

Since 2021, Tesla transitioned to utilizing Tesla Vision for enhancing its autopilot system, eliminating radar from both Model 3 and Model Y, and by 2022, ultrasonic sensors were also removed. This shift has led to incremental improvements in functionality and safety assessments in both the U.S. and Europe, often surpassing previous technologies.

AI Learning Enhancement Through Cortex

Tesla is further advancing AI training capabilities at its Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, enhancing computing power with an additional 16,000 H200 GPUs. This investment boosts the total computational capacity equivalent to 67,000 H100 units.

Tesla is confident that a radar-free approach using Tesla Vision paves a safe future for autopilot and provides the best strategy for customer security.

Market Launch and Promotions

Additionally, Tesla has initiated a '0% Special Interest Rate' campaign, starting on July 1, 2025, applicable to in-stock Model Y and Model 3 vehicles. This allows customers to significantly reduce monthly payments, with ownership costs comparable to routine expenses like coffee or subscriptions, calculated approximately at just 650 yen per day.
The actual financial details can vary based on the vehicle price as of July 1, 2025, and other conditions, providing an encouraging opportunity for prospective Model 3 owners.

Through continuous innovation and the introduction of advanced technologies, Tesla not only enhances the driving experience but also looks to contribute positively to overall road safety in Japan and beyond.