Tesla is accelerating toward a new era of automotive autonomy, announcing major advancements in its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology that could soon see new vehicles delivered to customers’ homes without a human driver. The company has confirmed that its Texas and California factories are now using a custom “FSD Unsupervised” system to autonomously move vehicles from the end of the production line to outbound logistics lots, amassing over 50,000 driverless miles in real-world factory conditions.

Inside Tesla’s Autonomous Logistics

Videos and company statements reveal that Tesla’s Model Y and Cybertruck vehicles now autonomously navigate complex routes within the Giga Texas and Fremont plants—sharing roads with pedestrians, semi-trucks, and construction equipment. The Cybertruck, in particular, has been shown traversing a 0.6-mile route beneath a major freeway and handling steep inclines, all without human intervention. This operational milestone demonstrates not just the technical maturity of Tesla’s FSD software, but also the company’s confidence in its vision-based, AI-driven approach to autonomy.

A Vision-Only, AI-First Approach

Tesla’s FSD Unsupervised relies solely on cameras, proprietary AI chips, and advanced neural networks—eschewing lidar and radar used by competitors such as Waymo. CEO Elon Musk touts this “pure AI” solution as a breakthrough, aiming to replicate human perception and decision-making on the road. The latest FSD version (V14) features improved neural networks, auto-regressive transformers for more natural driving, enhanced audio analysis, and better edge-case detection, all designed to push safety far beyond human capability.

Toward Self-Delivering Cars and Robotaxis

While the current use of FSD Unsupervised is limited to factory grounds and private roads—where regulatory hurdles are minimal—Tesla’s ambitions extend much further. The company is preparing to launch a commercial robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, as soon as June 2025, with plans to expand to private owners and more cities in 2026. Musk has repeatedly promised that Tesla vehicles sold since 2016 have all the hardware needed for full autonomy, with software updates set to unlock these capabilities.

The vision is bold: a future where Teslas not only drive themselves off the assembly line but also deliver themselves to customers’ homes, and even operate as autonomous ride-hailing vehicles when not in use by their owners.

Challenges: Safety, Regulation, and Public Trust

Despite the rapid progress, significant questions remain. Tesla’s camera-only approach has drawn skepticism from industry experts, who note that lidar-equipped competitors have logged far more driverless miles on public roads and often operate within tightly geo-fenced areas for safety. Regulatory approval for unsupervised public road operation is still a major hurdle, with authorities closely scrutinizing the safety record of autonomous vehicles after several high-profile incidents across the industry.

Tesla’s own FSD system has faced regulatory and public scrutiny in the past due to accidents and inconsistent performance, though Musk maintains it is already safer than human drivers. The company appears to be preparing for a phased rollout, possibly using teleoperation for remote supervision in the early stages of its robotaxi service.

The Road Ahead

Tesla’s advances in FSD Unsupervised mark a significant step toward the company’s vision of fully autonomous mobility. The successful deployment in factory logistics is a vivid demonstration of what’s possible, but the leap from controlled environments to public streets—and ultimately to self-delivering cars—will depend on continued technical progress, regulatory green lights, and public acceptance.

As the June 2025 Austin pilot approaches, Tesla’s next moves will be closely watched by the auto industry, regulators, and consumers alike, all eager to see if the promise of true self-driving cars is finally ready to leave the factory floor.