Jim Farley says Level 3 Autonomous Driving in 2026

[JeffGo]

Two recent greatest hits that might be less well known than the exec killed by her own tech:
Tesla going full speed on a 2 lane road at night, right at a train crossing (train at full speed, crossbar down, lights flashing). Fortunately, the driver took control at the last second and swerved (trashed the car but lived). Captured by the vehicles cameras, uploaded to the cloud, driver obtained access and posted.

Tesla driver in my area on FSD on a city street, slammed into a motorcycle. Vehicular homicide charge.

But T drivers complain that they don't want technology that tells them to watch the road and the CEO denies any responsibility. At least we have the nannycam on the steering whieel - if a little too "judgemental" right now.

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[JDP That's Me in My MachE]

So maybe you can answer a question for me: How does the system do in “real” driving conditions - say for example, at night, or in rain, or in snow, or on slippery surfaces (think icy patches or “back ice”)?

Since when is black real driving conditions? Additionally, ice is a physics problem not a driving problem. Your answer is that a computer will perform the same as a human when it loses physical contact with the road.

 

[JDP That's Me in My MachE]

scares the crap out of me knowing there will be MORE drivers on the road paying less attention

Yup

 

[JDP That's Me in My MachE]

I got my drivers license 40 years ago. Please bring on the robot driving overlords. Humans are terrible terrible drivers.

Agree with you. After extensive, scientifically rigorous, thorough testing

 

[milepost1]

Personally, I think self driving vehicles are going to be a disaster for a long time. Technology may get you to safely drive in 99% of situations but that 1% is the problem. Complex situations with a child running after a ball at the same time a car merging into your lane. Problems like this we all face once in a very great while. There are so many situations I can think of like this. The brain picking against 2 evils or 3 evils and deciding the best course of action. With tens of millions cars on the road that 1% or even if it is .1% will add up to a lot of deaths and injuries.

How many accidents are caused by humans drinking and driving, being on phone, being tired etc. The biggest problem for self driving is when someone is not following rules of road. TBH almost all accidents are caused by someone not following rules of the road, wether intentional or by "accident". Most accidents on freeways are not caused by speed but by differences in speeds.

 

[Jimrpa]

Since when is black real driving conditions? Additionally, ice is a physics problem not a driving problem. Your answer is that a computer will perform the same as a human when it loses physical contact with the road.

Black ice most certainly IS a real driving condition in the Northeast in the winter. It’s been largely mitigated by proactively treating road surfaces with brine.
if you read my post, you’ll see I ask about a variety of inclement weather conditions, of which slick road surfaces is just one. You can learn to drive safely on slippery road surfaces.
My point is that I’ve never seen a video of a Tesla using their FSD software driving in anything other than optimal weather and traffic conditions. I wanted to know how it does in real world conditions.

 

[Dear_OP]

So Farley wants to be the new Elon?
Please master the basics first.

 

[phil]

For me, level 4 is the game changer I am waiting for: allowing me to nap while going to a destination.

Do you think it will become available within your lifetime?

 

[kodiakng]

This is exciting news and I was curious to fully understand the difference between the level of Autonomous driving and an article on JD Powers website that outlines the SAE guidelines on levels 0-5.

For me, level 4 is the game changer I am waiting for: allowing me to nap while going to a destination.

Check out the link below and Godspeed Jim Farley!

https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/levels-of-autonomous-driving-explained

this is a perfect example of reporting and headlines using completely incorrect words that aren't used in the material they are reporting on.

JD power uses "autonomy"; SAE strictly uses "automation".

they do NOT mean the same thing.

also, i note the only added situational example given for SAE level 3 autonomy: traffic jam chauffeur.

technologically, cruise, zoox, and waymo have a $100k+ sensor and compute package on each vehicle to accomplish their level 4 automation. until that sensor+compute package gets down to $5k you won't see it in a vehicle in our price point. tesla's camera only system can help in level 3 automation but is laughable in trying to get to level 4.

 

[933233311602]

We don't care.

No one buys a car with a "Mustang" brand badge on it with hopes that it will just drive itself.

 

[Jimrpa]

We don't care.

No one buys a car with a "Mustang" brand badge on it with hopes that it will just drive itself.

But … “it’s not a Mustang!” ???

 

[Sikkun]

We don't care.

No one buys a car with a "Mustang" brand badge on it with hopes that it will just drive itself.

Speak for yourself. I totally bought one because it does a pretty good job at driving itself on the highway.

 

[RVA1961]

Do you think it will become available within your lifetime?

I am hoping so. Fingers crossed.

 

[Fins160]

As someone who has actually ridden in a Full Self Driving vehicle dozens of times, I am confident that neither the Tesla or any other vehicle with camera-only technology will ever achieve FSD.

Waymo is prevalent in the PHX area, and contains LIDAR, visual cameras and a very powerful processor in the vehicle. I have driven with Waymo employees who have laptops that can “see” a full block or more in any direction to anticipate traffic, road conditions or other issues.

Even with all that technology, there are situations where a Waymo has been “stuck” and a remote human intervenes to guide the vehicle remotely. There have been a handful of non-injury incidents in Waymos, but the safety rate is more than an order of magnitude better than a human driver.

Driver assistance in personal vehicles is a great opportunity to avoid accidents and reduce traffic congestion, assuming many drivers use it regularly. FSD will be reserved for special purpose vehicles like Waymo.

 

[thekat03]

Two recent greatest hits that might be less well known than the exec killed by her own tech:
Tesla going full speed on a 2 lane road at night, right at a train crossing (train at full speed, crossbar down, lights flashing). Fortunately, the driver took control at the last second and swerved (trashed the car but lived). Captured by the vehicles cameras, uploaded to the cloud, driver obtained access and posted.

Tesla driver in my area on FSD on a city street, slammed into a motorcycle. Vehicular homicide charge.

But T drivers complain that they don't want technology that tells them to watch the road and the CEO denies any responsibility. At least we have the nannycam on the steering whieel - if a little too "judgemental" right now.

Those cases are proof of why as much as Bluecruise and other decent level 2 ADAS can be, they absolutely need to be monitored, and I would rather that car be too cautious in ensuring the driver is paying attention rather than too lax. Yeah, it's annoying when it suddenly thinks my smiling or laughing causes me to fail to watch the road (I guess my eyes become harder to see), but annoying is better than a car accident.

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