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Australian rollout of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology is imminent, according to Tesla, with no regulatory obstacles presently hindering its implementation.

Australian Tesla country manager discusses rollout strategy for self-driving software, confirming no regulatory obstacles in the country.

Imminent rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in Australia, as per Tesla, due to no...
Imminent rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology in Australia, as per Tesla, due to no regulatory hindrances identified

Australian rollout of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology is imminent, according to Tesla, with no regulatory obstacles presently hindering its implementation.

Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, a significant leap towards autonomous driving, is about to begin its rollout in Australia. The company's Country Director for Australia, Thom Drew, has confirmed that regulatory approval is no longer an obstacle, paving the way for the phased release of the software.

The rollout will commence with vehicles equipped with Hardware 4 (HW4), such as the refreshed Tesla Model 3 delivered since late 2023 and Model Ys from 2024 onward. After stabilising FSD on HW4, Tesla plans to gradually introduce the software to older vehicles equipped with Hardware 3 (HW3).

Tesla's commitment to Australia is evident in the public demonstrations of FSD, including a May 2025 test showcasing complex city driving maneuvers like the “hook turn” in Melbourne and a recent Sydney drive. These demonstrations underscore the system's readiness in local right-hand drive conditions.

Riz Akhtar, the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, has been a key observer of this development. A mechanical engineer with a passion for EVs, Akhtar aims to reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3 and spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop.

The latest video released by Tesla showcased the system driving a black Model 3 in Sydney without any driver input, sparking conversations about potential roadblockers for the system's arrival in Australia. This was the first right-hand-drive market demonstration of Tesla's FSD software shared publicly.

For owners of HW3 vehicles in Australia and New Zealand, a later rollout phase is expected. However, Tesla may offer FSD transfer or upgrade opportunities for these owners, with HW4 vehicles receiving priority.

This rollout aligns with Tesla’s initial target date for FSD availability in right-hand drive markets, which was Q2 2025. The current 2025 mid-year timeline is consistent with prior announcements. The HW4 system consists of an upgraded computer and a suite of external high-resolution cameras, making it well-suited for the FSD software.

In summary, Tesla is about to start the Australian rollout of FSD software beginning with HW4 vehicles, with regulatory support confirmed and phased releases planned for other vehicles, marking a significant step towards full availability in that market.

  1. The Full Self-Driving (FSD) software rollout by Tesla, designed for automotive vehicles, is set to begin in Australia, starting with cars built with Hardware 4 (HW4).
  2. After the successful implementation of FSD on HW4 vehicles, Tesla intends to expand the software to older vehicles equipped with Hardware 3 (HW3).
  3. The demonstrations of FSD in Australia, such as the complex city driving maneuvers in Melbourne and Sydney, have showcased the system's readiness for right-hand drive conditions.
  4. electric-vehicles owners of HW3 vehicles in Australia and New Zealand can expect a later rollout phase, with potential opportunities for FSD transfer or upgrade to HW4 vehicles.

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