
Yes, Tesla sells vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability package, but it is crucial to understand that no Tesla available to the public is a fully self-driving car. As of today, even with FSD engaged, the driver must remain fully attentive, with hands on the wheel and ready to take control at any moment. The system is classified as a Level 2 driver-assistance system according to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) levels of automation. This means it assists with steering, acceleration, and braking within its lane, but it does not make the vehicle autonomous.
The core of Tesla's system is its Autopilot suite, which comes standard on all new vehicles and includes features like Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer. The optional FSD package builds on this with more advanced features, such as automatic lane changes, navigating highway interchanges, and responding to traffic lights and stop signs. A future-facing feature called "Autosteer on City Streets" is intended to handle more complex urban driving but has not yet been widely released beyond a limited beta-testing program.
The key distinction lies in the naming versus the current legal and technical reality. While "Full Self-Driving" suggests full autonomy (SAE Level 5), the delivered product is an advanced driver-assist system. Tesla's approach relies on a powerful combination of cameras, neural network processing, and over-the-air updates to improve the system's capabilities over time. However, regulatory approval for unsupervised, fully autonomous operation is still pending.
| Feature | Standard Autopilot | Full Self-Driving (FSD) Capability | Current Status (SAE Level) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic-Aware Cruise Control | Yes | Yes | Level 2 (Driver Assistance) |
| Autosteer (within a lane) | Yes | Yes | Level 2 (Driver Assistance) |
| Automatic Lane Changes | No | Yes | Level 2 (Driver Assistance) |
| Navigate on Autopilot (highways) | No | Yes | Level 2 (Driver Assistance) |
| Autopark | No | Yes | Level 2 (Driver Assistance) |
| Summon (Smart Summon) | No | Yes | Level 2 (Driver Assistance) |
| Traffic Light & Stop Sign Control | No | Yes | Level 2 (Driver Assistance) |
| Autosteer on City Streets | No | Yes (Beta) | Level 2 (Driver Assistance) |
Purchasing FSD is an investment in a rapidly evolving technology. It's essential for any potential buyer to thoroughly test-drive the system and understand its limitations as outlined in Tesla's official documentation before making a decision.

It's a tricky question. My Model 3 has what Tesla calls "Full Self-Driving," but I'm still the one driving. It's an incredible co-pilot that handles highway merging and stoplights, but it can get confused by construction zones or unpredictable drivers. You have to pay attention every second. It's a glimpse of the future, but we're not there yet. The car does the boring work, but the responsibility is still 100% on me.

As an assistive technology, Tesla's systems are impressive but require clear-eyed expectations. They are not self-driving cars. The term "Full Self-Driving" is a product name for a sophisticated Level 2 driver-assist feature. The technology is designed to reduce driver workload in specific conditions, not replace the driver. I always advise new owners to read the manual thoroughly and practice in low-risk environments to build familiarity with the system's boundaries.


