Elon Musk Promises Fully Autonomous Teslas by Year-End Amid Skepticism

Elon Musk recently ignited discussions on Twitter regarding the prospects of Tesla’s self-driving technology, claiming that fully autonomous vehicles would hit the roads by the end of this year.

This bold assertion, while optimistic, echoes similar promises he made in past years, specifically in 2018 and 2019, without results, leaving many skeptical about his latest claims.

Musk emphasized that Tesla’s self-driving feature would soon be “far safer than human driving”.

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Technology Faces Scrutiny Amid Safety Concerns

However, critics point out that there is a lack of supportive data to back this assertion, as Tesla has not released comprehensive information regarding the safety performance of its “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) system. Currently, FSD is classified as a Level 2 advanced driver assistance system, which still requires driver supervision and does not qualify as fully autonomous.

This recent social media push comes at a critical time for Tesla, as the company is on the verge of reporting its financial results for Q1 2025. Analysts expect these results to be challenging, particularly after the company recorded its lowest delivery figures in three years.

Some shareholders have voiced their concerns, feeling that Musk has diverted his attention to other ventures, including his governmental roles and private enterprises, while Tesla’s performance suffers.

While Musk has previously showcased anecdotal positive experiences from Tesla owners, including notable figures like Joe Rogan, the realities of FSD’s capabilities remain less impressive when measured against its promises. Recent crowdsourced data suggested that Tesla’s FSD was achieving less than 500 miles between critical disengagements, far short of the 700,000 miles it would need to surpass human driving safety.

As Tesla gears up for its upcoming earnings announcement, the spotlight on Musk’s autonomy claims raises questions not just about the technology itself, but also the company’s transparency and reliability in an increasingly skeptical investor landscape.