UPDATE: January 2023: Tesla updates Full Self-Driving beta ban protocol

Tesla’s latest software update will ban users from accessing Full Self-Driving beta functionality for two weeks following five instances of Autopilot cancellations.

MORE Tesla will ban you from Full Self-Driving beta for two weeks for inattentiveness

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Snapshot

  • Free 30-day Enhanced Autopilot given to Tesla Oz and NZ owners
  • Brings additional safety assist features, usually a $5100 option
  • Not the first time Tesla has activated capabilities without need for software update

Tesla has given Australian and New Zealand owners a free 30-day Enhanced Autopilot trial, just in time for holiday road trips.

On top of Basic Autopilot safety assistance suite standard on all Tesla electric vehicles – including camera-based auto emergency braking, blind spot alert and camera views, adaptive cruise control and lane centering assist – Enhanced Autopilot brings:

Tesla autopilot
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Enhanced Autopilot is usually a $5100 option and can be purchased via the Tesla mobile app after taking delivery as an over-the-air (OTA) software upgrade.

The holiday trial is now available for the Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X for owners who haven’t already purchased Enhanced Autopilot or ‘Full Self-Driving Capability’ (which currently only stops for traffic lights and stop signs when using adaptive cruise control).

It comes after the American electric car brand released its annual Christmas OTA software update for 2022 that adds features like live remote interior monitoring, reintroduced driver instrument cards for the Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV, auto turn-off indicators after a lane change and more.

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But, it’s not the first time Tesla has activated new capabilities – without the need for a software update download.

During the 2019 Australian bushfires, Tesla remotely unlocked additional 15kWh of battery capacity for older Tesla Model S 60 and 60D to help owners flee with more driving range in New South Wales and Queensland.

Those two entry-level electric sedan variants usually had its software capped at 60kWh of usable energy, despite housing a 75kWh battery pack.

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