Tesla has taken another step towards autonomous driving with the introduction of version 12.6 of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. The new version, which has been rolled out for vehicles with hardware 3 (HW3) since December 30, 2024, brings significant improvements and brings performance closer to the latest version FSD V13 for vehicles with hardware 4 (HW4). Here you can find out what the update contains and how it compares to previous versions.
FSD V12.6 vs. V12.5: The most important improvements
FSD V12.6 builds on the previous version V12.5.4.2, which was released as part of the Tesla-"Holiday" update (2024.44.25.2) was released. While V12.5 brought significant progress, there were still challenges, particularly with the track selection and behavior on traffic lights. FSD V12.6 addresses these problems and brings further improvements:
- End-to-end highway drivingImproved capabilities for highway scenarios.
- Improved behavior in the city: More confident and fluid maneuvering on bends and in complex traffic situations.
- New object tracking systemThe system, adopted from FSD V13, enables more precise tracking of objects, thereby improving decision-making and driving quality.
The result is a much smoother and safer driving experience, making FSD V12.6 a game changer for HW3 users.
FSD V12.6: A bridge to FSD V13
With the integration of elements from FSD V13 (such as the improved tracking system), FSD V12.6 is more than an ordinary update. It acts as a hybrid version between FSD V12 and V13, allowing HW3 vehicles to benefit from some of the advanced features of V13.
Users who have tested both V12.6 and V13 report that the performance of V12.6 is remarkably close to the smooth and confident driving experience of FSD V13. This closes Tesla the gap between the hardware generations - at least partially.
Rollout: For which vehicles is FSD V12.6 available?
FSD V12.6 is currently being rolled out for Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles with Hardware 3 but only for the "refreshed" models from model year 2021. Tesla has announced that the update will also be available from January 6, 2025 for Model 3 and Model Y could be available. It remains unclear whether older Model S/X vehicles with MCU 1 will also be supported. However, users of these models could benefit from the new software by upgrading to MCU 2.
What about FSD V13 for HW3?
The introduction of FSD V13 for HW3 vehicles remains uncertain. Many features of FSD V13, such as larger AI models and improved video feeds, utilize the more powerful hardware of HW4. Nevertheless Tesla port some functions from V13 to HW3. An indication of this is the internal designation of FSD V12.6 as "FSD V13.2.3" in the Tesla-app - a possible indication that Tesla had originally planned to release this update as FSD V13.
A significant step for HW3 vehicles
FSD V12.6 brings significant improvements to HW3 vehicles, including smoother driving, better object tracking and improved highway and city capabilities. Although HW3 vehicles cannot reach the full performance of HW4, this update is a major step forward and makes Tesla's vision of autonomous driving more tangible.
Tesla Tesla is continuing the rollout of FSD V12.6 in waves, and it is expected to be available for a larger number of vehicles soon. The future of FSD development remains exciting, particularly in terms of how Tesla older hardware is incorporated into further development. In any case, V12.6 shows that Tesla continues to take care of its existing user base and is making significant progress.
Keywords: Tesla, Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, FSD, Full Self-Driving, Tesla HW3, Tesla HW4, Tesla Software update, FSD V12.6, FSD V13, autonomous driving, Tesla autopilot, Tesla Cybertruck, Tesla Update, Tesla city traffic, Tesla highway
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