Tesla has changed how they advertise and sell Full Self-Driving on their website. Although the text changes are small, this change could have greater implications in the future.
Previously, customers were offered the option to purchase “Full Self-Driving Capability,” with text saying that FSD will “continuously improve”. This specific text is no longer offered, and instead, customers can now only purchase “Full Self Driving (Supervised),” which no longer mentions continuous improvement.
You can view the old text on the Web Archive page (photo below) for the Model Y. This change comes right before the upcoming Robotaxi event, so we’re not quite sure what to make of it. Let’s look at what else has changed on Tesla’s website on FSD before we dive into the wording changes.
This news comes hot on the heels that Tesla recently pulled its blog pages for Elon Musk’s Masterplan Part II, which mentioned that all future Tesla vehicles would be Robotaxi capable. However, this has since turned out to be part of regular website trimming and maintenance. However, this FSD change is more intentional.
Definition Changes
These text changes are pretty broad, but that’s not all. There are a few other items that changed, including the removal of the following text:
The activation and use of these features are dependent on achieving reliability far in excess of human drivers as demonstrated by billions of miles of experience, as well as regulatory approval, which may take longer in some jurisdictions. As these self-driving features evolve, your car will be continuously upgraded through over-the-air software updates.
This has now been changed to say:
The activation and use of these features are dependent on development and regulatory approval, which may take longer in some jurisdictions.
That’s a pretty big difference overall, so let’s dig in.
Can Only Buy FSD (Supervised)
Tesla is now only offering the purchase of “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)”, instead of “Full Self-Driving Capability." This has a bit of an implication for the many people who have paid for FSD in the past, expecting their vehicles to become fully autonomous, without supervision being required. With the specific terms on Tesla’s website today, that promise doesn’t seem to be in place for future sales of Full Self-Driving.
Instead, future customers should expect that they may only receive Full Self-Driving (Supervised), which will always require some form of supervision. Tesla no longer states full autonomy on this page, but on the other hand, the Autopilot/FSD Support Page still contains the text for full autonomy.
This seems to be a legal wording change to prevent Tesla from making promises it may not be able to fulfill. On the other hand, Tesla has recently had a fantastic spate of updates this year, with the huge upgrade from FSD V11 to FSD V12. However, they’ve more recently had more trouble with moving on from FSD V12.3.6, which is what most vehicles are still on today. Tesla initially pushed FSD V12.4 and its subversions to early access testers but quickly halted that push. They moved on to FSD V12.5, and V12.5.3 with Actually Smart Summon will begin going out wide sometime next week, to both Hardware 3 and AI4 vehicles.
What Does This Mean for Customers?
For future customers, this likely means that Tesla is intending on only offering Full Self Driving (Supervised), rather than Full Self Driving. This could mean that Tesla will launch a new package for Full Self Driving (Unsupervised) for commercial entities or that it could only be available for Robotaxi vehicles.
For older customers – those who have purchased “Full Self-Driving Capability”, as the feature was previously called, we’re not quite sure whether Tesla will include you in this new ‘Supervised’ description, or if you’ll be offered Full Self-Driving (Unsupervised) when that ultimately becomes available. As for subscribers, Tesla can change their offerings at any point since you’re only paying for what’s available for that month.
Today, we’re not quite sure what to make of this change, especially since that same change hasn’t been reciprocated elsewhere on Tesla’s website. The changes could be anywhere from a protective legal change, to Tesla offering a new FSD (Unsupervised) package in the future, or fully autonomous FSD being something that Tesla will not commit a date or price to.
It's often these small quality-of-life tweaks - the ones that smooth out daily frictions or add a moment of joy - that owners end up appreciating the most.
Beyond the big blockbusters, the 2025 release is packed with these hidden gems. From checking on your pet directly from your lock screen to docking a Dragon Capsule with the ISS, here is the full breakdown of all the other parts of the update.
Dog Mode Live Activity
Tesla has upgraded the peace-of-mind factor for pet owners with a new Live Activity integration for iOS users. Instead of needing to unlock your phone and open the app to check on your pet, a dynamic widget now sits on your lock screen or Dynamic Island.
The widget shows a photo of the cabin’s interior, updated every minute, so you can easily see what your dog is up to. It also includes the current temperature inside the car and a timestamp of when the photo and data was last updated.
If you’re using your phone, the widget appears in the dynamic island and includes the Dog Mode icon and the vehicle's current temperature. Tapping the dynamic island will show the whole widget with the photo.
Charge Limit By Location
Beyond the flashy visuals, this update also brings some serious utility for your daily commutes.
You can now set a Charge Limit by Location, which sets a maximum charge limit for your current location while parked. If you want to charge to 50% at a particular location, but 80% or 100% at others, your vehicle will now remember these preferences automatically. No need to remember to toggle the charging slider back and forth.
You can set per-location charge limits while you are plugged in at that location, from inside your vehicle in Controls > Charging > Set Limit at this Location, or through the mobile app in Charging > Charge Limit by Location.
Tesla’s Holiday Update will now remind you whether you left your phone in your vehicle. All vehicles that include wireless chargers will receive this feature. However, there are two different features available and the one you receive will depend on your exact model and your phone.
If your Model 3/Y supports ultrawide-band, then your vehicle will be able to warn you if you leave your phone anywhere in your vehicle. Otherwise, you’ll be reminded only if your phone was left on the charger.
While Photobooth may look gimmicky, it’s actually a well-executed, fun experience. This feature lets you capture fun moments and edit them with props just like at a real photo booth. Taking the photo is just where the fun begins. Tesla then lets you add countless props and fun features to the photo.
You can then access the photo directly from your phone and save it to your camera roll. Check out more about Tesla’s Photobooth.
New Santa Mode
Santa Mode is easily one of Tesla’s most popular toybox features, so it’s no surprise that Tesla decided to revamp it this year. The reindeer, sleigh, and “Santa” have all been updated, and Tesla now features a festive version of stop signs, traffic lights, and more. Check out all the new visuals in the new Santa Mode.
Grok Navigation Commands
Grok’s new navigation commands are a game-changer. They’re accurate, fast, and convenient. If you have multiple destinations to add, don’t remember the exact name of a location, or want to add a destination in a more conversational way, Grok solves all of these problems.
You can now simply say, ‘Navigate to the nearest Taco Bell,’ or ‘Navigate to the airport, but stop by a local donut shop on the way.’ Grok makes this fun and easy.
Tesla has improved its Dashcam feature by integrating vehicle telemetry into every video clip. The frame-by-frame data can be accessed either in the vehicle or via the Tesla app.
I’d been wanting this for a while! Watermarked dashcam footage.
Proving weather FSD is engaged or not is useful for so many reasons. And this is nearly impossible to fake without huge effort. pic.twitter.com/4qDhTENLei
Tesla’s new Paint Shop is probably the most exciting part of the Holiday Update. While Grok Navigation Commands are helpful, the Paint Shop is pure fun to play with.
You can create a custom wrap for your vehicle, letting the vehicle’s visualization match your exact vehicle, or you can have some fun and make something creative.
Did you know that Tesla added custom wrap visualizations for the Model 3 and Model Y?
Tesla isn’t just showing which spots are open in these 3D representations. They’re letting you view the exact status of each Supercharger stall. Tesla is even showing the Tesla model that is charging at each stall. Look closely, and you’ll see a Model Y, Cybertruck, or Model X charging.
Tesla also made it easier to see your home and work location. You can now long-press on any spot on the map to bring up a new widget that lets you navigate to that location or set it as a home or work.
Tesla also changed the Navigate button while you’re parked. The Home and Work icons have moved onto the same line, and below it, you now have two suggestions based on your location and time of day.
Tesla is also pinning all of your favorites, home, and work locations directly on the map. They stay as persistent pins on the map, just like local points of interest.
This makes it much easier to orient yourself as you move the map around and makes it obvious when you’re near one of your favorites, such as a friend’s home, restaurant, or other favorite location.
SpaceX ISS Docking Simulator
Tesla has also added a new flagship title to the Tesla Arcade: the SpaceX ISS Docking Simulator. Accessed via Arcade > SpaceX ISS Docking Simulator, this game puts you in the pilot’s seat of a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
This isn’t a simple arcade blaster, though; the controls are based on the actual interfaces used by NASA astronauts to dock with the International Space Station. Your objective is simple - gently dock your capsule with the ISS at the correct speed and angle - it is far more challenging than it looks.
Light Shows & Audio Tweaks
Tesla rounds out the update with a series of smaller enhancements.
This includes a new Light Show called Jingle Rush. The new lightshow takes advantage of recent improvements to flash the interior screen color in classic Christmas colors.
This is the new ‘Jingle Rush’ light show, part of the 2025 Tesla Holiday Software Update. 🎄🎁 pic.twitter.com/PpiJ5gCXmv
Tesla has also been slowly improving the recently introduced Ambient Lighting music sync. Now, Rave Mode, which is only available while parked, has received a new feature - Rainbow Rave. When enabled, your ambient lights will pulse through the full spectrum of available colors, matching the beat of your music - rather than just the album color or preset color.
Warning: There’s some NSFW audio in the video below.
Tesla’s Light Sync Rave Cave Mode now includes an option to cycle between all the colors. It’s pretty sick.
The Spotify App has also received a fresh new coat of polish, including the ability to add tracks directly to your listening queue from search and the ability to scroll through massive playlists without pagination. However, the latter is limited to AMD Ryzen vehicles. Sadly, still no Spotify DJ or Hi-Fi support.
Finally, Tesla has also made the fan-favorite Light Cycle lock sound introduced in Tron Mode into a default Lock Sound option, saving you the hassle of needing to find and download it. If that isn’t your thing, you can check out our extensive library of lock sounds here.
Undocumented Changes
Tesla always includes a batch of undocumented changes in every release, and the Holiday Update isn’t any different.
One of the first is a new “Try Car Wash Mode” prompt that appears as you’re nearing a car wash. It provides a quick way to get into Car Wash Mode without needing to dig into the menus to get to it.
Another convenient feature is the ability to monitor your dashcam USB storage. Under Controls > Safety, you can now see the available space on your USB drive.
Tapping into the little (I) next to the storage space indicator will show you a more detailed breakdown of the storage availability.
Tesla has finally expanded the new Unreal Engine visualizations from the 2026 Model S and X to all 2021+ Model S/X vehicles.
The visuals and camera angles are more detailed, and the visualization that appears on the center screen can now be panned and zoomed, just like on the Model 3 and Model Y.
In addition, Tesla has added quick suspension controls to the main Controls menu, so users no longer have to dig into the Suspension tab.
That’s just the start of what we’ve seen so far - and there will be more when we uncover all the undocumented changes in this year’s holiday update.
The Cybertruck has officially earned the Top Safety Pick+ award from the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), scoring a perfect “Good” rating in every major crashworthiness category.
This accolade effectively silences years of criticism and speculation from skeptics who claimed that the Cybertruck’s angular stainless-steel design would make it a deathtrap for occupants and passengers alike.
Instead, the Cybertruck has been proven to be statistically one of the safest pickups on the road, outperforming nearly every competitor in the segment, including the Rivian R1T.
Top Safety Pick+
To qualify for the “+” distinction, the highest honor that the IIHS bestows, a vehicle must achieve top-tier scores against a battery of tests. The Cybertruck secured a “Good” rating, which is the highest possible, in the following tests:
Small Overlap Front
Moderate Overlap Front
Side
Headlights
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
This creates a formidable safety resume that places the Cybertruck in a small and elite group, joining the Model 3 and Model Y as leaders in their respective classes.
Overall Ratings
IIHS rates vehicles with one of four ratings for each category. They range from Good (best) to Poor (worst).
Good (G)
Acceptable (A)
Marginal (M)
Poor (P)
Below are the Cybertruck’s complete ratings, as published by the IIHS.
Crashworthiness
Evaluation criteria
Rating
Small overlap front
G
Moderate overlap front: updated test
G
Side: updated test
G
Crash avoidance & mitigation
Evaluation criteria
Rating
Headlights
G
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (Standard system)
G
Seat belts & child restraints
Evaluation criteria
Rating
Seat belt reminders
M
LATCH ease of use
A
Driver-side Test
Overall driver-side evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures:
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Passenger-side Test
Overall passenger-side evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Passenger injury measures:
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Driver injury measures:
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures:
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Thigh/hip
G
Leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Rear passenger injury measures:
Head/neck
G
Chest
A
Thigh
G
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Side Test
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures:
Head/neck
G
Torso
A
Pelvis
G
Driver head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures:
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis
G
Rear passenger head protection
G
Others
Headlights
G
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
G
Seat belt reminders
M
Child seat anchors
A
The worst ratings the Cybertruck received were for the vehicle’s seat belt reminders and for child seat anchors being difficult to find.
Leaving The Competition Behind
The significance of this achievement becomes even clearer when you look at the competition. The updated Moderate Overlap Front test, which places a dummy in the rear seat to measure passenger protection, has caused major issues for other truck manufacturers.
The Ford F-150 (and its now-discontinued electric Lightning variant) received a shocking “Poor” rating in the updated Moderate Overlap Front test. The IIHS found high risks of injury to rear passengers in the F-150, a stark contrast to the Cybertruck’s perfect score.
While Rivian still makes extremely safe vehicles, the 2025 R1T only managed an “Acceptable” rating in the Moderate Overlap Front test, preventing it from earning the “+” distinction this year.
The Toyota Tundra also secured the Top Safety Pick+ award, but fell short of the Cybertruck in Pedestrian Crash Prevention, scoring an “Acceptable” rating.
Not Just 2025+ Models
Eagle-eyed observers noted that the IIHS award specifically applies to vehicles “built after April 2025.” This led to concerns among early adopters, wondering whether their older vehicles were less safe.
Wes Morrill, Tesla’s Lead Engineer for the Cybertruck, clarified the situation on X. He explained that the date restriction is due to a minor manufacturing change involving the front casting, which was optimized for manufacturability in April 2025.
He confirmed that Tesla’s internal testing shows no difference in crash results between the two versions, and the change was purely for manufacturing reasons.
The structural integrity and crash performance remain consistent across the fleet, but the IIHS’s strict protocols required them to benchmark the specific configuration they tested.
We made a minor change on the casting for manufacturability in April. Our Internal testing shows no difference in crash result but IIHS only officially tested the latest version
Perhaps the most surprising result for critics was the Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention score. Despite its sharp, apocalyptic geometry, the Cybertruck earned a “Good” rating, demonstrating that its advanced active safety features are capable of effectively mitigating impacts with pedestrians.
