Tesla’s latest Full Self-Driving software update, version 14, introduces a new driver profile system that gives owners more control over how their vehicles behave on the road. The company’s offering free access to approximately 1.5 million drivers during the holiday traffic season. This move lets drivers experience the advanced self-driving capabilities without paying extra fees upfront.
The new system features five distinct speed profiles: Sloth, Chill, Standard, Hurry, and Mad Max. Each profile adjusts how fast the car drives relative to posted speed limits. The Standard profile maintains speeds about 4-5 MPH over the limit, while Mad Max enables considerably higher speeds. The Hurry profile caps out at 10 MPH over the limit on highways. These profiles also affect how often the vehicle changes lanes and how willing it is to make aggressive maneuvers.
Five speed profiles adjust vehicle behavior from conservative Sloth mode to aggressive Mad Max, controlling speed, lane changes, and maneuver intensity.
Tesla removed the maximum speed cap setting from driver preferences entirely. Instead, the profile selection determines top speeds automatically. Switching between profiles can cause abrupt braking, especially when moving from aggressive settings like Mad Max down to Hurry mode.
The activation process is straightforward. Drivers press the right scroll wheel on the steering wheel to engage Full Self-Driving Supervised mode. A blue steering wheel icon appears on the display to confirm it’s active. A blue line shows the vehicle’s intended driving path.
Version 14.2.1 represents the latest iteration with improved features. The system uses upgraded vision-based neural networks to process changing road conditions in real time. It can detect and avoid small objects at distance and handles unexpected detours automatically. Tesla’s continuous over-the-air updates enhance safety features and software performance across the entire fleet.
The 360-degree camera visibility gives the vehicle thorough environmental awareness. However, Tesla emphasizes that drivers must remain actively supervising the vehicle at all times. The system isn’t designed to operate as a fully autonomous vehicle despite its name. The system uses torque sensors and cameras to monitor driver attention, requiring continuous supervision as a Level 2 autonomous driving system. Collision avoidance systems detect bikes, motorcycles, and other vehicles automatically.
The free test period comes as Tesla continues rolling out over-the-air updates to improve capabilities. Hardware 4 is required for full version 14 functionality, with potential AI5 improvements coming in the future.