Tesla’s self-driving system has accumulated over 10 billion kilometers of real-world driving data worldwide, demonstrating increasingly sophisticated capabilities in complex urban environments. The fleet collects more than 5 million kilometers of data daily, providing the neural network with continuous learning opportunities. This massive dataset represents a vital benchmark for regulatory approval of autonomous driving systems.
Recent testing in Seoul’s dense urban traffic showed the system operating smoothly without human intervention. The technology demonstrated automatic speed adjustment, seamless acceleration, and braking capabilities. When a taxi cut off the vehicle, the system responded by gradually slowing down, allowing the taxi to pass before gently resuming acceleration. The system even corrected itself when mistakenly entering a left-turn-only lane by reentering the middle lane when possible. Driver attention monitoring ensures that oversight remains in place throughout the journey.
Tesla’s self-driving system navigated Seoul’s dense urban traffic flawlessly, responding intelligently to unexpected obstacles and traffic lane corrections.
Safety ratings support the system’s reliability. The 2025 Tesla Model Y received a 91% Adult Occupant protection rating from Euro NCAP. It achieved a 93% Child Occupant protection rating and an 86% Vulnerable Road Users protection rating. The vehicle earned a 92% Safety Assist rating, highlighting strong automatic emergency braking and lane-assist performance. However, traditional automakers following rigorous V-model testing approaches have expressed skepticism about Tesla’s deployment methodology.
The system recognizes traffic signs, signals, vehicles, and pedestrians using eight exterior cameras that create a 3-D environmental reconstruction. It stops appropriately at yellow lights, waits during active pedestrian signals, and slows for bicycles. However, limitations remain. GPS-dependent functions struggle in underground parking garages. The system sometimes circles parking lots or traverses the same levels multiple times when searching for exits. Highway routing occasionally shows mid-lane change hesitations and speed misjudgments of other vehicles. Autopilot can operate in heavy rain but may experience reduced performance when visibility becomes severely compromised.
Tesla released software version 14.2 in November 2025 with mixed parking lot results. The update included a new Self-Driving Stats feature and demonstrated autonomous parking capabilities in underground garage tests.
Whether Tesla’s system is smarter than human drivers remains debatable. The technology excels in following traffic laws and handling routine situations. Yet it still struggles with edge cases that experienced drivers maneuver instinctively. The system’s success depends on controlled conditions and continuous data enhancement rather than true artificial intelligence.