Tesla Full Self Driving (Supervised) Launches in Australia to Overwhelmingly Positive Response

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Last Updated on: 29th August 2025, 05:00 pm

This is not a review of Tesla’s Full Self Driving (Supervised), henceforth abbreviated to FSDS. I will embed a couple of videos for those who want a virtual experience. This article is my reaction to the way the Australian and New Zealand media seem to have embraced the technology. I was expecting a flood of FUD on FSDS.

Australian media is dominated by the “right,” and electric cars are constantly cast in the shade — unless they can be designated “Tesla Killers.” Their drivers are variously described as virtue signalling wankers or freeloaders — because they don’t pay the exorbitant tax that is part of the fossil fuel cost in Australia (about one third of the cost of a litre of petrol). That last bit will be solved when we get a road user tax, or will it? More on that in another article. They are told they should be ashamed of themselves for driving a car powered by cobalt and nickel dug from the earth by the bare hands of starving children! Etc., etc. This was covered by Channel 7 as a “Spotlight Special.” 

Anyway, imagine my surprise when the same Channel 7 presented a “Sunrise” broadcast with a positive FSDS review this morning. You can read about it here. Or watch the broadcast here.

Under this Facebook post, there seems to be an even number of positive and negative viewpoints expressed. Channel 7 is owned by Kerry Stokes, not Rupert Murdoch. I haven’t seen anything on Sky News yet. That will be interesting.

After the successful launch of his Mars rocket and now this, has Elon’s reputation (and hence Tesla’s) been rehabilitated in Australia? Time will tell. Here’s another positive video review. Under this video, the majority of over 200 comments are positive. Many cite international experiences.

We need to note some context — Australia has no domestic auto industry. We have no Waymo or other self-driving competition. BYD has its “God’s Eye,” but we aren’t seeing that on Australian roads, yet. So, at the moment, FSDS is the only game in town to watch. Google provided this AI overview when I asked if BYD’s “God’s Eye” tech is operating in Australia:

“No, the full version of BYD’s ‘God’s Eye’ semi-autonomous driving technology is not currently operating in Australia, although an entry-level version was added to the BYD Seagull in early 2025, and other models may receive updates in the future. The advanced features of the ‘God’s Eye’ system, which include Lidar, radar, and cameras, are primarily a feature of the Chinese market, and regulatory approvals for full semi-autonomous systems are still pending in Australia.”

We are expecting the launch of the Seagull by the end of the year. Then things may heat up.

Here’s more context: Back in 2018, Tesla brought a left-hand drive Model 3 to Australia and we waited in line for hours to sit in it for 90 seconds. The sales rep stood there with a stopwatch. Yes, he actually did! We had ordered our Model 3 in April 2016.

It took 3 years for our car to be delivered. In the line while waiting, we chatted with other couples about our expectations and desires. One of the recurring themes was that we would have another income stream, as the car, using FSD (for real, unsupervised), would be able to make money as we watched tele and slept. Eight years later, we still aren’t there. Worse than that, for people who took delivery of their Teslas in 2019 in Australia, believed Elon’s Tardis-like timelines, and purchased FSD — we now find it won’t work on hardware version 3. I hope that Elon has an answer for that. (We only purchased Enhanced Autopilot, which we use frequently and love.)

So far, Australia and New Zealand are the only right-hand drive markets to receive access to FSDS. I assume that’s because the regulatory environment is somewhat grey around autonomous vehicles — expect the red tape manufacturing machines to go into overdrive soon.

But, so far, so good — comments under the videos are primarily positive, with some saying that they prefer to drive themselves, and others lauding the step forward. “A bit like a learner driver — over cautious — but probably better than 60% of Aussie drivers currently on the road.” Some older drivers (like me) are excited by the safety features. Some suggest the software should have been tested in Sydney — obviously, they haven’t driven in Brisbane. I have driven in both and can’t see a lot of difference.

Some worried about insurance premiums going up. But others countered with the belief that insurance would go down because there would be fewer accidents. Just have a look at all the YouTube videos of bad drivers out there. One suggested he’d be okay with doing the driving but thought FSDS would be great for his mother-in-law!

Voices from the USA spoke highly both of Waymo and Tesla’s FSDS. “They have them in San Francisco, they are great, first time is scary but after that, great.”

Elon has said for some time that FSD will increase the value of Tesla cars, and Tesla will become the most valuable company in the world. Hasn’t happened yet — my shares went down overnight.

“Tesla has a data moat that no other companies can match.”

Tesla is already using it in Austin, Texas, and has expanded the approved area that allows it to be used 3 times since it was released over a month ago

Another respondent spoke of his experience in China. “Been in one in China, they are great and remove human error.” And another: “China got this tech already. I sat one last month in the city of Wenzhou, China.”

Safety was a recurrent theme: “Never gets tired, never texts, never roots around in the foot well for stuff, scratches its gooch or gets angry because the missus gave it a serve. It just drives, predictably. Awesome.”

This truck driver or other heavy-duty vehicle operator shared his experience: “Bring it on, most people are poor drivers, I’m an ex heavy vehicle operator and could write a book on the stupidity of motorists in general.

“Autonomous vehicles could not be any worse. No more drunk, distracted, drug affected, fatigued drivers speeding and ignoring traffic lights and signs. Autonomous vehicles will use indicators, wow that would be good. Sooner we get them the safer our roads will be.”

Despite there being lots of fear out there, there is also a great deal of excitement. Under the chasing cars video, of the over 200 global comments, the overwhelming majority are positive. Commentators from the UK are holding their breath for their turn, while experienced commentators from the USA predict: “You guys down under are about to have your mind blown.” And “Given this is ‘Day 1’ in AU, I expect improvements will come quickly for unique AU situations.”

“FSD doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be better than the average driver. Good drivers will scoff at FSD. But my mum. Sheesh, FSD is made for her.”

“Crazy how this technology would seem completely alien just 4-5 years ago and now it’s just ‘good, but not perfect’.”

“When FSD goes unsupervised, cars without this ‘feature’ will be unsellable!”

It will be on the TV news tonight — I will be interested to see how it is presented. Will media choose to stoke the fear? Or to get behind the revolution? Cynically, I expect the media to do a bit of both — whatever gets the clicks! Worst case scenario, people can always catch a bus — they still have drivers! And they are also going electric!