Tesla Autopilot FSD Full Analysis: Is Level 2 Safe Enough? Global Approval and Expansion Status, Future Blueprint & Challenges

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla’s FSD fully automatic driving system has been launched in the United States, Canada, China, Australia and other countries. Accumulating 4.7 billion miles of data, it is officially said to be 10 times safer than humans. What does the future hold? What are the challenges? This article is detailed for you. (Synopsis: Tesla launched “FSD self-driving” smooth driving vegetable market in China, next is Taiwan?) (Background supplement: Tesla realizes vehicle “factory self-driving to the dock”, Musk: AI brings unmanned FSD era) Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla (Tesla) This week, fully autonomous driving (FSD) was officially opened in Australia and New Zealand, and owners can directly enable it through OTA updates, without returning to the factory. This is the first time that the full version of FSD has been available in both countries, which not only marks a milestone in Tesla’s Autopilot expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, but also sparked a lively discussion about safety, adoption and regulation. Starting from its definition and characteristics, this article will explore its current state of use, global ratifications, future development plans, challenges, and multifaceted social, economic, and security implications. What is FSD? Full Self-Driving (FSD), full name “fully automatic assisted driving”, is an advanced driving assistance system developed by Tesla. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), FSD is currently classified as Level 2 autonomous driving technology, which means that while the system can handle most driving tasks, the driver still needs to stay focused and ready to take over. The current version of FSD uses cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors on the vehicle, combined with artificial intelligence (AI) to enable intelligent navigation, steering, lane changing, parking and summoning functions. It automatically plans routes and handles complex traffic scenarios such as city streets, roundabouts, and highway confluences. Unlike traditional Autopilot, FSD focuses more on end-to-end AI learning of (end-to-end), using neural networks to process visual inputs rather than relying on traditional maps or LiDAR. This makes the system more human-driven, adaptable to unknown environments, but also requires continuous training to improve accuracy. What is the SAE level of autonomous driving? Level 0: No automation (No Automation) System capability: There is no autonomous driving function at all. The vehicle may have some warning systems (such as blind spot detection warning sounds), but the system itself does not intervene or control the vehicle’s steering, accelerating, or braking. Driving role: The driver must perform all driving-related tasks at all times. Common examples: traditional older cars, vehicles without cruise control. Level 1: Driver Assistance (Driver Assistance) System Capabilities: The system can assist a driving task alone, such as controlling “steering” or “acceleration and deceleration”. The motorist must work on another task at the same time. Driving role: The driver remains the main controller and needs to stay focused and ready to take over. Common examples: . Active cruise control (ACC): The system automatically accelerates and decelerates to maintain distance from the vehicle in front. Lane Keeping Assist (LKA): The system assists steering wheel steering to keep the vehicle in the lane. Level 2: Partially automated (Partial Automation) System capability: The system can assist both “steering” and “acceleration and deceleration” driving tasks at the same time. This is currently the most mainstream level of assisted driving on the market. Driving role: The driver must monitor the driving environment at all times and be ready to take over immediately. Although the system appears to be able to drive itself, the driver still needs to keep his hands on the wheel and focus on the road. Legal and systemic responsibility remains with the driver. Common examples: . FSD for Tesla (Tesla). Co-Pilot360 for the Ford (Ford). Key differences between Volvo’s Pilot Assist: Level 0 through Level 2 are responsible for human driving. Even when the system is in operation, the driver must be monitored at all times and take full responsibility. Level 3: Conditional Automation (Conditional Automation) System capability: Under specific, limited conditions (e.g., highways, good weather, low-speed congestion), the system can fully perform all driving tasks, including monitoring the surrounding environment. Driving role: With the system activated, the driver can temporarily take his attention off the driving task (such as looking at a mobile phone or watching a movie). However, the driver must remain alert and be able to immediately restore control of the vehicle when the system issues a takeover request. Transfer of responsibility: This is the first level at which responsibility begins to be transferred. During the operation of the system, the driving responsibility is borne by the system; But when the system requests to take over, the responsibility shifts back to human driving. Common examples: . Mercedes’ DRIVE PILOT ( is legally on the road in Germany and some states in the United States ). Honda SENSING Elite ( Legendary models for the Japanese market ) Level 4: Highly automated (High Automation) System capabilities: Under most conditions, the system can be fully autonomous, And able to handle system failures or exceptions on their own. Driving role: Within the designed operating range, driving requires no intervention or monitoring at all. The vehicle can even be designed without a steering wheel and pedals. If the vehicle leaves its designed operating area (e.g. into a country road or bad weather), the system safely parks the vehicle on the side of the road without asking a human to take over. Transfer of responsibility: Within the scope of the design operation, the responsibility is entirely borne by the system. Common examples: . Tesla’s unmanned taxi (Robotaxi) service. Baidu’s Apollo unmanned bus. Automatic valet parking system in limited areas (AVP) Level 5: Fully automated (Full Automation) System capability: The system is capable of performing all driving tasks at any time, in any place, in any weather or road conditions. It can do everything an experienced human driver can do. Driving role: There is no longer a need for a human driver in the car, even without passengers. The design of the vehicle will no longer require a steering wheel, accelerator or brake pedal. Transfer of responsibility: Responsibility is always on the automated driving system. Common example: There are currently no Level 5 vehicles commercially available or implemented. This remains the ultimate goal of autonomous driving technology. Current FSD usage and adoption rates by country As of the end of August 2025, the use of FSD has shown rapid progress, but adoption rates still face challenges. Tesla reports that FSD (Supervised) has accumulated approximately 4.74 billion driving miles, showing a wide range of measured applications. In terms of safety data, the Q2 2025 Vehicle Safety Report states that vehicles using FSD have a collision every 10 million miles traveled, compared to an average of one every 1.3 million miles without assistance systems, and FSD is about 10 times safer than the average U.S. driver. This is due to the fact that FSD does not fatigue or drink driving and can handle complex situations. However, adoption is low. According to a survey this year, only 14% of US consumers said FSD would make them more inclined to buy Tesla, while 36% of…