The Tesla Model S has become the centerpiece of an unusual autopilot demonstration: a vehicle running with activated Full Self-Driving (FSD) completed a route from Los Angeles to New York without a human driver behind the wheel. The journey took 58 hours and 22 minutes in total, including more than 10 hours spent charging.
Despite the achievement, it is important to note that Tesla’s FSD system is still officially classified as SAE Level 2, meaning the driver is required to remain attentive and ready to take control at any moment. As such, the system is not considered fully autonomous.
During the test, the vehicle encountered a wide range of road conditions, including snow, heavy snowfall, and unexpected obstacles. These challenges not only slowed progress but also highlighted the current limitations and stability concerns of advanced driver-assistance systems. The average speed during the run was around 64 mph (103 km/h), lower than some previous record attempts, but still a respectable figure for an EV dependent on charging stops.
One particularly notable moment occurred during a stop, when a member of the support team exited the vehicle and it continued along the planned route on its own. The car followed the intended path using Full Self-Driving without a person behind the wheel and without any intervention – a key highlight of the test.
Tesla continues to refine its autonomous-driving technologies and has stated its ambition to reach SAE Level 4 and Level 5 autonomy, where vehicles can operate without human supervision. However, this experiment demonstrates that the road to full autonomy remains long, as the current system still requires constant monitoring and human oversight.
For now, achievements such as this cross-country run serve more as evidence of progress in driver-assistance algorithms than as proof that fully autonomous driving is ready for everyday use.
