By Arinze Uzo
Business News Correspondent
In a rare moment of internal candor, a senior Tesla executive has delivered a strikingly blunt assessment of the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, acknowledging that the much-hyped system is still far from living up to its name. The admission comes amid increasing pressure on Tesla to deliver a fully autonomous product after years of bold promises and aggressive marketing.
Speaking at an internal meeting, the executive reportedly described the current state of FSD as “incomplete and unreliable for unsupervised use,” citing ongoing challenges in urban navigation, weather adaptability, and decision-making in complex traffic scenarios. This honest critique contrasts sharply with the public messaging from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has repeatedly claimed that FSD is nearing human-level capability.
The revelation adds fuel to long-standing skepticism surrounding Tesla’s approach to autonomy. While the company continues to push software updates and beta rollouts to a limited pool of users, safety advocates and regulators remain wary. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have both opened investigations into multiple accidents involving Tesla vehicles operating under Autopilot or FSD Beta.
Analysts note that this internal criticism may reflect a growing rift between Tesla’s engineering realities and its market-driven hype. “Investors are beginning to understand that FSD is more of a long-term bet than an imminent breakthrough,” said one industry expert. “Hearing that from inside Tesla only reinforces that perception.”
Despite the setback in expectations, Tesla continues to invest heavily in AI and neural networks, aiming to eventually reach true Level 4 or 5 autonomy. For now, though, the executive’s candid comments serve as a sobering reminder: the road to full self-driving remains long, winding, and filled with technical detours.
