Tesla Faces Lawsuits and Safety Concerns Amid Rollout of Self-Driving Feature in Australia.

Tesla is close to rolling out its full self-driving feature in Australia, despite lawsuits and safety complaints worldwide. The feature, which allows cars to operate entirely without driver input, has been available only in left-hand drive cars until now. The rollout comes amidst a lawsuit in the US, where Tesla was found partly responsible for a fatal crash involving its autopilot driver assist functionality. The company has asked the court to throw out the jury's verdict.

Tesla has begun rolling out its Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite to owners in Australia, marking a significant milestone in the company's expansion of advanced driver assistance features. The rollout, which started on August 29, 2025, follows the official launch of the FSD (Supervised) feature in the country earlier in the week [1].

The rollout will initially target Hardware 4-equipped Model 3 and Model Y vehicles and is expected to be slow and gradual, with the process conducted in stages. Tesla has emphasized that while the FSD suite can handle a wide range of driving conditions, drivers must remain attentive and ready to take control at any time [1].

The introduction of FSD in Australia comes amidst ongoing legal challenges and safety concerns surrounding Tesla's autopilot driver assist functionality. In the US, Tesla has been found partly responsible for a fatal crash involving its autopilot system, leading to a lawsuit. The company has since asked the court to throw out the jury's verdict [1].

Despite these challenges, Tesla remains committed to expanding its FSD capabilities. The rollout in Australia is the sixth country to receive the feature, following the US, Canada, Mexico, China, and Puerto Rico. In China, the feature is referred to as "City Autopilot" due to regulatory boundaries [1].

Early reviews of the FSD suite in Australia have been positive, with local media reporting that the feature handled complex driving conditions, including city streets and motorways, with impressive accuracy [1].

Tesla's expansion of FSD capabilities is part of a broader strategy to increase the company's market share and drive growth. The rollout in Australia is expected to boost sales and revenue for the company, particularly in the high-end vehicle segment.

References:
[1] https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-starts-full-self-driving-rollout-owners-australia/