Tesla FSD v12 could launch alongside Cybertruck as Elon Musk touts questionable “About 2 weeks” timeline ^↺

Earlier this year, news broke about Tesla FSD v12 finally bringing the self-driving software out of beta and into a full release. According to Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, version 12 of Full Self-Driving will introduce end-to-end AI, which relies on machine learning and AI to both process environmental inputs and determine the vehicle's responses.

In a response to a Tesla fan asking on social media platform X (fka Twitter) when customers would be able to test the company's Full Self-Driving version 12, Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, replied “About 2 weeks.” This timeframe lines up almost perfectly with the launch of the upcoming Tesla Cybertruck, indicating that, perhaps, the electric pickup will launch with v12 from the outset. 

It's important to note, however, that Musk has a bit of a reputation for making ambitious predictions that don't materialise when predicted, if at all. The repeated delays suffered by the Cybertruck are just one example of this, as is the continuous postponement of the second-generation Roadster. Musk had previously also predicted Level 3 autonomous driving in Tesla cars by the end of 2022. 

That said, FSD v12 looks to be a substantial update, if Musk's praise and a demo livestream previously shared on X are to be believed. The shift from a rules-based approach to the end-to-end AI system is touted by Musk as delivering “Very intuitive, smooth speed up acceleration and turns.”

Meanwhile, brands like BMW are already planning to launch Level 3 autonomous driving packages in parts of Europe in early 2024, aiming to take on the American carmaker's embattled FSD package at almost half the price. It's unclear whether Tesla will achieve Level 3 autonomous driving when the v12 update launches, or whether the Cybertruck will come with v12 installed, although aligning the two launches would almost certainly dial up Tesla hype to new levels.

Read about the development of FSD and the Cybertruck in Walter Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk, or get in on the Cybertruck hype with a Hot Wheels Tesla Cybertruck model from Amazon.