Antonio Manaytay Auto 10.21.2022 15:Oct PM EDT

Tesla's Musk Changing Language on Self-Driving Vehicle May Hurt His Credibility

Elon Musk could be deliberately dodging the question of when Tesla will finally deliver the promised self-driving cars as he kept changing his language about the car.

The billionaire and electric car maker CEO issued statements that would make him appear certain about the fate of the company's effort to have an autonomous vehicle. But those words often change.

He repeatedly promised the company could deliver the self-driving system, including all vehicles it produced since 2016, by a mere software update.

Sel-Driving Capabilities

In 2019, the CEO was verbose as he promised to the attendees of Tesla's Autonomy Day the company would achieve a completely autonomous vehicle system. Electrek was able to document his statement through a three-minute video.

In the video, Musk said there would be no need to touch the " robotaxis " steering wheel the company will produce. The billionaire also said looking out of the window of the ride-hailing autonomous vehicles will no longer be necessary.

Musk talked of delivering those capabilities in 2020.

Two years later, Tesla's Full Self-Driving Capability (FSD) did not go beyond beta. In beta, the FSD even needs a driver that is attentive all the time, contrary to what Musk had promised.

Behind Schedule

There is no question Tesla has failed to deliver its promise. But the CEO was, again, changing his language.

Musk has stopped talking about one million robotaxis by the end of the year. He talked extensively about a wider release of the beta instead.

Curiously, Musk, in a conference call after the release of the company's Q3 2022 financial report, appeared to be careful of his words about FSD.

He talked at length about FSD Beta during the event. But that is beside the point. He must have updated the public on what happened to the self-driving vehicle efforts.

Wider Release of FSD Beta

Musk appeared unstoppable from talking about FSD - in beta only - urging the people who planned to cash in on the FSD package to avail of the beta program.

Things got uncertain when somebody, an analyst, asked the CEO about the timeline for Tesla to release the FSD that needs no driver's attention.

The CEO did not answer in clear terms. He was bubbling instead of company debate about the interventions the vehicle needs for every mile. Then wandered off to non-specifics of the issue.

Musk further talked about Tesla's plans to have an FSD update next year. That is, he said, will tell the regulators the car is a lot safer than an average human being.

Credibility Problem

With all the changing language about FSD and vague answers to serious questions, Musk appeared to be having a credibility problem, at least with the issue of a timeline.

When pressed about the timeline, the CEO would lamely resort to answers urging the public to look at how FSD Beta fared so far. Again, according to Electrek, that is beside the issue.

To avail of the beta program or not while waiting for the FSD release is a decision everyone must seriously consider.