Tesla Adds ‘Assertive’ Personality Type To Cars, Includes Maybe Illegal Trait

Tesla drivers with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta 10.3 can now choose to match their car to their driving personality, thanks to a re-released software update that will allow them to choose from different profiles. 

This update, although first released in October 2021, was recalled due to issues including its performance at traffic light left turns, according to Autoblog. 

Three options—‘Chill’, ‘Average’, and ‘Assertive’—are available, and the latter does exactly what it says on the tin: This autonomous driving setting will mimic the habits of a rather aggressive driver. 

A photo posted by David Zipper on Twitter notes that the car will have “smaller follow distance, perform more frequent speed lane changes, will not exit passing lanes and may perform rolling stops.” 

Another Twitter user, Digitalhen, pointed out that even the ‘Average’ mode includes rolling stops. This is when a vehicle doesn’t brake completely at a stop sign. 

Even “average” mode has illegal rolling stops https://t.co/fpVe60g7RM pic.twitter.com/wacdMV8aDL

— Digitalhen 🐓 (@digitalhen) January 9, 2022

It’s also worth mentioning that US law dictates rolling stops are illegal.

FSD is only made available to Tesla drivers who have qualified with a high safety score. Despite this, it still gives them the option to choose such features, even on the supposedly more demure ‘Average’ mode—an ironic situation pointed out by Notebookcheck. 

This discovery comes after Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter that the company would be raising the price of FSD in the US next week. Previously US$10,000, purchasing it will now cost US$12,000. 

[via Notebookcheck and Autoblog, image via Tesla]