> It feels like regulators are at risk of crossing into the territory of issuing “recalls” against Tesla that they wouldn’t otherwise because 1) it’s actually possible for them to edit minuscule details through OTA updates, and 2) Tesla is against the ropes and they can score points by making it look like they are doing something.
I got a recall for my Lincoln Navigator that was "put these two pieces of paper between pages 186 and 187 of your manual. It contains additional information about your seats and operation".
Sorry, if that is a "recall", so too is a required software update for safety.
All this, despite Musk (and many Tesla fans) wanting to feel unreasonably attacked.
> It’s a IIHS top pick
So were twenty one other cars in the midsize luxury segment alone (Sixteen if you "only" count the Top Safety Pick+).
> is insanely good at detecting dangerous situations related to pedestrians and other vehicles, and there are so many software-based safety enhancements in this car that I’ve never seen in other vehicles.
Multiple times, multiple things I've heard Tesla owners express surprise at learning the "dinosaurs" also have, just from my cars alone:
- Traffic Sign Recognition, including recognizing school zones, and recognizing active school zones.
- Adaptive blind spot - so nice. Speed differential low, or you're going faster? Will not activate, or only activate last moment. But if someone is blowing by you in the HOV lane, it will warn of them when they're still several hundred feet back.
- Laser headlights. Matrix headlights. Night vision with thermal imaging.
- Predictive active suspension - The car actively scans the road ahead with sensors and it will adjust suspension for poorer road conditions.
- The car can not just stop, but will actively swerve, if safe, around obstructions to avoid a collision, or even a parked car opening a door into traffic.