Elon Musk Says Tesla Is "Almost Ready" To Allow Texting when Behind the Wheel with Its Full Self-Driving System

Why It Matters

Achieving unsupervised FSD could dramatically shift automotive liability, accelerate autonomous‑vehicle adoption and boost Tesla's growth targets, but the legal and safety hurdles could delay or block deployment, impacting the broader industry's regulatory landscape.

Summary

Elon Musk told investors that Tesla is "almost comfortable" with letting drivers text while using its Full Self‑Driving (FSD) system and expects an unsupervised FSD rollout in the next month or two. The company has not outlined a clear path from its current SAE Level 2 driver‑assist to a true Level 3/4 system, a capability that only Mercedes‑Benz and BMW have been allowed to offer in limited conditions. Texting while driving remains illegal in most markets, meaning Tesla would need major regulatory changes to legalise such use, especially as FSD remains under scrutiny after several high‑profile accidents. Musk also hinted that the upcoming FSD V14.3 build will enable a "fall asleep and wake up at your destination" experience, tying autonomous‑driving milestones to his record‑breaking $1 trillion compensation package.