Tesla is getting ‘some regulatory pushbacks’ over new Autopilot feature, says Elon Musk

Tesla was supposed to come out with some new Enhanced Autopilot features, especially new Summon+ features, last year, but the new capabilities have been delayed.

Now CEO Elon Musk says that the new features should be going to beta testers “in the next few weeks”, but others are being held up due to “some regulatory pushback”.

In October, Musk said that Tesla was planning an “advanced Summon” update in “~6 weeks” that would enable your “car to drive to your phone location and follow you like a pet if you hold down summon button on Tesla app.”

The 6 weeks have passed and we have yet to see the update, but Musk now says that the update is “going through final validation and regulatory approval.”

He wrote on Twitter last night that Tesla aims to release the new Summon feature to early access program owners “in a few weeks” – pending approval:

Going through final validation & regulatory approval. Probably releases to early access program owners in a few weeks. It’s trippy!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 10, 2019

The early access program is basically a group of owners who beta test new features and give Tesla some feedback before a wide release.

It can take a few more weeks between the early access program testing and when Tesla starts pushing an update to the wider fleet.

Furthermore, Musk has previously said that Tesla owners will be able to remotely control their car through their phones ‘like RC cars’ with this new Summon update.

When asked about the feature still being planned, Musk said that they are getting some “regulatory pushback” when it comes to the remote control mode:

Getting some regulatory pushback. May not be available in all regions.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 10, 2019

It could results in some markets not getting the new advanced Summon feature.

Tesla has already been seeing pushback for its original Summon feature under its Autopilot system.

For example, the feature in Canada is quite limited and require owners to be just a few feet away from the car in order to work, which limits the usefulness. Tesla said that it was due to regulatory limitations.

Eventually, Musk aims for Tesla’s advanced Summon to be able to navigate a parking lot itself, find a parking spot and even read parking instruction signs.