About Autopilot

Autopilot is a suite of advanced driver assistance features that are intended to make driving safer and less stressful. None of these features make Model S fully autonomous or replace you as the driver. Autopilot features come standard with all new Tesla vehicles.

Note

Depending on market region, vehicle configuration, options purchased, and software version, your vehicle may not be equipped with the following features, or a feature may not operate exactly as described.

Autopilot includes Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer.

Traffic-Aware Cruise Control: Maintains your speed and an adjustable following distance from the vehicle in front of you, if there is one (see Traffic-Aware Cruise Control).
Autosteer: Maintains your speed and distance from a leading vehicle while also intelligently keeping Model S in its lane (see Autosteer).

Warning

Autopilot is a hands-on feature. Keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times and be mindful of road conditions, surrounding traffic, and other road users (such as pedestrians and cyclists). Always be prepared to take immediate action. Failure to follow these instructions could cause damage, serious injury, or death.

Enhanced Autopilot includes additional features. Enhanced Autopilot Features are designed to further reduce driver workload and make common actions, such as changing lanes or parking, easier.

Auto Lane Change: Moves Model S into an adjacent lane when you engage the turn signal and Autosteer is active (see Auto Lane Change).
Navigate on Autopilot: Actively guides Model S from a highway’s on-ramp to off-ramp, including performing lane changes, navigating interchanges, automatically engaging the turn signal, and taking the correct exit (see Navigate on Autopilot).
Autopark: Parks Model S, either parallel or perpendicularly (see Autopark
Summon: Moves Model S forward or backward, even while you’re outside the vehicle. This is useful for parking in tight parking spots (see Summon).
Smart Summon: Moves Model S out of a parking space and through more complex environments, maneuvering around obstacles and other vehicles, to meet you or go to a predetermined target (see Smart Summon).

Warning

Enhanced Autopilot is a hands-on feature. Keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times and be mindful of road conditions, surrounding traffic, and other road users (such as pedestrians and cyclists). Always be prepared to take immediate action. Failure to follow these instructions could cause damage, serious injury or death.

Full Self-Driving Capability includes:

Traffic Light & Stop Sign Control: Maintains your speed, keeps a following distance, and keeps Model S in its lane while also slowing down and stopping for traffic lights and stop signs (see Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control).

Warning

Full Self-Driving Capability is a hands-on feature. Keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times and be mindful of road conditions, surrounding traffic, and other road users (such as pedestrians and cyclists). Pay attention to the road at all times and always be prepared to take immediate action. Failure to follow these instructions could cause damage, serious injury or death.

How It Works

Autopilot uses the cameras on Model S, which monitor the surrounding area and detect other vehicles, pedestrians, road markings, and obstacles such as barriers and curbs. There are cameras mounted on the front, rear, left, and right sides of Model S (see Cameras).

Model S may also be equipped with a cabin camera, mounted in the rear-view mirror, that monitors driver attentiveness. It is your responsibility to keep your hands on the wheel, pay attention to the road, and be ready to take immediate action at any time.

When Autopilot is engaged, Model S shows a series of escalating warnings reminding you to keep your hands on the wheel and pay attention to the road. If there is no response, Autopilot disengages and is unavailable for the remainder of the drive.

Warning

Autopilot is designed for your driving comfort and convenience and is not a collision warning or avoidance system. It is your responsibility to stay alert, drive safely, and be in control of the vehicle at all times. Never depend on Autopilot to adequately slow down Model S. Always watch the road in front of you and be prepared to take corrective action at all times. Failure to do so can result in serious injury or death.

It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the limitations of Autopilot and be ready to take control at all times.

Autopilot Conditions

Ensure all cameras are clean and free of obstructions before each drive and before using Autopilot features (see Cleaning a Camera). Dirty cameras and sensors (if equipped), as well as environmental conditions such as rain and faded lane markings, can affect Autopilot performance. If a camera is obstructed or blinded, Model S displays a message on the instrument cluster and Autopilot features may not be available.

Before you can use Autopilot features, and after some Service visits, you must drive a short distance to calibrate cameras. For more information, see Drive to Calibrate Cameras.

In addition, these features may not work as intended when:

The road has sharp curves or significant changes in elevation.
Road signs and signals are unclear, ambiguous, or poorly maintained.
Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow, hail, etc. or poorly lit roadways at night)
You are driving in a tunnel or next to a highway divider that interferes with the view of the camera(s)
Bright light (such as from oncoming headlights or direct sunlight) interferes with the view of the camera(s).

The list above does not represent an exhaustive list of situations that may interfere with proper operation of Autopilot features.

Note


Autopilot Feature	Available When
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control	You are driving between 30 km/h and 140 km/h Note You can activate Traffic-Aware Cruise Control at lower speeds if there is a vehicle detected at least 1.5 meters ahead of Model S.
Autosteer	You are driving between 30 km/h and 140 km/h Note You can activate Autosteer at lower speeds if there is a vehicle detected at least 1.5 meters ahead of Model S. Note On a residential road, a road without a center divider, or a road that is not controlled access, the maximum allowed cruising speed is limited and the instrument panel displays a message. The restricted speed will be the speed limit of the road plus 10 km/h. Headlights are set to On or Auto. Although Autopilot is available both during the day and in low light conditions (dusk or dark), Autosteer aborts or is unavailable if headlights are set to Off. When Autosteer is engaged, is automatically enabled (see High Beam Headlights) and wipers are set to Auto.
Navigate on Autopilot	You are driving between 30 km/h and 140 km/h. Note You can activate Navigate on Autopilot at lower speeds if there is a vehicle detected at least 1.5 meters ahead of Model S. You are driving on a controlled-access highway. When you leave a controlled-access highway, Navigate on Autopilot reverts to Autosteer.