Tesla’s self-driving cars will drive coast to coast in 2018
Auto manufacturers are relentlessly pursuing a future without drivers and Elon Musk and Tesla want to be at the forefront of the revolution.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'Tesla’s self-driving cars will drive coast to coast in 2018', 311 Institute, 20 June. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/teslas-self-driving-cars-will-drive-coast-to-coast-in-2018/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Elon Musk has let of another Twitter storm, this time concerning the future of Tesla’s autonomous cars and software updates, and he told his assembled Twitter fans that Tesla’s coast to coast tests are still on track to take place at the end of this year, which means that you could see coast to coast autonomous driving by 2018, and that all Tesla cars built since October 2016 would be updated.
The plan, which he announced earlier this year at a TED talk, is “to go all the way from a parking lot in California to a parking lot in New York with no controls touched in the entire journey.”
He also gave updates concerning Tesla’s Autopilot system after some users reported finding the experience uncomfortable after the speed limitations were lifted in May and he added that Tesla’s now updated the software for a smoother ride to give Tesla owners “an experience that is as smooth as silk.”
The speed limit on the vehicles was originally limited to 145 km per hour (90 mph) on highways and no more than 8 km per hour (5 mph) above the speed limit when off the highway, and as if that wasn’t enough to send every Tesla driver over the edge on excitement he also announced that the next updates would feature a perpendicular parking capability and auto windshield wipers.
However, all of this is arguably still just the beginning for Tesla and Elon Musk after he penned a deal with Dubai who are going to be one of the first countries in the world to build out a futuristic end to end autonomous transportation network, that includes Hyperloop trains and flying taxi’s, and who knows, again, if Musk has his way, we might see Tesla’s zipping along underground tunnels in Los Angeles as, when and if his Boring Company plans get underway.
What this means for your organisation
Cars improve after they are sold.
Software updates add features such as smoother driving and self-parking to cars already on the road. Value now grows with code, not just hardware. Carmakers should build update capability into every vehicle.
Bold demonstrations build belief.
A cross-country drive with no human input is designed to prove autonomy works. Public tests shape how buyers and regulators see the technology. Leaders should treat such milestones as signals, not proof of readiness.
Insurance and liability will shift.
If the car drives itself, responsibility moves from driver to maker and software. Insurers will need new models. Fleet owners should review liability terms as autonomy features spread.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Can our products gain value through software updates after sale?
- How do we judge autonomy claims before relying on them?
- Who carries liability if our vehicles drive themselves?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Auto manufacturers are relentlessly pursuing a future without drivers and Elon Musk and Tesla want to be at the forefront of the revolution.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 20 June 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). Tesla’s self-driving cars will drive coast to coast in 2018. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/teslas-self-driving-cars-will-drive-coast-to-coast-in-2018/
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