How Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Compares to Other Automakers

Self-driving technology is one of the biggest battlegrounds in the automotive industry, with companies racing to develop the most advanced and reliable autonomous systems. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) is one of the most well-known but also the most controversial systems on the market.

But how does Tesla’s FSD compare to other automakers’ self-driving technology? Are competitors catching up, or is Tesla still leading the pack? Let’s break it down.

Understanding Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD)

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) is an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) designed to navigate roads with minimal human intervention. Despite its name, FSD is not yet a Level 4 or Level 5 self-driving system—drivers must remain attentive and ready to take control.

What Can Tesla FSD Do?

Tesla’s FSD package includes:

• Navigate on Autopilot – Assists with highway driving, including lane changes and exits.
• Autosteer on City Streets – Allows the car to follow traffic and navigate urban roads.
• Traffic Light & Stop Sign Control – Stops at red lights and stop signs automatically.
• Summon – Moves the car to the driver’s location in a parking lot.
• Autopark – Parallel and perpendicular parking assistance.

Tesla constantly improves FSD through over-the-air (OTA) software updates, making it more capable over time.

Tesla’s Unique Approach

Vision-Based AI: Unlike competitors that rely on LiDAR sensors, Tesla’s system is entirely vision-based, using cameras, neural networks, and AI to process real-world driving scenarios.

Dojo Supercomputer: Tesla’s AI is trained on millions of miles of real-world driving data, processed by its Dojo supercomputer.

Beta Testing at Scale: Tesla allows select users to test FSD Beta, collecting massive amounts of real-world data to refine the system.

However, despite its advanced capabilities, Tesla’s FSD still requires human supervision and is not yet fully autonomous.

How Does Tesla FSD Compare to Other Automakers?

Tesla is not the only company working on self-driving technology. Major automakers and tech companies have developed their own autonomous driving systems, each with different approaches and strategies.

Waymo (Google/Alphabet) – The Leader in True Autonomy

• Level 4 Autonomous Driving (No human driver needed in certain areas)
• Uses LiDAR, radar, and HD maps for precise navigation
• Deployed in fully autonomous robotaxis in Phoenix and San Francisco

How it compares to Tesla FSD:

• Waymo is more advanced in autonomy—it operates without a driver in some areas.
• Unlike Tesla’s vision-only approach, Waymo relies on LiDAR and pre-mapped roads, making it highly accurate but less adaptable to new environments.
• Tesla’s goal is universal self-driving for personal cars, while Waymo focuses on robotaxis.
• Waymo is ahead in full autonomy but lacks Tesla’s large-scale consumer deployment.

GM Super Cruise & Ultra Cruise

Super Cruise: Hands-free driving on mapped highways

Ultra Cruise (coming soon): Expands hands-free driving to city streets

• Uses LiDAR, radar, and high-definition maps for precision

How it compares to Tesla FSD:

• Super Cruise is more reliable on highways but lacks city-driving capabilities.
• Unlike Tesla’s real-time AI approach, GM’s system relies on pre-mapped roads, limiting its flexibility.
• Ultra Cruise, launching in 2024, aims to match Tesla’s city-driving capabilities.
• Super Cruise is a strong competitor on highways but does not match Tesla FSD’s versatility.

Ford BlueCruise

Hands-free highway driving (similar to GM Super Cruise)

• Uses LiDAR, cameras, and maps
• Available on select Ford and Lincoln models

How it compares to Tesla FSD:

• Ford’s system is limited to highways, while Tesla’s FSD works on city streets as well.
• Lacks self-parking, summoning, and traffic light recognition.
• Uses LiDAR and pre-mapped roads instead of Tesla’s vision-based AI.
• A solid hands-free highway system but not a true competitor to FSD’s full range of capabilities.

Mercedes-Benz Drive Pilot

• First Level 3 autonomous system approved in the United States
• Works in low-speed traffic (under 40 mph)
• Uses LiDAR, radar, cameras, and HD maps

How it compares to Tesla FSD:

• Mercedes is the first automaker to achieve Level 3 approval, meaning the car can drive without human supervision in certain conditions (Tesla is still at Level 2).
• Unlike Tesla, Drive Pilot is only available in traffic jams and cannot handle full-speed highway or city driving.
• More regulated and legally approved, but not as flexible as Tesla’s approach.
• Mercedes is ahead in legal approval for autonomy, but its system is far less capable than FSD overall.

Chinese EV Companies (XPeng, NIO, BYD)

Chinese EV makers are rapidly advancing in self-driving technology:

• XPeng XNGP – A full-stack AI-powered driving system similar to FSD.
• NIO’s Navigate on Pilot (NOP) – Hands-free highway and city driving.
• BYD’s DiPilot – AI-assisted lane keeping and highway navigation.

How they compare to Tesla FSD:

• XPeng’s system is the closest to Tesla’s FSD, with city and highway driving capabilities.
• Chinese regulations have allowed faster adoption of self-driving tech.
• These companies still lack Tesla’s extensive real-world driving data.
• XPeng and NIO are emerging competitors, but Tesla still has the edge in AI and global reach.

Who is Winning the Self-Driving Race?

Final Verdict

Waymo leads in full autonomy but is limited to robotaxis.

Mercedes has the first Level 3 approval, but its system is restricted to traffic jams.

Tesla’s FSD remains the most ambitious self-driving system for consumers, despite still being at Level 2.

XPeng and NIO are catching up, but Tesla has the advantage in real-world data and AI.

While no company has achieved full Level 5 autonomy, Tesla’s vision-based AI approach and global fleet data give it a strong long-term advantage. However, regulatory hurdles, safety concerns, and increasing competition could change the landscape in the coming years.

The self-driving race is far from over, but Tesla is still in the lead—for now.