Elon Musk's favorite Autopilot feature just got updated

Hold onto the wheel even while using Navigate on Autopilot.
Hold onto the wheel even while using Navigate on Autopilot.
Image: tesla

Elon Musk let us know earlier this year that when he drives, he uses Tesla's semi-autonomous driving system called Autopilot. For the the electric car company CEO, the "Navigate on Autopilot" feature makes highway traffic somewhat bearable. 

Musk will be happy to know that on Wednesday, the lane-changing suggestions from the car's computer system just got easier to use.

Instead of approving the suggestions to change lanes or get over to make a highway exit every single time, you can now change the settings before you drive. You used to have to utilize the turn stalk to confirm the lane change suggested by Navigate. Tesla says that 9 million suggested lane changes have happened since the feature came out in October. Now, three new Autopilot settings: "Enable at start of every trip," "Require lane change confirmation," and "Lane change notification" give more streamlined options on how the highway assistance tool works.

If you select "no" on "require confirmation," the car will go ahead and make the lane changes and adjustments. If you choose to have notifications, you'll get a chime, visual notification, and for some car models, a vibration on the steering wheel about the upcoming change. No matter how you configure the settings, you always have the option to cancel the suggestion on the screen or with your turn signal. 

Someone like Musk might choose to have the tool turn on any time they're on the highway (Navigate on Autopilot can only be used on freeways in certain places) and using the navigation system. No need to turn it on. 

It's tempting to call this an autonomous feature but Tesla is firm that this still requires drivers pay attention, check surroundings, and make sure their hands are detected on the wheel. It won't work otherwise. It's still up to the driver to override any of the car's decisions, especially if they see something. 

The update is available through an over-the-air update for Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability users as of Wednesday.

This might not be an update for Tesla owners like singer Sheryl Crow, who tweeted Wednesday that she has the "basic model, nothing overly fancy." Autopilot is an additional $3,000 while ordering the car or $4,000 to add the semi-autonomous feature after you have the car. So we'd wager her basic Tesla doesn't have the driver assistance, although it does sound like she could use some help with her car.

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