REAL TALK

NEWS POLITICS

Revolutionizing Autonomy: Tesla’s Bold Move Towards Licensing Self-Driving Technology to Major Automakers

ByAlki David

Jul 20, 2023

During Tesla’s Q2 2022 earnings call, the company’s enigmatic CEO, Elon Musk, made a surprising announcement. He expressed a strong willingness to license Tesla’s self-driving technology to other automakers, an idea he has been vocal about in recent times. However, this time, he revealed that Tesla is actively engaged in early discussions with a significant Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) regarding licensing its Autopilot/Full Self-Driving package.

For those unfamiliar with the term, OEM refers to original equipment manufacturers, essentially the automakers themselves. The implications of this move are enormous, as it opens up new possibilities for the automotive industry’s future. Integrating Tesla’s self-driving technology into other automakers’ vehicles poses a monumental challenge, requiring the integration of Tesla’s self-driving computer and multiple cameras at precise angles all around each vehicle.

It’s important to note that Tesla’s approach to self-driving is distinct from that of most other automakers. While many rely on various sensors like lidar, Tesla sticks with a camera-based strategy. Additionally, most other automakers often follow a different path, dedicating separate vehicles to autonomy, like GM’s Cruise, while their consumer cars offer only level 2 or 3 autonomous features.

In contrast, Tesla’s vision is ambitious, aiming to achieve level 4 or 5 autonomy in consumer vehicles through software updates. However, up to this point, they have yet to fully deliver on this promise. Nevertheless, this bold move to potentially license their self-driving technology signifies a significant step towards reshaping the future of transportation.

The idea of Tesla’s self-driving technology in a variety of automakers’ vehicles opens up a world of possibilities. Imagine a future where different car brands integrate Tesla’s autonomous capabilities into their models, bringing safer and more advanced driving experiences to consumers worldwide. The potential for collaboration and innovation within the industry is immense.

In conclusion, Tesla’s willingness to license its self-driving technology to other automakers marks a pivotal moment in the race towards autonomy. While challenges undoubtedly lie ahead in integrating Tesla’s unique approach into diverse vehicle platforms, the move has the potential to revolutionize the automotive landscape and bring us closer to a future of autonomous driving.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.