Tesla's Head of AI, Ashok Elluswamy, has disclosed that reasoning capabilities expected in Full Self-Driving version 14.3 have already been partially implemented in the current version 14.2. These features enhance navigation during construction and parking decisions. More reasoning elements are set to arrive in the first quarter of 2026.
Tesla's advancements in autonomous driving took a notable step forward with the partial rollout of reasoning features in its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. On January 8, 2026, Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's Head of AI, shared that elements of reasoning—anticipated for version 14.3—have already been integrated into the latest build of version 14.2.2.2. This update introduces improved decision-making for navigation route changes when encountering construction and for selecting parking options.
Elluswamy emphasized the ongoing development, stating that "more and more reasoning will ship in Q1." This aligns with Tesla's broader vision for FSD, where reasoning is expected to enable more intuitive behaviors, such as autonomously choosing optimal parking spots after dropping off passengers. CEO Elon Musk had previously highlighted this potential during the October 2025 Q3 Earnings Call, saying: "With reasoning, it’s literally going to think about which parking spot to pick. It’ll drop you off at the entrance of the store, then go find a parking spot. It’s going to spot empty spots much better than a human. It’s going to use reasoning to solve things."
Musk also teased in the same month: "By v14.3, your car will feel like it is sentient." The current version 14.2 is described as approaching this level of sophistication, though further refinements are needed for smoother routing and navigation—common pain points for FSD users. Parking enhancements were initially hinted at in the v14.2 release notes months ago but are now beginning to deploy in limited fashion.
As Tesla pushes toward unsupervised FSD, these reasoning additions promise better overall performance, addressing the 'long tail' of complex real-world scenarios. The rollout underscores Tesla's iterative approach to autonomy, building on billions of miles of driving data to refine decision-making processes.
