Own a Tesla? Update 8.1 releasing on January 5

Tesla wasn't able to distribute the Enhanced Autopilot update in mid-December. But yesterday in a tweet, CEO Elon Musk said "HW2 Autopilot software uploading to 1000 cars this eve." This patch fixes few issues with the Hardware (HW) 2 Autopilot technology.

The Autopilot fix recounts to Tesla's advanced hardware package (that includes eight cameras, ultrasonic sensors, radar, and a more powerful supercomputer that can process data 40 times faster than other Tesla machines) which became a company standard in October 2016. The "Full Self-Driving Capability" extension is currently accessible for most models, as reported by The USB Port.

This new software update also looks to amend some of the most known Autopilot features of other Teslas such as emergency breaking.

In addition, the update will bring Traffic Aware Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, and Autosteer to the enhanced cars mentioned, except for older Tesla models. For example, Tesla's (probably) most famous feature, Autosteer, will only work at low speeds while in highways with clear markings.

Drivers can only expect to use the feature in heavy-traffic condition at speed below 35mph. The current Autosteer version could work on complete, undivided roads reaching a speed of 90mph.

The limitations were due Tesla's recent end of partnership with Israeli-based imaging technology Mobileye, which designed their hardware. Mobileye released a statement in September that highlighted their safety concerns concerning the Autopilot feature. Tesla's Autopilot crash on May 2016 seemed to have greatly influenced their decision.

As reported by Bloomberg, this software update comes as automotive and technology industries prepares for the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas and for the North American International Auto show in Detroit.

Tesla will be skipping CES and the Detroit auto show because they will host investors at its $5 billion Gigafactory 1 east of Reno, Nevada, on January 4 where it makes batteries and energy storage packs.

If you have a recent Tesla Model S or X and have spared no expense, you will enjoy the update scheduled to be released on January 5.