According to Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt), some Tesla owners in North America equipped with Hardware 4 (HW4) who have not purchased Full Self-Driving (FSD) are now receiving mobile notifications via the Tesla app, granting them a free FSD (Supervised) trial and immediate access to FSD V14.2.1 (source: x.com/BabyTesla3/status/1994274708213137440). This move demonstrates Tesla’s push to increase adoption of its AI-powered autonomous driving software by allowing more users to experience advanced driver-assistance features firsthand. For the AI industry, this strategy highlights the growing importance of trial-based customer acquisition models and the practical deployment of real-world AI systems in automotive contexts. The immediate availability of FSD V14.2.1 to non-paying users presents new data collection opportunities and could accelerate both product improvement and market penetration for AI-driven mobility solutions (source: Sawyer Merritt, Nov 28, 2025).

According to Sawyer Merritt, Tesla has launched a new car rental program at select U.S. stores, allowing customers to rent a Tesla for up to 7 days starting at $60 per day. The program features access to Tesla's advanced Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised technology and includes complimentary Supercharging for the duration of the rental. This initiative demonstrates Tesla's push to make AI-driven autonomous driving experiences more accessible to consumers and serves as a real-world deployment of its AI systems. The program also offers a $250 discount on new Tesla purchases within 7 days of the rental, which could drive increased adoption of Tesla's AI-powered vehicles and create new business avenues for direct AI technology consumer engagement (source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter).

According to Sawyer Merritt, Kia has indefinitely postponed the US launch of its EV4 Fastback, which was intended to compete directly with the Tesla Model 3, due to rapidly deteriorating market conditions under the Trump administration (source: Sawyer Merritt via electrive.com, Oct 31, 2025). This delay is expected to have significant implications for AI-powered automotive advancements, as the EV4 was set to leverage advanced driver-assistance systems and smart vehicle connectivity. The postponement creates a gap for competitors to accelerate their AI integration strategies and highlights the volatility of AI adoption in the US electric vehicle sector driven by policy changes.