Musk Sees Housing Benefits from FSD as System Logs 8.2B Miles and 14 Crashes
CEO Elon Musk said autonomous vehicles could unlock cheaper suburbs by easing 45-minute commutes, noting FSD "probably" can drive housing affordability. Tesla’s vision-only Full Self-Driving has logged over 8.2 billion miles but faced safety issues, including 14 robotaxi crashes in Austin and a near-lake driving incident.
1. Musk Predicts FSD Could Improve Housing Affordability
Elon Musk agreed with podcast hosts that autonomous vehicles could expand suburbs into cheaper land by making 45-minute commutes more productive. He highlighted that people may accept longer drives if they can work or relax in self-driving cars, potentially easing housing demand in urban cores.
2. FSD System Logs Over 8.2 Billion Miles
Tesla’s vision-only Full Self-Driving system has amassed more than 8.2 billion miles of real-world driving data, underscoring the company’s emphasis on camera-based autonomy. This extensive dataset forms the backbone of Tesla’s FSD beta program and future robotaxi ambitions.
3. Safety Concerns Highlighted by Crashes and Incidents
Despite mileage milestones, FSD has drawn criticism for safety lapses, including a near-miss lake drive and 14 reported robotaxi crashes in Austin since mid-2025. Investor Ross Gerber has questioned FSD performance in sunny conditions, prompting calls for software refinements and enhanced testing protocols.