Tesla FSD (Supervised) Achieves 325-Mile, Zero-Intervention Journey in Model Y

Sawyer Merritt, a prominent Tesla observer, recently completed a 325-mile, 5.5-hour journey from New Hampshire to Upstate New York in his Tesla Model Y, utilizing the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) (Supervised) v13.2.9 software without any human interventions, even through rain. Merritt highlighted the experience on social media, stating, > "I pressed 'Start,' and then a robot drove me for 5.5 hours."

The FSD (Supervised) v13.2.9 update, part of Tesla's 2025.14.6 and 2025.26.7.10 software releases, introduces significant enhancements to the driving network. These improvements include 36 Hz, full-resolution AI4 video inputs, 4.2x data scaling, and 5x training compute scaling, alongside reduced photon-to-control latency and improved collision avoidance. The software also features dynamic routing around road closures and a redesigned controller for smoother vehicle tracking.

Despite impressive demonstrations like Merritt's, Tesla's FSD remains classified as a Level 2 advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) by industry standards, such as those set by SAE International. This classification means that while the system can handle aspects of the driving task, the human driver must remain fully attentive and ready to take over control at all times. Regulatory bodies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have emphasized this, issuing recalls and investigations related to driver attentiveness and potential misuse of Tesla's Autopilot features.

User experiences with FSD (Supervised) v13.2.9 vary, reflecting the complexity of real-world driving conditions. While some users report similarly smooth and intervention-free long-distance drives, others note instances where human intervention is still required. Common scenarios necessitating driver takeovers include navigating complex urban environments, poorly marked roads, or specific traffic situations, despite the continuous improvements in the software.

Sawyer Merritt has a history of reporting extensive, intervention-free FSD journeys, including a 1,000-mile, 16-hour drive on an earlier FSD v12.3.6 version. These accounts underscore the system's growing capabilities in controlled or predictable environments, showcasing Tesla's progress toward its long-term goals of higher levels of autonomous driving, including a future robotaxi service. However, the "supervised" designation highlights that human oversight remains critical for safe operation.