Tesla Model S To Come As Close To Driverless As We've Seen

Tesla Motors Inc TSLA on Thursday is due to release a software update for its Model S vehicles that will include several autonomous driving features. The company's new offerings will be available to 50,000 Teslas built in the past 12 months and are expected to blur the line between driverless cars and those controlled by people.

Toeing The Line

As regulators have yet to approve driverless technology due to safety concerns, Tesla's new features still require the driver to remain an active participant in the journey. However, the software will allow for feet-free driving even in stop-and-go traffic. The car is also able to park itself and enables drivers to take their hands off the wheel for periods up to 10 seconds. If the wheel goes untouched for more than 10 seconds, the cars have been programmed to slow down.

Related Link: Chanos: Tesla Is 'Overpriced,' I'm A Potential Purchaser Of Glencore Stock

Autonomous Hybrid

The new features make Tesla's Model S the first car on the market that comes close to being driverless. The firm is looking to find a middle ground between its lofty plans to create a totally autonomous car and regulators' concern for safety.

Over-The-Air Updates

The company is one of the only automakers to provide drivers with over-the-air updates, meaning the cars don't have to be brought in to a dealer to get the new software. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the company is planning to release new updates with even more autonomous features in the future and that the firm expects to have created a car that can drive a user from one place to another without them ever touching anything within the next three years.