Tesla’s AI Lead Doubles Down on FSD Speed Strategy, and Owners Are Confused
Ashok Elluswamy calls max speed control an “anti pattern,” confirming no plans to restore it after v14 replaced it with five Speed Profiles.
Tesla’s AI lead, Ashok Elluswamy, doubled down on the company’s Full Self-Driving speed strategy this week, confirming that Tesla has no plans to bring back a manual max speed setting — and owners are pushing back.
What Happened
Earlier versions of FSD let drivers set a maximum speed while the system was engaged. With the release of FSD v14 last year, Tesla removed that control and replaced it with five Speed Profiles ranging from “Sloth” to “Mad Max,” which govern not only target speed but also how often the vehicle passes or changes lanes.
The removal drew major complaints from owners who wanted speed left to driver discretion while profiles handled driving behavior. In a post on X, Elluswamy confirmed Tesla’s position: “Max speed control is an anti pattern. We are working on better learning of user’s implied preferences.”
Owners responded with frustration, citing disengagements due to incorrect speed zones and pointing out that drivers remain liable for any tickets FSD incurs under the Supervised system.
Why It Matters
Because FSD is still a supervised driver assistance feature, the human behind the wheel takes responsibility for traffic infractions. With no max speed dial, owners say they frequently disengage or adjust profiles to avoid speeding — sometimes even in “Standard” mode. Tesla’s stated goal of minimizing interventions conflicts with a common real-world reason drivers take over: speed.
Elluswamy’s comments suggest the company sees manual speed control as a regression, preferring instead to infer driver preferences through behavior. That leaves owners adapting to profiles that shift from update to update, which has become a persistent source of confusion and friction.
The Bottom Line
Tesla is committed to its Speed Profile approach despite community pushback, betting on better implicit learning rather than restoring direct speed input. For now, drivers remain responsible for adjusting — or taking over — when FSD’s pace doesn’t match the road.
