- Elon Musk scolded a Tesla driver for criticizing the carmaker's Full Self-Driving software on Twitter.
- The driver, who said he's paid $32,000 for the service, shared videos showing his car struggling to turn right and change lanes.
- Musk promoted constructive criticism in the past, telling people to "especially seek negative feedback."
Elon Musk chastised a Tesla driver for pointing out an apparent issue with the electric-car maker's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software on Tuesday.
The CEO told Tesla owner James Locke to stop complaining after Locke, a software CEO based out of California, posted videos on Twitter showing instances where FSD struggled with right turns and lane changes.
"10.69 is in limited release for a reason," Musk said on Twitter, regarding the latest FSD update which was rolled out earlier this week. "Please do not ask to be included in early beta releases and then complain."
—Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 23, 2022
On Sunday, Musk said Tesla is raising the price for the optional FSD feature to $15,000 in North America. The software can also be bought as a $199 per month monthly subscription. Locke said on Twitter earlier this week that he's spent over $32,000 on Tesla's FSD and now pays $199 per month for the feature.
Locke did not respond to a request for comment from Insider ahead of publication. In his initial post, Locke acknowledged that his feedback is "probably not a popular opinion" and said the software still has "lots of work to go."
FSD is not a fully autonomous system. Tesla has told drivers that the system does not replace a licensed driver and instructs them to keep their hands on the wheel and be prepared to take over when the system is running. The add-on enables Teslas to automatically change lanes, enter and exit highways, recognize stop signs and traffic lights, and park. The software is in a beta testing mode and has over 100,000 subscribers who Tesla can use to test the software in real time and allow the system's AI to learn from experienced drivers.
Locke, who is the founding president of the Tesla Owners Clubs in Vancouver Island and Santa Clarita Valley, promptly apologized after Musk scolded him for critiquing the software. The Tesla driver has a YouTube channel where he shares videos testing FSD.
In the past, Musk has appeared to welcome criticism of the software, tweeting in March "Especially seek negative feedback" in a thread about success. But, Locke's comments come after FSD has faced a slew of criticism. Earlier this month, a California tech CEO started an ad campaign showing a car said to be running the software crashing into a child-sized mannequin. The video quickly sparked backlash and copycat tests attempting to disprove it.
In August, the California Department of Motor Vehicles accused Tesla of misleading drivers regarding the capabilities of the technology. Meanwhile, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a series of investigations into whether Tesla's Autopilot system was involved in several crashes.
Until last fall, Tesla required FSD beta testers to fill out non-disclosure agreements. At the time, Musk joked that Tesla drivers "People don't seem to listen to me" because they share lots of videos showcasing the tech.