Tesla adds autopilot to Model S electric cars

A Tesla executive displays the new Model X car at the company’s headquarters Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, in Fremont, Calif. CEO Elon Musk says the Model X sets a new bar for automotive engineering, with unique features like rear falcon-wing doors, which open upward, and a driver’s door that opens on approach and closes itself when the driver is inside. AP Photo

SAN FRANCISCO, United States—Tesla added autopilot that can even parallel park to thousands of its Model S cars already on the road with a software update sent out over the air Wednesday.

READ: Tesla launches Model X electric SUV
 

Self-driving capabilities—previously limited to cars tested by technology titans such as Google—hit the streets “overnight” with the latest Tesla Version 7.0 software.

“We’re being especially cautious at this early stage so we are advising drivers to keep their hands on the wheel just in case,” Tesla founder and chief executive Elon Musk said at a press conference.

“In the long term, people will not need hands on the wheel, and eventually there won’t be wheels or pedals.”

Autopilot allows Model S to steer within a lane, change lanes by tapping a turn signal and manage speed using “traffic-aware” cruise control.

The car can also scan for available parking spaces, alert drivers when one is spotted and then even parallel park on command, according to Tesla.

A year ago, Tesla began equipping Model S cars with radar, cameras, ultrasonic sensors and other hardware to begin incrementally introducing self-driving capabilities, the California-based company said.