Older Tesla owners in Australia and New Zealand have finally received a meaningful update on the software they have been waiting for. Tesla says it is actively developing Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14 Lite for cars fitted with its older Hardware 3 computer, potentially bringing more of the company’s latest driver-assistance experience to a large pool of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
Tesla confirms work on a right-hand-drive release
According to an August 28 email from Tesla Motors Australia reported by Drive Tesla, v14 Lite is already rolling out to Hardware 3 users in North America and South Korea, while development is under way for Australia and New Zealand. The important caveat is timing: Tesla did not identify a software build, launch week or which eligible cars would receive the update first. That makes the announcement reassuring rather than a firm release commitment.
V14 Lite is designed to fit elements of Tesla’s newer FSD software stack onto the less powerful Hardware 3 computer. Hardware 4 vehicles in Australia and New Zealand have had access to the newer supervised system since June 19, while owners of earlier cars have remained on an older branch. In North America, the Lite software has added features including starting from park, parking functions and selectable speed profiles. Local functionality can still differ because right-hand-drive roads, signs and driving behaviour require market-specific validation. Despite its name, FSD remains a supervised driver-assistance product: the person behind the wheel must stay attentive and be ready to take control.
BYD turns charging speed into infrastructure
Software is only one front in the EV contest. BYD has reached 10,000 second-generation Flash Chargers in China, halfway to its target of 20,000 by the end of 2026, according to Mobility Plaza. The T-shaped stations are rated at up to 1,500kW and allow two cables to connect to a compatible vehicle. BYD says its latest Blade Battery vehicles can charge from 10 to 97 per cent in as little as nine minutes using the dual-cable setup. The company plans to deploy the remaining 10,000 chargers with partners including Sinopec, PetroChina, CNOOC, Teld and JD.com. Peak speeds depend on the car, battery conditions and grid capacity, but the rollout shows BYD is pairing headline technology with real infrastructure at scale.
A high-mileage Model Y adds battery perspective
A separate InsideEVs report offers a useful counterpoint to charging anxiety. A 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD with 111,703 miles showed 77 per cent battery health in Tesla’s in-car test, despite recording only about 2MWh of DC fast charging versus more than 40MWh of AC charging. A third-party app estimated 80.95 per cent. The result is one car, not a fleet study, but it suggests charging speed alone does not explain degradation. Frequent very high states of charge, deep discharges, extreme Palm Springs heat and unusually heavy daily use may all have played a role.
For EV enthusiasts, the takeaway is that the next phase of competition is becoming broader: capable software for existing cars, ultra-fast public charging and transparent battery-health data all matter. Tesla’s confirmation gives Hardware 3 owners in Australia and New Zealand reason for cautious optimism, but a dated rollout plan will be the real proof. Meanwhile, BYD’s rapid charger build-out keeps pressure on every carmaker to turn ambitious claims into an ownership experience drivers can use every day.