Tesla to launch lighter FSD V14 for hardware 3 by Mid-2026

Tesla has confirmed that a lighter version of its FSD V14 software will be released for Hardware 3 vehicles by the second quarter of 2026. This version, called “FSD V14 Lite,” is meant to help owners of older Teslas keep up with the company’s self-driving developments without needing a hardware upgrade.​

Hardware 3, first introduced in 2019, runs on Tesla’s original “Full Self-Driving Computer.” It was once described as future-proof, but the newer FSD versions now need more power than the 144 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) that HW3 can handle. Tesla’s more recent Hardware 4 (AI4) and upcoming Hardware 5 (AI5) can process far more data using better sensors and faster chips. Many Tesla owners with HW3 cars have been using older FSD builds such as version 12.6, which lacks new neural network updates introduced in later releases.​

The FSD V14 update, launched earlier this month, uses neural networks that are about ten times larger than those in V13. This boost helps Tesla cars react more like human drivers. Still, HW3 cannot run the full system smoothly, and that’s where the new Lite version comes in.​

What Tesla said

During the Q3 2025 earnings call, Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla’s head of AI and Autopilot, said the company is developing a “V14 Lite version” for HW3 users that will arrive in Q2 2026. CFO Vaibhav Taneja added: “We have not completely given up on HW3. These customers are very important. They are early adopters. We will definitely take care of you guys.”​

Taneja mentioned he personally drives a HW3 vehicle daily and understands the frustration of owners waiting for improvements. Tesla hopes this plan will rebuild trust among owners who paid for the Full Self-Driving package with long-term expectations of full autonomy.​

Technical details

The upcoming FSD V14 Lite will likely use optimized AI models meant for smaller chips. Engineers are expected to trim heavy neural networks using compression and model partitioning to reduce GPU load and heat strain. This way, Tesla can keep essential FSD features active without downgrading safety or consistency. Some tasks, like detailed environment mapping could be done with simplified models or limited cloud help.​

Tesla aims to give V14 Lite about 90% of the features of the main FSD V14 build that runs on HW4 cars. This would include smarter braking, better lane control, and faster recognition of road objects. However, heavy computational tasks found in full V14, such as high-resolution path planning and complex AI edge-case handling, might be reduced.​

Tesla faces growing tension from Hardware 3 owners who bought FSD years ago expecting automatic hardware support. Lawsuits are pending in the U.S., China, and Australia, with customers claiming the company exaggerated HW3’s self-driving potential. Many of these cars were sold under the promise that they had “all the hardware needed for full self-driving.”​

Hardware 4 and 5 are readying for the next phase of autonomous features, especially as the company prepares for the Cybercab robotaxi program set to begin production in Q2 2026. Tesla says the Lite software will give older cars longer relevance, even as newer platforms evolve faster.​

Tesla expects to roll out testing for the FSD V14 Lite later in 2025, followed by a wider launch in 2026. If successful, it could help around three to four million vehicles currently using HW3 stay active within Tesla’s FSD network. This move is not only a relief for long-term owners, but it also supports Tesla’s plan to grow its software-based revenue through subscriptions and upgrades without forcing users into new car purchases immediately.​

Still, the success of V14 Lite depends on how well Tesla engineers can preserve performance on limited hardware. For now, HW3 drivers remain on v12.6 software, waiting for proof that Tesla will finally deliver a meaningful self-driving upgrade that matches years of promises.

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