Tesla CEO Elon Musk is now requiring staff to put in and present prospects the right way to use the most recent model of the corporate’s premium driver help system, which is marketed as “FSD” or Full Self-Driving, earlier than finishing a car supply in North America.

“Going ahead, it’s obligatory in North America to put in and activate FSD V12.3.1 and take prospects on a brief check journey earlier than handing over the automotive,” Musk wrote in an e mail to staffers on Monday. “Virtually nobody truly realizes how effectively (supervised) FSD truly works. I do know this can decelerate the supply course of, however it’s nonetheless a tough requirement.”

Bloomberg first reported on Musk’s e mail, which was additionally considered by CNBC.

Whereas all new Tesla automobiles have an ordinary driver help system put in referred to as Autopilot, the corporate’s FSD possibility prices $199 per thirty days for many prospects in North America.

Tesla’s FSD system doesn’t flip vehicles into autonomous automobiles. In keeping with the Tesla homeowners’ manuals, drivers should stay attentive to the street and able to steer or brake at any time when utilizing FSD or FSD Beta.

Homeowners with FSD also can get entry to the FSD Beta system, which permits them to check and assist debug newer driver help options on public roads.

Below strain from the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration, Tesla has carried out voluntary remembers to enhance the protection of its Autopilot, FSD and FSD Beta techniques lately.

Tesla did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

In a separate memo distributed to employees at Tesla, the corporate is asking salaried and hourly staff to enroll in further shifts to ship vehicles to prospects within the final days of the primary quarter.

“Be part of us in delighting prospects as they take supply!” the memo mentioned. “Whereas our manufacturing capability permits car deliveries to be distributed extra uniformly all through the quarter, we nonetheless want your help to maneuver, put together and drive automobiles to prospects all through the tip of Q1.”

Salaried Tesla staff don’t obtain further pay in the event that they work supply shifts, however hourly staff are eligible for extra compensation, typically billing their hours to a gross sales and supply price heart, in response to the memo, which CNBC considered.

Tesla is underneath strain to keep away from a drop in year-over-year deliveries for the primary quarter. Not less than one impartial researcher, who publishes as “Troy Teslike,” predicts Tesla will report simply 407,000 deliveries for the quarter, which might mark a decline from 422,875 a 12 months in the past.

Tesla shares have declined about 30% 12 months to this point, closing on Monday at $172.63.