If you've been following Tesla Inc. (TSLA), you know the Full Self-Driving software has been something of a bumpy ride. But according to investor Ross Gerber, co-founder of investment firm Gerber Kawasaki, the latest version might finally be hitting its stride.

Version 14 Is Actually Good This Time

Gerber took to X on Thursday to share his experience with FSD v14.1.7 on his Cybertruck, and he didn't hold back. "This version is a big step up from 13 which was not good," Gerber wrote. He said he was "pretty pleased" with how the system has improved with the updates.

Of course, nothing's perfect. Gerber noted he's still dealing with "mapping issues" that "messes up FSD." But even with those hiccups, his verdict was clear: the iteration was "pretty good!"

Wall Street Sees Over 25% Upside

Gerber isn't alone in his enthusiasm. Piper Sandler analyst Alex Potter also praised FSD v14, calling it a "truly impressive product" that's already better at driving than "the average American."

Potter's glowing assessment came after experiencing a "flawless" Robotaxi ride. He's backing up his words with action, maintaining an Overweight rating on Tesla and setting a $500 price target for the stock. With shares currently trading around $395, that represents more than 25% upside from current levels.

The Camera Versus LiDAR Debate Continues

Tesla's approach to autonomous driving remains controversial. The company favors a camera-based system for self-driving cars, which stands in stark contrast to competitors like Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) (GOOG) subsidiary Waymo, which relies on LiDAR technology. Elon Musk has been a vocal critic of LiDAR, calling it "expensive" and "worthless" in the past.

But Tesla's vision-only approach has raised doubts among industry leaders. Uber Technologies Inc. (UBER) CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has expressed skepticism, suggesting that perfecting camera-based autonomous driving technology could prove "to be very difficult."

Safety Concerns and Regulatory Scrutiny

Despite the improvements to the system, FSD remains under the watchful eye of safety regulators. NHTSA has officially launched a probe into 2.88 million Tesla vehicles after reviewing multiple incidents of traffic violations and accidents involving the automaker's cars on FSD or Autopilot.

The scrutiny intensified recently when The Dawn Project founder Dan O'Dowd slammed Musk and Tesla after a video emerged on social media showcasing a Tesla Robotaxi safety driver apparently asleep behind the wheel. It's the kind of incident that doesn't exactly inspire confidence in autonomous technology.

What the Data Says

From a technical standpoint, Tesla scores well on momentum and quality metrics while offering satisfactory growth. The value proposition is less compelling, though the stock does show favorable price trends in both the medium and long term.

Price Action

TSLA recorded a 2.17% decline to $395.23 at market close but surged 0.60% to $397.60 during after-hours trading, according to market data.