What is Tesla's Full Self-Driving subscription?

Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) will transition to a monthly subscription model after February 14, meaning customers can no longer purchase the software outright.

Why is Elon Musk making Tesla FSD a subscription?

The shift to a subscription model offers buyers more flexibility and addresses long-standing concerns and regulatory scrutiny over FSD's true capabilities.

Is Tesla's Full Self-Driving truly autonomous?

No, Tesla's FSD requires constant human supervision and is considered a driver-assist system, not a fully autonomous one.

Home / Technology / Tesla Ditches FSD Purchase, Goes Subscription Only

Tesla Ditches FSD Purchase, Goes Subscription Only

14 Jan

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Summary

Tesla's Full Self-Driving option will be subscription-based after February 14.
Elon Musk announced the shift from purchase to subscription on X.
Regulatory scrutiny and lawsuits have targeted Tesla's FSD marketing.

Tesla is discontinuing the outright sale of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. Effective February 14, customers will only be able to access FSD through a monthly subscription. CEO Elon Musk confirmed this significant shift in strategy on his X platform, though details on subscription pricing were not immediately disclosed.

This change comes after years of Tesla overpromising on the capabilities of its driver-assist systems, branded as Autopilot and Full Self-Driving. Despite the name, these systems require constant human supervision and do not qualify as true autonomous driving. Musk himself had previously promised complete autonomy by 2018.

The system's marketing has drawn criticism from consumer watchdogs and government bodies for potentially deceptive language. A recent California judge even recommended suspending Tesla's sales in the state, highlighting ongoing regulatory challenges surrounding the feature's capabilities and branding.