Tesla CEO Elon Musk previously hinted at increasing prices for the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) known as Full Self-Driving (FSD), now termed “Supervised.” However, contrary to expectations, FSD’s price has dropped to $8,000 for new buyers, with Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) owners offering the upgrade for $2,000. Here’s the breakdown.
Tesla has slashed FSD’s price, surprising many with this unexpected move. Now priced at $8,000, down from $12,000, buyers can secure FSD for the vehicle’s lifetime (or until transfer), opt for a $99 monthly subscription for lower upfront costs, or pay $2,000 if they previously purchased EAP. Notably, EAP served as a middle ground between basic Autopilot and FSD.
In late August 2022, Elon Musk announced FSD’s price hike from $12,000 to $15,000, underscoring its potential future value of $100,000. However, despite these claims, FSD’s performance fell short of expectations, facing reliability issues and lacking complete trust from users. Even Musk encountered challenges during journeys with the redefined FSD V12, highlighting its unfinished nature.
Despite initial enthusiasm, some buyers paid $15,000 for what remained unfinished software, while competitors like Waymo showcased autonomous driving successes with more comprehensive sensor arrays. One year after raising FSD’s price, Tesla reduced it back to $12,000.
Nonetheless, many felt used as beta testers, with FSD remaining an SAE Level 2 ADAS despite transitioning to a neural network solution. In contrast, other brands like Mercedes-Benz offer SAE Level 3 ADAS, signaling Tesla’s lag in achieving fully functional autonomy.
