Tesla is moving Full Self-Driving (FSD) from a one-time purchase to a subscription model, with no refunds for cancellations.
Tesla is shifting Full Self-Driving to subscription only. The monthly cost will be $99, higher than many competitors. The one-time purchase option will end next month.
Tesla has now joined the growing number of automakers offering subscriptions for autonomous driving technology. In a social media post, CEO Elon Musk announced that the company will stop selling Full Self-Driving (Supervised) after February 14, making it available solely through a subscription.
Musk didn’t provide further details, but Tesla’s website lists the FSD subscription at $99 per month. That is significantly higher than Rivian’s Autonomy+, which charges $49.99 per month or $2,500 for a one-time purchase. Rivian’s system offers Universal Hands-Free driving across more than 3.5 million miles (5,632,704 km) of roads in the United States and Canada.
FSD is also pricier than Ford’s BlueCruise, which costs $49.99 per month, $495 annually, or $2,495 for a one-time purchase.
Meanwhile, GM provides new vehicles with three years of Super Cruise before applying any fees. After that, the subscription costs $39.99 per month or $399 annually.
Beyond these comparisons, Tesla had been charging $8,000 for Full Self-Driving, a figure equivalent to nearly 81 months, or almost seven years. Depending on how long a customer keeps their car, the new subscription model could actually be advantageous.
More details are expected next month, but Tesla already allows subscriptions for owners who didn’t initially purchase the semi-autonomous driving system. Subscriptions can be activated through the Tesla app or the vehicle’s infotainment system.
However, customers should note that FSD subscriptions are non-refundable. If the feature doesn’t meet expectations, the only option is to cancel and continue using it for the remainder of the billing cycle.
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