Tesla, led by Elon Musk, has decided to eliminate Basic Autopilot as a standard feature on its electric vehicles, opting instead to offer “full self-driving” as a subscription service. This move has riled many of Tesla’s dedicated fans, with some humorously suggesting Musk could be content without ownership.
According to reports, Musk announced that from February 14th, customers will no longer have the option to buy the fully self-driving software outright. Instead, access will only be available through a monthly subscription. This change has sparked significant discussion among consumers and raised flags about the auto industry’s shift towards subscription models.
On his social platform X, Musk noted that after mid-February, purchasing the software will no longer be possible and that users would need to pay monthly for access. This change is quite a shift from Musk’s earlier stance, where he pitched the software as a valuable asset that appreciated over time, making upfront purchases sensible for buyers.
This transition aligns Tesla with the broader trend seen in tech companies moving to a software-as-a-service approach. Here, customers pay a recurring fee for service while companies retain control over the software, handling updates and maintenance. However, this has left many Tesla owners and prospective buyers feeling frustrated, seeing it as a diminishing sense of ownership in today’s market.
One user commented, “Imagine buying a self-driving car and then having to pay monthly just for it to, well, drive itself.” Another chimed in with a saying about the future of ownership, suggesting, “You could be happy without owning anything.”
Currently, customers can buy the full self-driving option for $8,000 or subscribe for $99 a month. Despite its name, fully autonomous driving systems mainly serve as driver assistance tools requiring constant driver attention, not full automation. Tesla owners who bought the software outright will retain access, although questions linger about transferring these rights to new vehicles. Previously, Tesla allowed limited transfers, but they haven’t clarified if this will continue past February or if prices will stabilize after the switch.
Since launching the feature, Tesla has adjusted the price of the full self-driving software several times. Initially priced at $5,000, the cost peaked at $15,000 in 2022 before dropping to $8,000 in 2024, coinciding with a reduction in the subscription fee from $199 to $99 in the U.S.
This price adjustment followed low uptake rates for the full self-driving upgrades among Tesla owners. While Tesla doesn’t share specific FSD usage statistics, the CFO recently indicated that only about 12% of the fleet has adopted it.
The announcement has amplified concerns about subscription services in the automotive world. Many comments on Musk’s post expressed discontent with how automakers are increasingly monetizing features through ongoing payments. One user mentioned, “People want full ownership of their stuff and don’t want to be locked into payments forever.”
Another user cautioned, “I’ll never truly own my EV because it’s reliant on software that can’t be changed or taken out,” suggesting a preference for vehicles with minimal technology.
The backlash underscores mounting dissatisfaction with how modern vehicles, particularly electric ones, increasingly rely on software, often described as “smartphones on wheels.”
