Tesla recently made significant changes to the pricing of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) program, reducing the cost for both purchasing the option outright and opting for the monthly subscription. The price of adding FSD to a new Tesla has been lowered from $12,000 to $8,000, while those looking to upgrade from Enhanced Autopilot to FSD will now pay $2,000 instead of $6,000. In Canada, the price has also seen a decrease from 16,000CAD to 11,000CAD. Additionally, the monthly FSD subscription cost has been halved from $199 to $99, making it more accessible to customers.
The price fluctuations of Tesla’s FSD program have been quite significant over the years, reaching a peak of $15,000 at one point before dropping to $12,000 and now to $8,000. The new pricing brings FSD back to its original cost when first introduced in October 2020 as a $3,000 add-on to Enhanced Autopilot. Subsequently, the cost of FSD post-purchase went up to $4,000 and then $5,000 before the recent price reductions.
Elon Musk had previously defended the higher price of FSD by stating that it was an investment that would greatly increase the value of Tesla vehicles once they were fully autonomous. However, FSD development took longer than anticipated, leading to regulatory scrutiny and eventual price reductions. The cost of FSD was lowered to $12,000 in September 2023, aligning with its price in January 2022. The recent price cuts aim to make FSD more affordable to a wider range of customers.
Along with the price reductions, Tesla introduced the new “Supervised” stage of FSD with version 12, marking a shift from the beta phase to a more refined stage. While still in development and requiring supervision, this change reflects Tesla’s evolving approach to self-driving technology. The company faced criticism for branding its semi-autonomous technology as “Full Self-Driving” when it did not fully deliver on the promise. The shift to the Supervised stage may indicate a step towards addressing these concerns and clarifying the limitations of the technology.
Despite the price cuts and advancements in FSD, Tesla acknowledges that the technology is not yet capable of fully autonomous driving. The Supervised stage serves as a reminder that human oversight is still necessary while using FSD features, emphasizing the need for caution and attentiveness on the part of the driver. As Tesla continues to refine and develop its self-driving technology, the pricing changes and stage advancements reflect the company’s commitment to innovation and safety in the autonomous driving space.
Overall, Tesla’s recent price reductions for FSD and the monthly subscription make the advanced driving features more accessible to customers. The fluctuations in pricing over the years reflect the evolving nature of self-driving technology and the challenges of bringing autonomous vehicles to market. By introducing the Supervised stage and clarifying the capabilities of FSD, Tesla aims to provide a clearer understanding of the technology’s current state and future potential. As Tesla continues to enhance its self-driving capabilities, customers can expect further developments in autonomous driving technology.
