technologyneutral
Tesla's Big Shift: From One-Time Buy to Monthly Fee for Self-Driving Tech
California, USASaturday, January 24, 2026
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Key Changes Announced
- No More One-Time Purchase: Tesla to discontinue Full Self-Driving (FSD) as a one-time purchase.
- Monthly Subscription Required: Customers will need to pay a recurring fee for FSD.
- Basic Features Standard: New Teslas come with Traffic Aware Cruise Control, but Autosteer is no longer included.
Regulatory Pressure
- California DMV Warning: Tesla faced a deadline to change marketing practices or risk losing its sales license.
- Terminology Issues: Regulators flagged the term "Autopilot" as misleading, suggesting it implied full autonomy.
Impact on Customers
- Autopilot as a Selling Point: Despite warnings, Autopilot has been a key feature for Tesla.
- Subscription Price Increase: Elon Musk states FSD subscription prices will rise as the software improves.
- Profit Potential: Tesla expects FSD to become a major revenue source as adoption grows.
Future Implications
- Shift to Subscription Model: Changes how customers access and pay for advanced driving features.
- Questions Raised: The move sparks debate on the future of self-driving technology and monetization strategies.
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