Tesla Ends Autopilot to Push Full Self-Driving Subscriptions
▼ Summary
– Tesla has removed its standard Basic Autopilot feature from new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in North America.
– Customers must now subscribe to the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system for $99 a month to access the Autosteer lane-keeping feature.
– This shift to a subscription-only FSD model follows a recent California ruling that found Tesla engaged in deceptive marketing about Autopilot’s capabilities.
– The company had made basic Autopilot standard in 2019, a period when CEO Elon Musk made ambitious predictions about imminent self-driving technology.
– Many of Musk’s predictions, such as widespread robotaxi deployment by 2020, were not realized on the claimed timeline.
Tesla has made a significant change to its driver assistance offerings, removing the previously standard Basic Autopilot feature from new Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in North America. This strategic shift aims to funnel customers toward the company’s newly subscription-only Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. To access the lane-keeping Autosteer function, which was once included at no extra cost with a new Tesla, buyers must now subscribe to FSD for a monthly fee of $99.
The company will continue to include its Traffic-Aware Cruise Control as a standard feature. This system maintains a set speed and a safe following distance from vehicles ahead. However, the more advanced Autosteer capability is now exclusively tied to the FSD subscription. This follows last week’s announcement that Tesla would cease selling FSD as a one-time optional package, moving entirely to a recurring monthly or annual payment model.
This policy revision arrives as Tesla contends with regulatory challenges. The California Department of Motor Vehicles recently imposed a 30-day suspension on the company’s dealer and manufacturing licenses. The penalty stems from a judge’s December ruling that Tesla engaged in deceptive marketing by overstating the capabilities of its Autopilot system. The DMV granted a 60-day stay on the suspension, providing Tesla time to comply, which reportedly includes phasing out the Autopilot brand name.
Tesla initially made basic Autopilot a standard feature on all new vehicles back in April 2019, bundling it into the base purchase price while keeping the more sophisticated FSD as a paid upgrade. This move coincided with the company’s first “Autonomy Day,” an event where CEO Elon Musk made several ambitious predictions about Tesla’s self-driving technology.
During that presentation, Musk forecasted that by mid-2020, the system would advance to a level where drivers would no longer need to monitor the road. It is crucial to note that drivers are still legally required to maintain attention at all times when using any Tesla driver-assist feature. He also announced plans to launch a robotaxi network that same year, suggesting owners could generate income by adding their vehicles to a Tesla-operated service. The robotaxi initiative did not commence until 2025, and even those initial vehicles operated with safety monitors present. While Tesla has very recently begun offering rides in what it calls fully autonomous vehicles, these are accompanied by chase cars for safety oversight.
(Source: The Verge)
