Tesla has ignited a firestorm among electric vehicle fans after announcing it will eliminate Basic Autopilot as a standard feature and switch its coveted Full Self‑Driving (FSD) system to a subscription‑only model. The move, announced by CEO Elon Musk on his social platform, means new Tesla owners can no longer buy FSD outright and must instead pay a recurring monthly fee to access the feature.
Beginning February 14, the one‑time purchase option for FSD will be discontinued. Previously, customers could pay a lump sum—$8,000 under current pricing—to own the software permanently. After the cutoff date, the only way to get FSD will be through a monthly subscription, currently priced at $99. Some longtime Tesla supporters have reacted with disbelief and anger, with critics quipping that the shift reflects a broader trend where “you will own nothing and be happy.”
Musk’s decision aligns with a larger industry trend toward software‑as‑a‑service business models, where companies retain control over their software and customers pay recurring fees for continued access. Supporters argue this helps Tesla manage updates and security centrally, while ensuring ongoing revenue. But detractors say it erodes the idea of true product ownership, especially when critical features are locked behind subscription walls.
Tesla’s FSD suite, despite its name, does not deliver fully autonomous driving and still requires active driver supervision. Owners who purchased FSD before the change will retain their access, but it’s unclear whether that ownership will fully transfer to new vehicles if owners sell or upgrade their cars in the future. Tesla has previously offered limited‑time transfer options, but no guarantees have been made for the post‑subscription era.
The pricing history of FSD has been volatile, with the outright purchase price rising from $5,000 at launch to as high as $15,000 before dropping back to $8,000. Monthly subscription fees have also been reduced, from $199 to $99, amid reports of relatively low adoption rates among Tesla owners.
Critics of the subscription shift warn it reflects a deeper issue with modern vehicles that increasingly depend on proprietary software. Some owners worry that without access to essential software features, future resale value and long‑term usability will suffer. Others have suggested that buyers considering long‑term ownership should avoid heavily software‑dependent EVs in favor of simpler, less connected vehicles.
