Tesla kills Autopilot on new cars - Forces users to subscribe to FSD

[skyguyscott]

I'd happily pay a subscription to make my Gen1 more capable knowing that an old 2020 cheap Tesla with FSD is far better. I recently drove a 2024 M3 with FSD and it blew my mind with door to door navigation. I haven't driven a Gen2 to compare but I'm assuming it is nowhere near what FSD can do and will always lag behind.

According to the Tesla Deaths website, of the 772 fatalities involving Teslas since 2013, 65 were associated with autopilot, but only 2 involving FSD.

Tesla's FSD relies solely on cameras, and you can see videos online where Tesla plowed into a semi-trailer that had jack knifed, blocking all lanes with it's flashers on at night, but the FSD did not recognize what it was seeing and took no action. Other systems that include LIDAR, radar and sonar were tested in a similar scenario and all avoided colliding with the barrier, even when the visual system either did not recognize the danger or were disabled. Others have repeatedly demonstrated how LIDAR and other enhanced sensor arrays can positively detect objects and obstacles in heavy rain, at night, and in other conditions visual systems miss or have difficulty detecting. Despite irrefutable evidence showing the benefits of a more robust sensor array, Musk refuses to add sensors to Teslas, insisting they are superfluous and only add unnecessary cost and complexity.

Sponsored

 

[Druidspirit]

I was waffling back and forth between the R2 and MYP. My preference is R2 but I am/was waiting to see what features it has compared to the MYP. With this news and Musk's shenanigans the MYP is no longer a contender for us, even a Camry has lane keeping at $22k. I was willing to overlook Musk being a d-bag but the basic autopilot features are non-negotiable and I don't care about FSD's other features. We have a Lightning and Mach E right now and Blue Cruise is only $49 per month and we only get it for the month we are road tripping.

So I may look more closely at an R1 if the R2 is missing features I want at this price point. Or unfortunately I may look at going back to ICE, not my preference we've been a full EV household since 2020. But I can get a Lincoln Aviator Black Label for 85k with massaging seats, 28 speaker sound system, and Blue Cruise

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

This is a dumb move that will ultimately backfire. Just like when BMW tried to charge people $18 a month for heated seats. If a vehicle could do something when you leased/bought it and then the manufacturer takes it away and tries to charge you for it or forces you to buy something else, isn’t that kind of a form of bait and switch?

Also people don’t want to pay all of these additional, and sometimes redundant (I’m looking at you Premium Connevtivity), monthly fees on top of their car payment, insurance, charging, and sometimes parking costs. It’s too much, especially if someone is becoming more and more financially stretched.

Personally I just want an advanced cruise control. Something that can keep me in my lane and slow down and speed up when needed, especially on long trips on the interstate. I don’t need it to change lanes, take exits, or drive me home through rush hour traffic, especially if I have to babysit it the whole time. That’s more stressful than just driving yourself. Not to mention that some people actually like to drive. It can be a peaceful escape sometimes.

 

[Dark-Fx]

It saves Tesla nothing to reduce these features, and hurts their good will for people who hate subscriptions. They'll likely lose more customers than gain subscriptions. It's not like Tesla is the only option here.

 

[manitou202]

Considering most Tesla owners like using Autopilot (which used to be free) and not pay for FSD (15% of buyers or less), it is Tesla essentially raising the price of every vehicle by $4800 if you assume the average buyer keeps their car for 4 years and doesn't want to use FSD.

If you keep your Tesla for 10 years, that is a $12000 price increase.

Subscriptions really suck. At a minimum offer a way to purchase the feature upfront.

 

[SoCal Rob]

While using Autopilot in a couple Tesla loaners I had over a year ago, I discovered that it can’t stay engaged through a lane change. If that’s still the case then I’m fine with Autopilot being eliminated from new builds since I suspect it’s the reason I see so many Teslas hanging out in the far left lane for no reason at all.

 

[RichAZ]

Have owned three Teslas, now with a M3 SR LFP (2022) and a MY LR AWD with FSD purchased (2023). My take on this move is that it will be a net negative for the company.

Look, I use FSD all the time (really). Wonderful program. Buddy of mine prefers to use Autopilot. Musk is messing with his buyers, big mistake here.

My gut is, turning out Tesla autos is now a hobby for Musk, a guy that's smarter than anyone else in the room and that none of his subordinates can actually offer up an opinion without risking their job.

Rich

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Considering most Tesla owners like using Autopilot (which used to be free) and not pay for FSD (15% of buyers or less), it is Tesla essentially raising the price of every vehicle by $4800 if you assume the average buyer keeps their car for 4 years and doesn't want to use FSD.

If you keep your Tesla for 10 years, that is a $12000 price increase.

Subscriptions really suck. At a minimum offer a way to purchase the feature upfront.

I will be trading in my Model 3 at the end of my lease (2027) and getting an R2 or R3 if it’s out by then. That was my plan anyway before these shenanigans.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Have owned three Teslas, now with a M3 SR LFP (2022) and a MY LR AWD with FSD purchased (2023). My take on this move is that it will be a net negative for the company.

Look, I use FSD all the time (really). Wonderful program. Buddy of mine prefers to use Autopilot. Musk is messing with his buyers, big mistake here.

My gut is, turning out Tesla autos is now a hobby for Musk, a guy that's smarter than anyone else in the room and that none of his subordinates can actually offer up an opinion without risking their job.

Rich

I don’t even think he wants to make EVs anymore. He’s over it. He’s interested in rockets, robots, and AI. He completely abandoned sustainable transportation and energy. I only hope that other companies will take up the mantle.

 

[cthelan]

I'll be honest and say that I think that the ultimate goal of FSD is to mandate its use. Essentially convince the authorities that its so much safer and needs to be mandated for you to drive. That way it locks you into a monthly fee to use your car.

Going to be pretty hard to mandate a technology that only one company is producing. Long way off from creating an industry standard version of FSD. Government mandate is never going to be the solution on this one! There will always be a choice to drive or buy old school cars and manually drive.

 

[Blackwater]

Elektrek is reporting that today Tesla (effective immediately), is removing autopilot on new cars. To obtain that functionality, they need to pay the $100/month FSD subscription.

I think this is a bad move - I have no interest yet in FSD, but I use autopilot all the time on our model Y. My wife is the same - no interest in FSD, but loves autopilot. It's one of the reasons we bought the Tesla.

I suppose this will be a boost to comma AI.

I’m confused since we purchased a Y and it advertised an autopilot. So now they want to Charge for what was Free or take it away?

My diesel ram truck had a nice auto pilot that was part of the purchase price.

Sounds like a class action to me.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Going to be pretty hard to mandate a technology that only one company is producing. Long way off from creating an industry standard version of FSD. Government mandate is never going to be the solution on this one! There will always be a choice to drive or buy old school cars and manually drive.

I’m confused since we purchased a Y and it advertised an autopilot. So now they want to Charge for what was Free or take it away?

My diesel ram truck had a nice auto pilot that was part of the purchase price.

Sounds like a class action to me.

I said the same thing. Elon and as a result Tesla is becoming notorious for misleading its customers. Tesla makes a great EV, but unfortunately it’s a poorly run company.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

I’m confused since we purchased a Y and it advertised an autopilot. So now they want to Charge for what was Free or take it away?

My diesel ram truck had a nice auto pilot that was part of the purchase price.

Sounds like a class action to me.

The new purchase structure only applies to new purchase.

 

[BigSkies]

Going to be pretty hard to mandate a technology that only one company is producing. Long way off from creating an industry standard version of FSD. Government mandate is never going to be the solution on this one! There will always be a choice to drive or buy old school cars and manually drive.

Probably not a government mandate, but I do expect Tesla to mandate (ish) it for new Tesla purchases within a few years. They'll probably bundle it with connectivity, while raising the price of connectivity a bit. So it won't be truly required, but most Tesla drivers will eventually have it for a low price.

The reason is simple. Elon Musk gets hundreds of billions of dollars for hitting milestones related to FSD subscribers. Profitability is optional.

 

[cthelan]

Probably not a government mandate, but I do expect Tesla to mandate (ish) it for new Tesla purchases within a few years.

Doubt it.

They will do what they need to do to sell more vehicles with the latest hardware that can actually run FSD.

Not interested in the whole Elon angle to any of this. It's a publicly traded company seeking profitable returns for shareholders at the end of the day.

Sponsored