Tesla's Full Self-Driving System Will Only Be Available Via Subscription, Musk Says

Dow Jones01-14
 

By Mauro Orru

 

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said the electric-vehicle maker would stop selling a suite of advanced driver assistance features for a one-time payment, switching instead to a monthly subscription service.

The company's Full Self-Driving system makes it easier for drivers to change lanes and navigate around other vehicles and objects, but doesn't make vehicles fully autonomous and is meant to be used only with a fully attentive driver.

Tesla currently offers the FSD system for a one-time payment of $8,000 or a subscription of $99 a month in the U.S., according to Tesla's website.

Musk wrote in a post on X that Tesla would stop selling the system after Feb. 14, making it only available through a monthly subscription. He didn't elaborate on the decision to remove the one-time payment option. Tesla shares slipped 0.6% premarket.

Tesla's FSD system carries more features than its autopilot package, which the company describes as a standard advanced driver assistance system that is meant to enhance safety and convenience.

Autopilot comes with traffic-aware cruise control and autosteer features, which are also included in Tesla's FSD system on top of auto lane change, autopark and other features, according to Tesla's website.

Musk's announcement comes after Tesla, once the top seller of electric vehicles, lost its crown to China's BYD. Tesla sales were down 9% in 2025 and fell 16% for the fourth quarter compared with a year prior.

 

Write to Mauro Orru at mauro.orru@wsj.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 14, 2026 05:35 ET (10:35 GMT)

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