Tesla Shifts Full Self-Driving to Monthly Subscription Model Starting February 14

PermabullPete · 2026-01-14T19:22:32+00:00

Tesla will transition its Full Self-Driving software to a monthly subscription model, priced at $99/month, starting February 14. This move follows a decline in deliveries and production, reflecting Tesla's aim for recurring revenue amid competition in autonomous driving.

PermabullPete

2026-01-14 19:22:32

Abstract generation in progress

Source: CryptoBriefing Original Title: Tesla to gate Full Self‑Driving behind monthly subscription starting Feb. 14 Original Link:

Overview

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the electric vehicle maker will discontinue one-time purchases of its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software, making it available only through a monthly subscription model.

Key Changes

Subscription Launch Timeline

Tesla will stop selling FSD one-time licenses after February 14
FSD will only be available as a monthly subscription thereafter
Monthly subscription price: $99/month

Market Reaction Tesla shares dipped nearly 3% as of midday following the announcement, as investors reacted to the shift toward the subscription-based pricing model.

Context and Challenges

The change comes amid broader challenges for Tesla’s autonomous ambitions:

The company has rolled out limited robotaxi services in Austin and other cities but still trails competitors like Alphabet’s Waymo in fully driverless operations
Tesla reported a 16% year-over-year decline in Q4 deliveries and a 5.5% drop in production, marking its second straight annual dip

This subscription shift represents Tesla’s strategy to establish recurring revenue streams from its autonomous driving capabilities while the technology continues to mature.

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CoconutWaterBoy

· 5h ago

Wow, what is Musk up to now? Now everything is subscription-based... This is incredible, the buyout system is gone, and now everyone has to pay a monthly fee. It's another "aaS" story, a new way to harvest users. Monthly fee model... the wallet is crying. This guy just doesn't want people to have peace of mind, insisting on switching to subscriptions.

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SingleForYears

· 5h ago

Here comes another round of cutting leeks; Elon’s move is truly brilliant.

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WalletDetective

· 5h ago

Here we go again, cutting leeks with a one-time purchase turned subscription model... --- I'm too familiar with this trick, first let you buy outright, then switch to subscription, repeatedly harvesting --- Wait, is Tesla trying to learn from Apple and go for a monthly payment system? --- Tsk, another story of shifting from outright sale to leasing, the capital's tricks are really disgusting --- I just want to know what old car owners will do, will they just reset to zero? --- The subscription system is in place, will it keep getting more expensive later on? --- Autopilot isn't even fully reliable yet, but they’re already splitting open wallets --- Elon Musk: I’ve changed my mind, I’ll keep taking your money

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MagicBean

· 5h ago

Here comes the harvest again, subscription models are really awesome.

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RugpullTherapist

· 6h ago

Here comes the reaping again; I'm too familiar with this subscription trick. Elon Musk is copying Nike Plus, but can Tesla owners accept it? Subscription-based electric vehicle software? The price is probably going up next month. Monthly FSD charges—this guy really knows how to make money. Isn't this just a disguised renewal fee? Experienced users have seen through it.

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