Tesla’s self-driving feature switching to subscription only

Tesla vehicles are displayed at an auto show

Tesla vehicles are displayed at the AutoMobility LA Auto Show, in Los Angeles, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

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(NewsNation) — Tesla’s so-called Full Self-Driving mode will only be available with a monthly subscription after Feb. 14.

Previously, the system could be purchased for a one-time fee of $8,000 or a monthly subscription of $99, according to Bloomberg. Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the switch in a post on his social platform, X, on Wednesday, but did not provide a reason for the change.

Reaching 10 million active Full Self-Driving subscriptions is among the targets the company must hit for Musk to earn additional shares under the pay package that shareholders approved in November, Bloomberg reported.

According to the Tesla website, “Autopilot is an advanced driver assistance system that assists your vehicle with steering, accelerating and braking for other vehicles and pedestrians within its lane.”

The company said Full Self-Driving subscriptions “are currently available for eligible vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia and New Zealand.”

Self-driving systems have come under increased scrutiny in recent months amid a series of traffic violations and crashes reported among Tesla, Waymo and Lyft vehicles.

In November, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a probe into Tesla’s self-driving software, following a series of incidents in which “the inputs to the dynamic driving task commanded by FSD induced vehicle behavior that violated traffic safety laws.”

Tech

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