Tesla FSD is Now Significantly Cheaper Than Before

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

Regardless of how you feel about the tech, the truth has always been that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature has been ridiculously expensive. The good news now, at least for Tesla owners, is that the automaker recently cut the price by 25 percent, making it significantly less expensive, though it’ll still add thousands to a new vehicle’s bottom line.


FSD now costs $8,000, down from $12,000, and the monthly subscription price is $99 instead of $199. The price for buyers who already had Enhanced Autopilot dropped from $6,000 to $2,000. While notable, the price cuts bring FSD back to around the price it was when it was introduced, but it’s nice that it no longer costs $15,000 as it did in late 2022.


Tesla recently removed the “beta” tag from FSD on its website and added clearer language that it requires continuous driver attention to function safely. Though it has clearly progressed over the years, FSD is still limited to Level 2 autonomy and can’t be used without a driver ready to take control at any time.


The automaker has been under fire in recent years over its drivers’ penchant for abusing the technology, including several high-profile crashes and a few fatal accidents. Calling something “full self-driving” is likely part of the problem, as the name implies that the car can handle itself, but there is also a need to monitor drivers to make sure they aren’t taking advantage of loopholes in the systems, such as faking hand contact with the wheel while reading a book or fiddling with their phones.


[Image: Shutterstock]


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Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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  • Jeff Jeff on Apr 23, 2024

    Tesla should not be allowed to call its system Full Self-Driving. Very dangerous and misleading.

    • See 1 previous
    • Mcs Mcs on Apr 23, 2024

      It's a self-parody. Musk is proving himself to be an idiot. A lot of his supporters, except for his most extreme cult members, are turning on him. I somewhat supported him in the past myself, but have changed my mind about him. They tried to hire me three times for the FSD team and I don't regret saying no. They don't understand the scope of research and development needed and he won't listen. I think I've said it before. Perfecting nuclear fusion is easier than perfecting full self-driving. I predict we'll have FSD 5 years after we have fusion reactors (if you know that joke).





  • Rochester Rochester on Apr 23, 2024

    After years of self-driving being in the news, I still don't understand the psychology behind it. Not only don't I want this, but I find the idea absurd.

    • See 1 previous
    • Jalop1991 Jalop1991 on Apr 23, 2024

      Because it is absurd. I'm shocked that people who represent themselves as being "educated" can't comprehend that what happens is, people will put themselves in the position of going from paying zero attention to requiring full attention AND situational awareness, all in a split second.

      And they can't. Ever. Not even close.

      You'll never be able to get people NOT to play with their shiny new expensive toys in public. "Look! It drives itself! I can get into the back seat if I want!" (true story, he did).

      It would be one thing if the driver's actions affected only himself. I would be proud to hang the Darwin medal on the body. But this is in traffic, in society--where the driver will kill others.

      But of course, you can't tell a Tesla driver what to do! It's none of your business!!!


      All you can do is...not supply the idiot tool.


  • VoGhost VoGhost on Apr 23, 2024

    I suspect that the people criticizing FSD drive an "ecosport".

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