Tesla Gives North American Customers 30 Days to Secure Lifetime Full Self-Driving Before Subscription-Only Shift
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In a bold strategic pivot, Tesla is phasing out the ability to buy its Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability as a one-time purchase, effective after Valentine's Day 2026. Elon Musk, the electric vehicle giant's CEO, revealed the change via a post on his social media platform X, stating simply: "Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14. FSD will only be available as a monthly subscription thereafter."
This announcement, made on January 14, gives prospective and current Tesla owners in North America roughly 30 days to opt for the permanent ownership model before it vanishes.
The decision affects Tesla's Supervised FSD software, which currently costs $8,000 as a flat fee or $99 per month in the United States, with similar pricing in Canada, Mexico, and other North American markets.
After February 14, customers will no longer have the option to pay upfront for lifetime access tied to their vehicle. Instead, they'll be limited to the subscription model, which Tesla introduced in 2021 and has periodically adjusted for affordability—dropping to $99 per month in 2024 to encourage broader adoption.
Analysts view this as a savvy financial move for Tesla, transforming FSD from a one-off revenue source into a steady stream of recurring income. Musk has long touted FSD as a key driver of Tesla's future valuation, promising eventual "unsupervised" autonomy that could enable robotaxi services. However, by shifting to subscriptions, Tesla detaches from commitments to deliver full self-driving capabilities to vehicles purchased under the old model, as new users would only pay month-to-month without owning the software outright.
For current Tesla owners or those eyeing models like the Model 3, Model Y, or Cybertruck, the clock is ticking. New deliveries already include a 30-day FSD trial for eligible vehicles in North America, but this doesn't extend to permanent purchase post-trial unless acted upon before the deadline.
Musk's post didn't elaborate on reasons for the change, but it aligns with Tesla's push toward software-as-a-service, similar to how the company handles features like premium connectivity.
Reactions have been mixed. Some enthusiasts see it as a "power move" to fuel Tesla's growth, with social media users urging others to "lock it in NOW" if they believe in the technology's potential.
Critics, however, worry it echoes a broader trend of diminishing ownership, likening it to "renting our robotaxis forever."
Longtime owners with Hardware 3 (HW3) vehicles, who paid for FSD years ago expecting unsupervised features "soon," feel particularly shortchanged, as upgrades to newer versions like FSD v14 remain inconsistent.
Tesla's FSD remains a supervised system requiring driver attention, despite rapid improvements—logging millions of miles daily and achieving rare intervention-free drives.
The company continues to lead in real-world AI applications, outpacing competitors in autonomous tech deployment.
As the February 14 deadline approaches, potential buyers are advised to weigh the long-term value of ownership against the flexibility—and ongoing cost—of subscription. With Tesla's ecosystem expanding into robotaxis and Optimus robots, this shift could redefine how consumers interact with autonomous technology in North America.