Tesla has made a big change for drivers in the United States and Canada. The company now charges a monthly subscription if people want to use highway driver-assist features on new Tesla electric vehicles. This means drivers now have to pay for these features that were free before
New Tesla cars came with Autopilot, a feature that helped the car stay in its lane and assist on highways. That was included without extra charge. But now, Tesla has removed Autopilot as a free feature on new cars. Instead, buyers must subscribe to the Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised package for about $99 each month to get those features.
The new system still gives new buyers a basic feature called Traffic Aware Cruise Control. This feature keeps the car going at a selected speed and can follow traffic safely without using steering. But if drivers want the car to auto control steering in highway lanes and handle more advanced driving tasks, they must pay the subscription.
Tesla is also ending the option to buy the FSD package once for a one-time payment. Right now, buyers can still buy FSD for a single large price, but that option will be removed after February 14, 2026. After that, the only way to get the advanced driver-assist software will be through a monthly subscription.
Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, has been pushing the company to make more money from software and technology inside its cars. Electric vehicle sales have slowed in recent times, so Musk and the company see subscriptions as a way to bring in stable income. The FSD software uses artificial intelligence and advanced technology, and Tesla believes more people paying every month could grow revenue.
Many Tesla customers have reacted with anger to the change. Some expressed disappointment, especially drivers who used the older Autopilot features when they bought their cars. People say they liked having lane help and steering help for free, and they are upset about new change that they now have to pay extra every month.
The change may also make drivers think differently about Tesla’s value. Some customers liked lifetime subscription plan for the driving software instead of paying every month. But with the new subscription plan, people may feel like they are renting features instead of owning them.
Tesla still allows new buyers to try the FSD features for a short free period at first, but after the trial ends, drivers must choose if they will pay or not each month. Drivers who do not want to subscribe can still use the basic traffic cruise control that comes standard with the car.
Experts say that paying extra fee is becoming more common in technology and car services. Many companies are now offering services by subscription because it gives them regular income every month. Tesla says its plan for subscriptions may grow and that prices could change over time as the technology improves.
Some people think this change could make people think differently about electric cars. Buyers might worry more about monthly costs instead of one-time costs. Others think subscription pricing is okay if the car’s services are helpful and work properly.
Tesla’s new subscription fees for driver-assist features show how the company is trying new ways to make money from its technology, even as the market for electric vehicles changes. Many customers, fans, and experts are disappointed with this new change and watching to see how drivers react and whether this will affect future Tesla sales.
