Tesla’s 'Full Self-Driving' software just got a big price hike to $12,000

Tesla's 'Full Cocky-Driving' software merely got a big price hike to $12,000

An all electric Tesla Model 3 in white on cement road with trees in background on sunny day.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Tesla'southward "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) software is about to go its second large cost hike since it first entered beta in October 2020. What began at $8,000 quickly rose to $10,000 within days, and now information technology's set up to rise to $12,000 afterward this month.

The change, which was appear by CEO and founder Elon Musk on Twitter, merely applies to the Us for the moment, and volition become into upshot on Jan 17.

In a follow-up tweet, Musk suggested that this may not be the last price ascension, either. "FSD price will rise as we go closer to FSD production code release," he added.

For now, users can withal pay $199 per month for the feature if they prefer, but when asked Musk said that that the monthly cost would also rise as the software gets closer to its total release.

The software is nonetheless in beta mode, only non everyone can employ information technology. Drivers with the right on-lath hardware volition too need to show they can exist trusted not to leave the car to its own devices, past enabling the Tesla insurance computer for seven days to assess their general driving competence.

That's because while the self-driving software should be able to become a person from A to B without intervention, drivers still need to be on paw merely in instance. Indeed, the beta notes specifically warn users against letting their guard downwards saying it may "do the wrong thing at the worst fourth dimension."

Tesla Autopilot vs FSD

Doubtless a one-off payment of $12,000 — or a subscription of $199 a calendar month — is a lot to pay for a beta feature, and especially i that even so requires the driver'due south attention. But it's worth clarifying that FSD remains a big step up from Autopilot, which has been a part of Tesla vehicles for years.

As Tesla's website explains, Autopilot is designed to make driving more than comfortable, but something that still needs your full attention. It works best on highway driving where the car tin easily see road lines and lucifer its speed to nearby vehicles for an automated prowl command.

FSD, meanwhile, should require far less involvement from the driver, with the car non only capable of coping on the highway, but of entering via an on ramp and changing lanes when the driver flicks a plough signal. It should likewise react to traffic lights, and park for you when you've reached your destination.

Merely at that place'due south a reason this is still in beta, and that's because the footstep upwards from Autopilot to FSD is a big one. As Musk himself tweeted back in April, "the entire road system is designed for biological neural nets with optical imagers." Or humans, to put it more succinctly.

Depending on how yous look at it, that'south either a sign that a $12,000 price tag is a pocket-size cost to pay for the tech involved, or something that'south best left to humans until proven otherwise.

Freelance correspondent Alan has been writing well-nigh tech for over a decade, roofing phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are plant all over the spider web and in the occasional mag too. When not weighing upwardly the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably notice him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.