As with most things technology these days, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) feature will also soon adopt a subscription-only model. While buyers can currently choose between a one-time purchase at the point of sale or a monthly subscription later on, the one-time purchase option will soon be removed, making subscription the only way to access the software.
This was announced by Tesla Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director Elon Musk said through a post on his social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). “Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14. FSD will only be available as a monthly subscription thereafter,” the post read.
Currently, Tesla’s confusingly named Full Self-Driving (FSD) advanced driver assistance system is available as an USD8,000 (approx. RM32k) one-time purchase, or via a USD99 (approx. RM401) monthly subscription. It’s unclear if pricing for the latter will still remain the same when it becomes the sole option.
While a subscription could mean a lower outlay at the time of purchase, customers who choose to purchase FSD outright could benefit from lower costs in the long run, especially when the company has a history of changing the prices of the FSD subscription.
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The FSD system enables vehicles to navigate, steer, brake, and change lanes autonomously on both city streets and highways. Despite its name, the system is still not completely “full” autonomous and still requires constant driver supervision, with the driver responsible to take control of the vehicle at any moment.
Tesla did not comment on its motive behind FSD’s switch to a subscription-only model. The American carmaker also does not disclose the number of users for the system, but Tesla Chief Financial Officer, Vaibhav Taneja, said during an earnings call in October 2025 that “the total paid FSD customer base is still small, around 12% of our current fleet,” according to a CNBC report.
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Tesla may be considered amongst the leaders in terms of self-driving capabilities for now, but brands around the world are starting to catch up. Mercedes-Benz, for example, has begun rolling out its SAE Level 3 Drive Pilot system, although it remains restricted to selected regions. In China, rapid advancements in ADAS technology have made the market increasingly competitive, and as such, many carmakers are now opting to include similar driving assistance features into cheaper and more accessible models.
Here in Malaysia, Tesla’s FSD system is currently available to purchase at RM32,000. However, full capabilities such as city street and highway navigation are still not fully functional nor active in the country.
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