Elon Musk is reshaping how Tesla owners pay for driver assistance, scrapping the familiar Autopilot package while preparing to charge more for access to Full Self-Driving. The shift turns what many buyers saw as a built-in safety net into a premium software service, with higher monthly fees on the horizon. It is a bet that drivers will accept subscription pricing for core driving features, even as the basic Autopilot brand disappears from new cars.
At the center of this change is a simple trade: less included capability up front, more recurring revenue later. Musk has signaled that the current $99 per month entry point for Full Self-Driving will not last, and that FSD will soon be the only way to get advanced lane-keeping and automated driving support in a new Tesla. For owners who bought into the brand on the promise of standard Autopilot, the ground is moving under their wheels.
The end of Autopilot as Tesla’s default safety net
Tesla has quietly turned off one of its most recognizable selling points by discontinuing Autopilot as a standard feature on new vehicles. Reporting on how Tesla discontinues Autopilot describes the company removing the familiar lane-centering and adaptive cruise bundle that once came baked into the price of a Model 3 or Model Y. Instead of a default driver-assistance layer, buyers are now steered toward more expensive software tiers that start with Full Self-Driving. That shift is not just branding, it is a structural change in how much automation a new Tesla offers out of the box.
Some coverage goes further, arguing that the company has effectively “killed” Autopilot to push customers into its higher tier system. One analysis of how Tesla Kills Autopilot notes that the basic lane-centering features have been stripped from new cars, framing the move as an attempt to “Force FSD Adoption Amid License Ban” and shore up a struggling autonomous driving business. For drivers who saw Autopilot as a baseline safety tool rather than a luxury add-on, the removal marks a stark break with Tesla’s earlier positioning.
From one-time option to subscription-only FSD
At the same time as Autopilot disappears, Musk is locking in a subscription-only future for Full Self-Driving. In a post cited by multiple reports, he said Tesla will stop, with FSD only available as a monthly subscription after that date. That means the era of paying once for a lifetime license is ending, replaced by a recurring charge that continues for as long as an owner wants access to the software. For a brand that once marketed FSD as a long term investment in future robotaxi capability, the pivot to pure subscription is a major philosophical turn.
Other coverage underscores how this fits into a broader strategy to move away from one-time software purchases. A detailed breakdown of how Tesla Drops Autopilot and pushes a costly upgrade explains that the company is retooling its pricing structure, effective January 23, 2026, to favor ongoing payments. Another analysis of Indeed notes that, starting February, this subscription-first approach is part of a deliberate move to secure more predictable revenue, even if it risks pushing some buyers toward rival brands.
Price hikes on the horizon for FSD subscribers
For now, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving subscription is advertised at $99 per month, but Musk has been explicit that this figure will not hold. One report on how Elon Musk Says will become more expensive highlights his comment that the $99 monthly fee will rise as the software’s capabilities improve. Another summary of the same remarks, framed as $99 per month, quotes him telling drivers “You Can Be On Your Phone” while the car handles more of the work, a claim that will only intensify scrutiny from regulators and safety advocates.
Coverage of Musk’s comments by By Aditi Bharade and Tom Carter notes that he has repeatedly said FSD prices will as the system improves, and that he is positioning the software as a premium product that should cost far more than it does today. Another account of how Elon Musk says will increase as Tesla kills Autopilot reinforces that message, tying the end of the cheaper system directly to the coming FSD hikes. For owners, the implication is clear: the longer they wait to subscribe, the more they are likely to pay.
Paywalling “Basic Autopilot” and the safety debate
Removing Autopilot from the standard feature list is not just a marketing tweak, it also reshapes how safety is packaged and sold. Detailed reporting on how Tesla cuts standard explains that the company has officially removed Basic Autopilot as a standard feature for new cars, a change flagged by Fred Lambert alongside “203” Comments from readers. A related breakdown of how Basic Autopilot is now locked behind a paywall describes the move as a response to demand and profit headwinds, suggesting that what used to be framed as a safety feature is being repackaged as a revenue driver.
Another section of the same reporting notes that, under the new 2026 pricing, the cost of Tesla’s driver assistance subscription is significantly higher than similar offerings on cars costing half as much. The analysis of how new 2026 pricing structure, Tesla’s subscription compares with rivals, points out that only a handful of competitors, such as Mercedes, charge more than Tesla for comparable systems, and some charge less than $50 per month. That context is echoed in a separate overview of how Tesla will make Driving (Supervised) subscription-only starting in Feb, underscoring that Tesla is now asking drivers to pay more than many rivals for features that used to be included.
Musk’s rationale: capability, control and recurring revenue
Musk has framed the changes as a natural consequence of FSD becoming more capable, and as a way to align pricing with what he sees as its value. One explanation of why Elon Musk is planning to hike Tesla’s FSD subscription rate notes that he has argued the software will eventually be worth far more than its current price, especially if it reaches a point where it can handle most driving tasks. Another summary of how Tesla to Increase as the Company Phases Out Autopilot Feature describes Tesla CEO Elon Musk presenting the move as part of a long term strategy for autonomous driving features, not just a short term cash grab.
Critics, however, see a different motive. A pointed analysis of how pivot is clearly money and control argues that killing Autopilot and hiking FSD prices is less about safety and more about “subscription-ification” of the daily commute. Another commentary on Tesla’s Bold Pivot, framed as “Goodbye Standalone Autopilot, Hello FSD Subscriptions,” describes the shift as a significant move toward steering customers into recurring payments, with less flexibility for those who preferred to pay once and own the feature outright.
More from Morning Overview