For the past two weeks, Tesla owners have had free access to the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) features. Reactions to the feature’s existing capabilities have been mixed, particularly given the price. Since the trial period began, Elon Musk has been routinely replying to comments from owners.
One post in particular turned out to be really predictive.
If Tesla lowered FSD subscription price to $99/m I bet it would get a >25% take rate.
— Yashu Sharma 🍊 (@heyitsyashu) April 11, 2024
Just 24 hours after Elon liked X user Yashu Sharma’s post, Tesla announced a pricing reduction for the month-to-month FSD membership from $199 to $99.
For drivers who were previously put off by the $199 monthly price, this might fundamentally change the value proposition. This 50% discount only applies to the subscription, however. Purchasing FSD outright is still priced at $12,000 now.
You can now subscribe to FSD (Supervised) for $99/month in the UShttps://t.co/0IwC9GC0aF
— Tesla (@Tesla) April 12, 2024
Upgrades > Software Upgrades > Subscribe
The price reduction brings FSD pricing in line with other automakers’ offerings. Autopilot is the most feature-rich of the three, but it also costs the most.
GM’s Super Cruise costs $2,200 at the time of purchase ($2,500 for Cadillacs), which includes a three-year subscription. After the first three years, a subscription costs just $25 per month. Ford’s BlueCruise now has a few pricing options: $75 per month, $800 per year, and $2,100 over three years.
Edmunds ranked Super Cruise as the best driver-assist option last year. Consumer Reports ranked BlueCruise as their preferred choice, with Super Cruise coming in second. In comparison to Tesla’s FSD, both systems are highly sophisticated and stand out for being totally hands-free.
They only operate on designated highways, but Tesla’s technology may also be used on city streets.
| Driver Assist | 3-Year Cost | 6-Year Cost | Hands-Free | Capabilities |
| Tesla Full Self-Driving Supervised | $3,564 | $7,128 | No | Highways and City Streets |
| GM Super Cruise | $2,200 Chevrolet $2,500 Cadillac | $3,100 Chevrolet $3,400 Cadillac | Yes | Highways Only |
| Ford BlueCruise | $2,100 | $4,200 | Yes | Highways Only |
Other options, such as Volvo Pilot Assist and Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA2), are available in certain vehicle model levels. Hyundai offers HDA2 in the SEL and Limited trim levels. The Hyundai Ioniq 5’s SE to SEL trim upgrade costs $1,500.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge has Pilot Assist in the Ultimate trim level, which is a $3,400 increase over the Plus. In addition to Pilot Assist, this package contains a number of additional useful enhancements.
Hyundai and Volvo systems, like Tesla’s, demand that one hand be on the wheel at all times. They are also confined to roads, such as Super Cruise and Blue Cruise.
Now that Tesla has given drivers a taste of FSD’s capabilities and reduced the cost, many more drivers may conclude it is finally worth the membership. Do you believe the new price structure represents good value? Please let us know in the comments below.