Tesla is now offering a tempting package to those who order a Model S or Model X. This includes three-year subscriptions to FSD, Premium Connectivity, and Free Supercharging for a fee of $5,000. However, the offer comes with conditions, which may not be attractive to everyone.
The latest versions of Tesla Fully autonomous driving suites have gotten pretty good at driving, with owners reporting hours of driving without having to take control. This seems to support Elon Musk's optimism that FSD will soon be good enough to replace the driver at the wheel. However, for now, Tesla still requires drivers to remain alert and ready to take over at a moment’s notice.
As FSD improved, Elon Musk tried to sell Tesla owners the idea that they should rush to purchase the FSD Capability package (later called FSD Supervised) to avoid future price increases. FSD prices did indeed increase from $3,000 in 2016 to $15,000 in September 2022, the second price increase that year. This somewhat convinced people that the price would only increase as the software improved. However, things have changed since then, and FSD has seen two price cuts.
In September 2023, Tesla lowered the price of the FSD to $12,000, the same as in January 2022. In April, the price dropped again to $8,000 (July 2020 level), even though the FSD V12 was considered the closest thing to a self-driving system. In fact, with the V12, the FSD has become quite good, and the latest iteration V12.5 has been praised as almost perfect. However, instead of increasing the price, it seems that Tesla is once again considering making the FSD even more accessible.
In addition to the option to pay up front ($8,000) or via a monthly subscription ($99), Tesla is also offering FSD as a 3-year package that adds free Supercharging and Premium Connectivity for $5,000. Considering that an FSD subscription for the same period is $3,564, while Premium Connectivity is $360, that leaves the free Supercharging deal at $1,076. That works out to $359 per year or $30 per month, which seems like a pretty good deal. However, a few conditions mean this deal isn’t for everyone.
For example, the bundle excludes vehicles used for commercial purposes, which I assume means Lyft, Uber, Turo, and the like. This is understandable, considering that people tend to abuse the perks, and free Supercharging has always been considered a nuisance because it clogs up Superchargers. According to the bundle subscription agreement, Tesla may remove free Supercharging from the bundle without refund if it finds out you are a commercial driver. From that point, your vehicle will be converted to paid Supercharging access.
For now, the offer is only available to those who order a Model S or Model X. It’s unclear whether Tesla will extend it to other models in the future. Given the limited sales of Tesla’s most expensive electric vehicles, it seems more like a limited trial than a new policy.