Elon Musk has announced a major change to how Tesla offers its Full Self-Driving software, ending the lifetime purchase option.
Speaking on Wednesday, Musk said Tesla will offer Full Self-Driving only through a monthly subscription starting February 14. The move closes the door on buying the system outright for permanent access.
Currently, Tesla offers Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in the United States for a one-time payment of $8,000 or via a $99 monthly subscription. Under the new model, customers will no longer be able to make a single lifetime purchase.
The change marks a clear shift in Tesla’s software strategy, placing ongoing access behind recurring payments rather than upfront ownership. It also reflects the company’s evolving approach to monetising advanced driver-assistance features.
Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14.
FSD will only be available as a monthly subscription thereafter.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 14, 2026Despite its name, Full Self-Driving does not deliver full autonomy. Tesla classifies the system as a driver-assistance tool and requires drivers to stay alert at all times. Users must keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, ready to take control when needed.
Regulatory scrutiny has increased around the system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reviewed nearly 2.88 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving after reports of crashes and traffic safety concerns linked to its use.
In response to regulatory pressure, Tesla added the word “Supervised” to the name of its Full Self-Driving feature for consumer vehicles. The company continues to use an unsupervised version only in limited factory environments.
Tesla’s standard Autopilot assists with steering, acceleration, and braking on highways. Full Self-Driving builds on those functions and extends them to city driving, including lane changes and responses to traffic signals.
The subscription-only shift signals Tesla’s intent to keep tighter control over how its most advanced driving software is used, updated, and regulated in the years ahead.
