Elon Musk has removed Tesla’s Autopilot as a standard self-driving feature in the US, only for the new Model Y and Model 3, in a bid to promote its more advanced full self-driving (FSD) subscriptions.
Confirming the removal of Autopilot in the US on select models, Tesla’s website stated that new orders for base models will now only include traffic-aware cruise control, which allows the vehicle to adjust its speed while following other cars on the road.
Previously, Autopilot had traffic-sensitive cruise control and automatic steering, and allowed the car to stay in its lane and change lanes with turn signals.
It has not been made clear whether this change has anything to do with the suspension of Tesla’s dealer license in California after a ruling found the company engaged in deceptive marketing regarding Autopilot and FSD claims.
The ruling stood for 60 days, giving Tesla room to adjust its marketing practices.
The development comes on the heels of Tesla CEO Elon Musk replacing the $8,000 one-time fee for FSD with a monthly subscription model priced at $99.
He explained that the FSD would become more expensive as its capabilities improved, saying, “The huge jump in value comes when you can be on your phone or sleeping for the entire trip.”
The increasing focus on FSD is in line with Musk’s ambitions for an autonomous future for Tesla, although it lags behind Alphabet’s Waymo in robotaxi implementation and efficiency.
