Tesla To End One-Time FSD Purchases After Feb 14

Tesla is preparing to close the door on one of its most debated options. From February 15, buyers will no longer be able to purchase Full Self-Driving outright, with access shifting entirely to a monthly subscription model.

The change was confirmed by CEO Elon Musk in a

, marking a major shift in how Tesla monetises its autonomous driving ambitions at a time when vehicle sales growth has slowed and software revenue is taking centre stage.

“Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14. FSD will only be available as a monthly subscription thereafter,” Musk posted on X.

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What changes for new Tesla buyers?

Until now, Tesla owners could either pay a hefty upfront fee (US$10,000 or more) for Full Self-Driving or subscribe monthly. That choice is about to disappear.

From mid February, monthly subscription access will be the only way to use FSD (Supervised). In the United States, the current subscription price sits at US$99 per month, although Tesla has not confirmed whether pricing will change once the one time purchase option is removed.

What Tesla has made clear is that the change applies mainly to new customers. Those who previously paid for FSD outright are widely expected to retain access, although Tesla has not formally detailed how legacy ownership will be treated long term.

The move reflects Tesla’s broader shift toward recurring revenue, positioning software and autonomy as core growth drivers alongside robotics and AI.

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What FSD actually offers and where it works

Despite the name, Full Self-Driving remains a driver assistance system, not a fully autonomous one. Tesla now officially brands it as FSD (Supervised) for passenger vehicles, underlining the requirement for drivers to stay alert and ready to take control at all times.

Current FSD capabilities include:

• Assisted lane changes on highways and city streets
• Responding to traffic lights and stop signs
• Semi autonomous navigation in urban environments
• Automated parking and summon features

FSD is currently available in several markets, including the United States, Canada, China, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand, with further regional rollouts expected through future software updates.

Tesla does operate an unsupervised version of FSD internally, but only at select factories where vehicles move autonomously from production lines to delivery areas.

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Hardware requirements and subscription limits

Not every Tesla on the road qualifies for a Full Self-Driving subscription.

To access FSD, vehicles must be equipped with FSD Computer (Hardware) 3.0 or newer, along with either Basic Autopilot or Enhanced Autopilot. Hardware upgrades are not included with the subscription and must be installed separately if required.

Owners can check eligibility through their vehicle touchscreen or via the Tesla app, and book hardware upgrades directly through Tesla if needed.

Enhanced Autopilot remains unavailable in some markets, although Tesla currently charges the same subscription fee regardless of whether the vehicle runs Basic or Enhanced Autopilot.

Regulatory pressure continues to build

Tesla’s decision comes as scrutiny around its driver assistance systems remains intense.

Last year, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into 2.88 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after receiving more than 50 reports of crashes and traffic safety violations.

The investigation has played a role in Tesla’s increasingly cautious language around autonomy, reinforcing that FSD is not a replacement for human attention, despite the branding that once suggested otherwise.

For Tesla, the subscription pivot may help stabilise revenue, but it also ensures every active FSD user remains under closer regulatory and software oversight.