Elon Musk says Tesla's Full Self-Driving will become subscription-only

Core Viewpoint - Tesla will transition its Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature from a one-time purchase option to a subscription-only model starting February 14, as announced by CEO Elon Musk [1][2]. Group 1: Subscription Model - Tesla owners currently have the option to purchase FSD for $8,000 or subscribe for $99 per month [2]. - The shift to a subscription model aims to increase customer uptake of the FSD technology, which is deemed critical for Tesla's future [2]. Group 2: Subscription Statistics - As of the third quarter earnings call in October, only about 12% of Tesla's current fleet has subscribed to FSD, indicating a need for improved subscription rates [6]. - The company has seen a decrease in quarterly revenue from FSD compared to the same period last year [6]. Group 3: Regulatory and Legal Challenges - The rollout of FSD has faced regulatory scrutiny, including investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding crash reporting and incidents involving FSD [7]. - Tesla is also facing potential legal challenges, including a ruling that could ban the sale of vehicles in California due to misleading marketing of its FSD and Autopilot systems [8]. Group 4: Executive Compensation Ties - Boosting FSD subscriptions is a key component of Elon Musk's compensation package, with a target of reaching 10 million subscriptions to unlock a potential payout of $1 trillion [6].