You Can Now Subscribe For Tesla Premium Driver-Assist Features
Jane Lu
· 3 min read
Tesla
has been in the news recently for a number of reasons. Unfortunately, not all of them were good. For example, nearly 300,000 vehicles were recalled for cruise control issues
.On the other hand, Tesla’s new subscription model for its premium
driver assistance
package is getting some attention. The package includes some intriguing features, but it also has several limitations.
Tesla's new subscription-based model for driving features
Tesla's premium driver assistance features cost $10,000 up-front, as reported by
CNBC
. Recently, Tesla introduced a subscription model which will cost $199 a month. Customers who bought the company’s discontinued service, the Enhanced Autopilot
package, will get a discount and pay $99 a month instead.You need to fulfill two main requirements to get the subscription. Firstly, you can’t have purchased the features up-front. You can either buy and own the features for $10,000 or get a subscription.
Second, the Tesla model's hardware must be upgraded to a Hardware 3 (HW3) computer, also known as the Full Self-Driving (FSD) computer 3.0. Newer versions of this hardware are also compatible. The subscription can be purchased from the Tesla app or by logging into their website.
What features are included in the package?
One of the key features of the package is the Full Self-Driving system. But keep in mind that even with FSD, the car still won’t be safe without an attentive driver. According to CNBC, Tesla added a disclaimer for the system noting that "The currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous."
According to
Gear Patrol
, the Society of Automotive Engineering defines six levels of car autonomy from Level 0 to Level 5. Level 0 is just a normal car and Level 5 is a fully self-driving one. Currently, Tesla's autopilot technology is at Level 2, since the driver must still pay attention at all times.The package also offers autopilot capabilities like automatic parking, lane changing, and responding to traffic lights. If you want to test out Tesla features, this may be a great opportunity.
What are some drawbacks of the subscription?
The new subscription model has quite a few limitations that may deter customers. The features of the subscription may change at any time and are limited by region. Another major obstacle is the package's system requirements. Some Model Ys and other popular models don’t come with the HW3 hardware built-in, so it will cost about $1,500 extra.
The automaker’s pricing policy might also be off-putting. Tesla said that they can increase the price of the subscription with one month's advance notice. Tesla can cancel or suspend a subscription at any time if they decide that you’ve used it for inappropriate purposes.
Whether it’s the driver or the company that cancels the subscription, the monthly payment won't be prorated. Customers will have to pay the full amount each month even if they don’t use it the whole time. There are also no refunds or free trials for subscriptions.
If you're thinking about getting the premium driver assistance package, and want to save money elsewhere,
Jerry
can help you find the most affordable car insurance. The free app will compare rates from 50 top insurance companies to ensure you get the best savings. It only takes 45 seconds to sign up and you can save money without the hassle of long forms or salespeople.
