Tesla is sending emails to its customers, urging them to purchase the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system before February 14, when the company will switch to a subscription-only model. ' This is a significant departure from its historical practice of allowing FSD to transfer to new owners when they sell their vehicles.
The company's support page also contradicts this new language, stating that if the previous owner subscribed to FSD for a monthly fee, the vehicle will be transferred to the new owner with FSD. Tesla has been known to remove FSD from used cars it bought and resold, but it had not prevented private owners from selling vehicles with FSD privately.
The change in policy raises concerns that customers are being misled into buying FSD as a permanent upgrade when it may only be worth $8,000 for an extended software license that terminates when they sell their car. This move has sparked criticism, with some arguing that it is a classic bait-and-switch tactic and a desperate cash grab.
The change in policy also undermines the historical justification for buying FSD, which was that it added resale value to the vehicle. As a result, Tesla's customers are being pushed into buying FSD before the deadline, using marketing language like 'Own It Outright' that implies permanence and ownership.
However, if FSD no longer transfers on resale, customers do not really own it at all, but rather pay for an extended software license that terminates when they sell. The change in policy has significant implications for Tesla's customers, who need to be transparent about what they are buying and how long their 'purchase' will last.
This policy change is a concerning move by Tesla, as it appears to be a bait-and-switch tactic designed to increase revenue. By making FSD non-transferable, Tesla is essentially selling customers an extended software license rather than a permanent upgrade, which undermines the historical justification for buying FSD and adds significant value to the price tag.
