Tesla Full Self-Driving moves to subscription-only in US, Australia unaffected for now

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced the electric car maker will offer its Full Self-Driving (FSD) function on a subscription-only basis in the US, removing the option for buyers to pay a one-off fee.

However, other countries, including Australia, New Zealand and the UK, have yet to confirm they will follow suit for Model Y and Model 3 customers in their respective markets.

Mr Musk posted the news on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, explaining the FSD feature will be sold by monthly subscription only after February 14, 2026.

The system was first rolled out in the US in 2021, where it can currently be accessed for a one-off US$8000 (A$11,889) fee or via a US$99 (A$147) monthly subscription across its lineup, which includes the Cybertruck not sold here.

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FSD (Supervised) was switched on for Australia and New Zealand in September 2025 and can be purchased for $10,100 as a single payment in Australia, or via a $149-per-month ongoing subscription.

In New Zealand, the respective prices are NZ$11,400 (A$9868) or NZ$159 (A$138) per month.

At those rates, it would take just over five-and-a-half years of subscription payments to reach the $10,100 single-payment amount in Australia, not including any taxes or other costs its inclusion in the purchase price may attract.

However, Tesla Australia told CarExpert the announcement doesn’t necessarily impact local customers, saying: “At this point in time, this is a US initiative”.

Similarly, Tesla UK told Auto Express it was unlikely to switch to a subscription-only model, where FSD is currently under test but not available for customer use on British public roads.

“Given that FSD hasn’t been fully released in the UK, it probably doesn’t make sense for it to be offered as a subscription for the time being,” the automaker told Auto Express.

Australia is further down the track with FSD, suggesting it may follow the US model sooner than the UK in placing the feature behind a subscription paywall.

Tesla Australia charges fees for other features, including satellite navigation, which previously included free lifetime access for vehicles delivered before July 20, 2022, but it’s not the only automaker to do so.

Ford Australia introduced subscription fees in 2025 for features such as built-in satellite navigation, with a choice of an annual $110 fee or a $15 monthly payment.

This change affected models dating back to 2020, including the best-selling Ranger ute, Everest SUV and Transit commercial vans.

Beyond software, BMW introduced heated steering wheel and heated seats functions via a subscription service through its ConnectedDrive store in 2022.

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