Tesla Offering One-Month Trial of FSD Technology to New and Existing Customers in the US

Tesla is set to offer a one-month trial of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology to both new and existing customers in the United States, as announced by CEO Elon Musk and the company’s website. In addition, Tesla staff will be required to provide demonstrations of FSD to new buyers and owners of serviced vehicles, according to two emails from a Tesla source. This move comes amid pressure on sales and margins due to price competition and weakening demand.

Tesla’s FSD is an optional add-on priced at $12,000 that allows vehicles to navigate city streets. While Tesla refers to its driver-assisting systems as Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, the company emphasizes that these features do not make its vehicles autonomous and require active driver supervision. Musk has historically fallen short of achieving full autonomy as promised, leading to regulatory scrutiny over the safety and marketing of Tesla’s driver assistant software.

Musk announced on social media platform X that all US cars capable of FSD will be enabled for a one-month trial this week. The trial will be offered on new sales of Tesla models X, S, and Y, according to the company’s website. Meanwhile, Tesla’s margins have suffered from a price war with competitors that began over a year ago, leading the company to forecast slower sales growth this year as it focuses on producing its next-generation EV, codenamed “Redwood.”

In addition to facing pressure on sales and margins, Tesla is also contending with increased regulatory scrutiny of its self-driving systems and other areas in both the United States and certain European countries. In December, Tesla recalled nearly all 2 million vehicles on U.S. roads to implement new safety measures. Despite these challenges, Tesla remains committed to advancing autonomous driving technology and continuing its mission of accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy.