Tesla Reduces Full Self-Driving Software Price To US$8,000
Shortly after settling a lawsuit over a 2018 car crash that killed an Apple engineer, Tesla slashed the price of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver assistant software to US$8,000 from US$12,000, as CEO Elon Musk reaffirms his commitment to self-driving technology.
The earlier settlement was made on the eve of the trial over the high-profile accident involving Tesla’s driver assistant technology. Despite its wounded reputation, Elon Musk strongly believes it will become a major source of revenue for the world’s most valuable automaker. He has for years failed to achieve the goal of self-driving capability, with the technology under growing regulatory and legal scrutiny.
Earlier this month, Musk said Tesla will unveil its robotaxis on 8 August 2024, after Reuters reported Tesla had scrapped its inexpensive, mass-market car in favour of robotaxis. Tesla subsequently cut the U.S. monthly subscription price for the feature from US$199 to US$99.
In 2023, Musk said that the price of FSD, then priced at US$15,000, was very low, saying that the value of the car would increase dramatically if it became autonomous. Tesla calls its driver assistant features Autopilot or FSD but says they do not make its vehicles autonomous and they require active driver supervision.
Recently, the EV titan has also cut 10% of its workforce from as it grapples with falling sales and an intensifying price war for electric vehicles (EVs), plus reputational damage from crashes.
“About every five years, we need to reorganise and streamline the company for the next phase of growth,” CEO Elon Musk commented in a post on X.
Two senior leaders, Battery Development Chief Drew Baglino and Vice President for public policy Rohan Patel, also announced their departures, drawing posts of thanks from Musk although some investors were concerned. Baglino had served as senior vice president of Tesla’s powertrain and energy engineering team since 2019.
Tesla has also been cutting prices on its auto line-up in major markets. Grappling with falling sales and an intensifying price war for electric vehicles, Tesla cut prices by nearly US$2,000 across its lineup in China, mirroring price cuts in the United States.
What You Missed:
Researchers Turn Metal Waste Into Catalyst For Hydrogen
Is AI Is Looking More Like A Band Aid Now?
Rever Automotive Builds And Tests BYD Buses In Thailand
Tesla Cuts More Than 10% Of Its Workforce
Tesla Settling Lawsuit Erodes Faith In Autonomous Driving
IoT Offers A Wealth Of Opportunities
High Household Debt In Dips Thailand Automotive Production And Sales
AST Begins Constructing Singapore Facility For High-End Substrates & Advanced Technologies
eVTOL Aircrafts May Dominate The Skies
Get To Zhuhai From Shenzhen In 20 Minutes With AutoFlight
WANT MORE INSIDER NEWS? SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DIGITAL MAGAZINE NOW!
CONNECT WITH US: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter
Letter to the Editor
Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you’d like to share with our readers? APMEN News would love to hear from you!
Email your letter to the Editorial Team at [email protected]
