Tesla Delays Next-Gen Self-Driving Software to June, Confirms May Subscription Launch
Tesla pushes its highly anticipated vision-only Full Self-Driving update to June, while CEO Elon Musk confirms a monthly subscription option is arriving in May.
Tesla delays the release of its next-generation Full Self-Driving software to no later than June. CEO Elon Musk states on Twitter that a May release is merely aspirational and depends entirely on the performance of the limited beta test for version 9.0. This upcoming update removes the vehicle's reliance on radar and relies completely on camera-based computer vision to navigate roads and intersections.
Alongside this software timeline, Musk confirms that a monthly subscription option for the Full Self-Driving package is a certainty for May. This pay-as-you-go model serves as an alternative to the current upfront cost of $10,000. Tesla indicates that buying the package outright remains the better financial deal, which suggests the monthly subscription fee exceeds $100.
The upcoming v9.0 software release directly ties into a wider rollout through a "download Full Self-Driving Beta button" within Tesla vehicles. While the system currently handles all driving tasks autonomously, it still requires active human supervision. Tesla continues to collect driver feedback to eventually prove the system is significantly safer than human driving.