"But when it became apparent that Tesla neutered its Autopilot driver assistance system by removing lane centering in its cheaper models, people began scratching their head. After all, why would Tesla want to neuter a feature that it's so famously known for? According to YouTuber and Tesla influencer Everyday Chris, who was invited by Tesla to check out the new Model Y standard ahead of its unveiling, Tesla says that it wants to nudge more people towards buying its Full Self-Driving software."
"That's right, according to that justification, Tesla stripped a core feature away from its most affordable option in the U.S. and stripped out a bunch of features so that it can sell it for $5,000 less, than up-sell you with an $8,000 software upgrade. Tesla also offers FSD as a $99 per month subscription. This works out to nearly the same monthly cost as financing $5,000 at 6.5% interest over 60 months, so maybe that wash-out is enough to convince buyers."
Tesla removed lane-centering Autosteer from the Model 3 Standard and Model Y Standard trims, turning their Autopilot into a less capable driver-assistance package. The removal reduces new-trim price by roughly $5,000 while Full Self-Driving (FSD) remains priced at $8,000 or $99 per month. Tesla framed the change as encouraging buyers of cheaper trims to purchase the FSD upgrade. The feature cut prompted criticism because competing lower-cost EVs like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt offer more value at lower prices. Financing and subscription math can make monthly costs similar, potentially influencing buyer decisions.
Read at insideevs.com
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