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Posted by CharlesW 10 hours ago

Tesla kills Autopilot, locks lane-keeping behind $99/month fee(arstechnica.com)
278 points | 299 commentspage 6
lisp2240 8 hours ago|
All Teslas should be banned. This has gone on long enough.
testing22321 9 hours ago||
Somewhat related, there are now robotaxis giving rides to customers in Austin with no driver, and no safety monitor inside at all.

Progress, for sure.

Zigurd 8 hours ago||
There's no monitor in the car. But there is a chase car with a monitor in it. Technically correct is the best kind isn't it?
testing22321 2 hours ago||
Yes, correct.

The next step will be remote monitors with the ability to drive if needed. That will be identical to Waymo I now.

Then the next step is nobody watching.

Progress is fantastic, it means more choices for consumers, lower prices, better tech.

thechao 9 hours ago||
Waymo's been in Austin for a while! Seeing them on MOPAC, when I don't think they're supposed to be on the highway, is always charming.
verdverm 8 hours ago||
a while for sure, Waymo had cars all over last time I was there ~5 years ago

Waymo expanded highway operations at the end of last year

https://apnews.com/article/waymo-autonomous-driverless-cars-...

seshagiric 9 hours ago|
It's a tradeoff, too early to say if it's a dumb move.

Side A: Tesla can grow FSD subscription revenue by making FSD + Autopilot completely based on subscription. Lot more people use Autopilot than FSD. In the happy path such users will pay the subscription and that revenue will increase.

Side B: Autopilot (aka lane keeping) is fast becoming default option across manufacturers. Tesla will take a dip in sales if such 'basic' option is no longer available.

Whether side A > side B is to be seen.

cosmicgadget 8 hours ago||
I'd prefer to evaluate it from the viewpoint of someone outside the Tesla c-suite.
lowbloodsugar 8 hours ago||
$22k Corolla has it.

Not paying $99/mo for it.

The issue is not that “FSD” is $99/mo. The issue is that a feature of $22k cars (lane keeping) is behind the $99/mo paywall.

Basically not enough people were buying the subscription for Elon to get his payout. But someone who just wants auto steering isn’t going to decide they’ll pay $99/mo for that. So this is just going to make people who like that feature not buy a new Tesla when the time comes.