Is Tesla‘s Autopilot Free? A Comprehensive Guide on What‘s Included vs. Extra Costs

No, Tesla‘s autopilot is not free. The basic autopilot comes standard, but the more advanced "Enhanced Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving" capabilities require付 extra. This article will provide a detailed breakdown of exactly what‘s included versus the additional costs.

What‘s Included for Free – Tesla‘s Standard Autopilot Package

Every new Tesla comes equipped with their standard "Autopilot" package at no extra cost. These key safety and convenience features include:

• Traffic-Aware Cruise Control – Uses cameras and radar to detect nearby vehicles and automatically adjust speed to maintain a set distance.

• Autosteer – Provides steering assistance to keep the car centered within clearly marked highway lanes. Driver must keep hands on wheel.

• Lane Departure Avoidance – Steers back into the lane if the car drifts over a lane marker without a turn signal.

• Emergency Lane Departure Avoidance – Steers back into driving lane if vehicle drifts into an adjacent lane without signaling.

• Autopark – Handles parking the car in both parallel and perpendicular spaces with driver supervision.

This standard autopilot package delivers a suite of driver assistance features designed for easier and safer highway driving. However, Tesla emphasizes the driver must continuously monitor the vehicle and be ready to take control at any time.

According to Tesla, every car they produce includes the hardware for full autonomous driving capabilities. But the software still requires final validation and regulatory approval. So for now, autopilot provides driving aids that enhance safety and convenience, but a human driver always remains responsible.

Upgrading to Enhanced Autopilot – $6,000 One-Time Payment

For $6,000 more, either at the time of ordering or through a post-purchase upgrade, Tesla owners can step up to "Enhanced Autopilot." This adds significantly more advanced self-driving functionality through additional cameras, sensors, and image processing power. Features exclusive to Enhanced Autopilot include:

• Navigate on Autopilot – Automatically navigates on limited access freeways, handling lane changes, interchanges, overtaking slower cars and proactively exiting based on your destination.

• Auto Lane Change – Conveniently changes lanes on the highway when driver taps the turn signal, without requiring steering input.

• Autopark Enhanced – Expanded ability to handle parking in even tighter spaces.

• Summon – Moves the car in and out of a parking space using the mobile app or key.

According to Tesla, their Enhanced Autopilot system can match speed to traffic conditions, keep within a lane, automatically change lanes, transition from one freeway to another, exit the freeway and self-park at your destination.

With the added convenience features like automatic lane changing and highway interchanging, Enhanced Autopilot takes on more of the driving workload compared to the standard package. But again, Tesla emphasizes the driver remains responsible for the vehicle and road at all times.

Full Self-Driving Capability – $15,000 One-Time or $199 Monthly

Tesla also offers an upgrade to "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) capability for $15,000 if ordered at the time of purchase. Alternatively, FSD can be purchased through a $199 monthly subscription.

Full Self-Driving builds on the Enhanced Autopilot features by adding:

• Traffic and Stop Sign Control – Identifies stop signs and traffic lights. Automatically slows the car to a stop with driver supervision.

• Autosteer on City Streets – Handles turns at intersections and avoids objects while driving automatically on supported surface streets and roads.

With the Full Self-Driving package, Tesla says the vehicle is capable of driving itself from highway on-ramp to off-ramp, navigating surface streets, stopping at signs and lights, parking, and summoning from your phone.

Experts caution that despite the name, Tesla‘s FSD technology still requires an attentive human driver prepared to take control instantly if needed. Full autonomous driving without human oversight has not yet been approved by regulators.

Monthly Premium Connectivity Subscription

Alongside the autopilot hardware packages, Tesla also offers a monthly Premium Connectivity subscription for $9.99 per month or $99 per year. This adds:

• Satellite map views with live traffic visualization
• Media streaming from Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, etc.
• Internet browser access
• Caraoke for in-car singing along to music and lyrics
• Live remote video streaming to Tesla mobile app

This connectivity subscription is optional and not required to access Tesla‘s autopilot driving features. It focuses more on in-car entertainment.

Autopilot Safety Statistics and Usage Data

According to Tesla‘s Q3 2021 Safety Report, drivers using Autopilot experience:

• 9x fewer accidents per mile driven compared to national average

• 11x fewer accidents per mile than cars without Tesla‘s safety features

Accident data Source: Tesla Q3 2021 Safety Report

The data shows consistent improvement in autopilot safety over time as Tesla logs more miles. However, there have still been high profile autopilot-related crashes that demonstrate limitations. As of mid-2022, the U.S. has opened 35 active investigations into Tesla collisions.

Consumer Reports estimates that as of December 2021, over 100,000 Tesla drivers in the U.S. had purchased Full Self-Driving capability, indicating strong demand for advanced autopilot features.

The Downsides and Controversy Around Tesla‘s Autopilot

While Tesla touts autopilot‘s safety benefits, their branding and marketing as "Full Self-Driving" has also sparked controversy. Critics point out Tesla still requires driver supervision at all times, and that naming it "full self-driving" oversells current capabilities.

“It’s incredibly irresponsible to advertise this as full self-driving or autonomous when it has so many shortcomings and fundamental limitations.” – Professor Missy Cummings, Duke University Center for Autonomous Vehicle Research

There have also been fatal crashes involving Tesla vehicles using autopilot, calling into question how much the systems can truly handle without human oversight. For example:

• In May 2022, a Tesla crashed into construction equipment in California while allegedly operating on autopilot, killing 3 passengers.

• In April 2022, 2 people died after their Tesla auto-crashed into a tree in Texas with no driver in the seat, likely using full self-drive mode.

• In March 2022, a Tesla on autopilot crashed into a highway divider in Florida resulting in 2 deaths.

While autopilot improves safety overall according to Tesla‘s data, significant risks remain if human drivers become overly trusting of the technology in its current form. Regulators like the NHTSA continue investigations to assess defects and provide guidance on safe autopilot use.

Tips for New Tesla Owners on Using Autopilot Properly

For those purchasing a new Tesla, I recommend being cautious at first with autopilot and learning its capabilities gradually:

• Carefully read all instructions and disclosures around autopilot‘s limitations before enabling the features.

• When first using autopilot, only activate it in ideal driving conditions on open highways with minimal traffic at lower speeds.

• Keep hands gently on the wheel and pay full attention at all times – do not rely on it fully or get distracted.

• Do not enable autopilot on surface streets, complex intersections, or poor weather/visibility conditions until you‘ve built more experience.

• Consider holding off paying for Full Self-Driving upgrade right away until you‘ve logged many miles getting accustomed to standard autopilot.

• Follow all Tesla guidance and best practices around autopilot use to avoid over-trusting the technology too soon.

While an amazing innovation, Tesla‘s autopilot still requires human supervision and attention behind the wheel. Ensure you take the time to use it properly and safely.

Conclusion – A Powerful but Pricey Upgrade Over Standard Autopilot

In summary, Tesla‘s basic autopilot driver assistance features come included standard at no extra cost. But unlocking more advanced self-driving capabilities requires付 significant additional payments of $6,000 for Enhanced Autopilot or $15,000 for Full Self-Driving.

For many buyers, the standard autopilot delivers enough functionality for safer driving and comfort on highways. But upgrading can provide exciting new conveniences like automatic navigation and parking. Understanding precisely what you get at each level makes it easier to set expectations accurately.

Overall, Tesla‘s autopilot capabilities represent an incredible leap in vehicle automation and safety when used properly. But "full self-driving" remains a work in progress with limitations. As upgrades like automatic lane changing continue improving, autopilot will become an even bigger game changer – albeit at a premium price.