How Tesla’s New Autopilot Prices and Features Affect You

In what seems like an extremely last minute decision, Tesla’s Autopilot prices have now changed, significantly. Less than 36 hours after the release of the new $35,000 Tesla Model 3, everything is new again. These changes affect just about everyone and have been a bit difficult to comprehend as the announcement was a bit of a mess. For those who don’t own a Tesla or plan to, this isn’t important to you.

The first thing you should note is that with yesterdays base Model 3 reveal, the entire Autopilot naming scheme was changed. Enhanced Autopilot no longer exists for new purchases. If you own Enhanced Autopilot, nothing will change for you. You just can’t buy the package anymore as some features have been regrouped into the new Full Self-Driving package. The new base package is now simply called Autopilot.

• Autopilot: $3,000, $4,000 if added after delivery.
  Enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically for other vehicles and pedestrians within its lane.
• Full Self-Driving Capability: $5,000, $7,000 if added after delivery.
  Navigate on Autopilot: automatic driving from highway on-ramp to off-ramp including interchanges and overtaking slower cars.
  Autopark: both parallel and perpendicular spaces.
  Summon: your parked car will come find you anywhere in a parking lot. Really.
  All Future Features

If you previously purchased your vehicle with Enhanced Autopilot you currently receive:

• Autopilot
• Navigate on Autopilot
• Autopark
• Summon
• NO future features.

You will still receive the full updated features mentioned above including the upcoming Advanced Summon and hands free Navigate on Autopilot.

To gain future features not included in your original package, you will need to upgrade to the Full Self-Driving Capability package. If you already own Enhanced Autopilot, the Full Self-Driving package will now cost $2,000. The option is available in your Tesla account. But their is currently a bit of an issue. The package will show as $3,000. If you buy now, you should receive a refund. I’d hold off as Tesla has never been speedy with their refund system.

The Full Self-Driving package previously cost $5,000 and included no current features. Nav on Autopilot, Autopark, and Summon have all been transferred over into the Full Self-Driving Package. This is a significant discount for future features but will not add anything to you Tesla today.

The Full Self-Driving package will include HW3 which is set to release later this year. It is a simple chip that will significantly improve all Autopilot features and will allow for actual driverless cars, eventually. The chip swap will be done for free later this year to all owners of this package.

If you do not own any Autopilot features, the new base Autopilot package will cost $2,000. This is different from the previous Enhanced Autopilot Package as it does not include Advanced Summon, Nav on Autopilot, or Autopark. This is the bare minimum adaptive cruise control system. The Full Self-Driving package which included the previously stated and all future updates will cost you an additional $3,000. No, you can not buy the Full Self-Driving package without owning the Autopilot one as well.

Both the Autopilot and Full Self Driving Capabilities now cost a total of $5,000 if purchased today, on your current Tesla. If you’re buying a brand new Tesla, the total is $8,000. The Autopilot package costs $3,000 and the Full Self-Driving package costs $5,000. The reason for the price decrease on previously owned vehicles is due to the recent price changes where Tesla lowered the base price of their cars.

Although this sounds like good news, some owners are a bit upset. If you’ve already purchased Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving, you’re out of luck and out of $8,000. But Tesla is trying to make this right by putting anyone who previously purchased the Full Self-Driving into their early access program. This is limited to a small group of people who receive updates up to months in advance. Early access members are already receiving the update that allows full self-driving in parking lots with no one in the vehicle. You’re able to get out at the front door while your Tesla finds a spot and parks itself.

Customers who previously purchased Full Self-Driving will receive an invitation to Tesla’s Early Access Program (EAP). EAP members are invited to experience and provide feedback on new features and functionality before they are rolled out to other customers.

This is only for those who already purchased the package at the original price.

Tesla owners who previously purchased Enhanced Autopilot after delivery are feeling left out. They paid $5,000 for the package and will still need to cough up $2,000 more for the new Full Self-Driving package. Meanwhile, those who have not purchased until now are receiving both for $5,000. If you happened to purchase Enhanced Autopilot up front but no Full Self-Driving, your total for both comes out to $5,000 as well.

We have yet to hear how and if Tesla will make this right for early adopters but in all honesty, it doesn’t feel right.