Skip to main content

Tesla Cuts FSD Prices to as Low as $4,500 – Owners Who Paid $15,000 Demand a Refund

Tesla's recent price cuts for the full-self-driving software have angered current owners who have paid more than three times for the option. Tesla has lowered the FSD price to as low as $4,500 on some variants.

In an update to the company’s online configurator, Tesla has instituted a wide-ranging price cut on the full self-driving software package. The FSD price cuts apply to both new and lightly used demo vehicles.

Tesla investor and personality Sawyer Merritt first noticed the price cut; in a now-deleted X post, Sawyer wrote…

“BREAKING: Tesla has dropped the price of FSD to as low as $4,500 for select new vehicles in inventory.

Some demo vehicles in inventory are showing an FSD price as low as $4,500, while some new (non-demo) vehicles are showing an FSD price as low as $6,000.

Tesla typically charges $8,000 for FSD. These price adjustments are likely aimed at boosting sales and clearing inventory as much as possible before the end of Q3, which concludes at the end of this month.”

Since almost all Tesla vehicles are built to order, you might be wondering what “new” inventory vehicles mean. New inventory vehicles are vehicles that Tesla built for a customer, but for some reason, if the new owner refuses delivery, the vehicles end up on Tesla’s inventory page.

This means these are brand-new vehicles currently sitting at a Tesla service center. On the other hand, demo vehicles are made to be displayed in the showroom and used as test vehicles for potential owners.

Returning to the issue at hand, Tesla has massively cut FSD prices once again. As Sawyer stated above, now Tesla is only asking $4,500 to get FSD on demo vehicles and $6,000 for new inventory vehicles.

To see how big of a deal this is, only last year, Tesla was charging $15,000 for anyone to purchase the FSD package.

Many people hurriedly bought the FSD software, as Elon Musk was threatening that prices would keep increasing and eventually reach over $100,000.

To be fair to Musk, a level 5 self-driving vehicle that can autonomously operate anywhere and anytime has a lot more value than a vehicle that’s not autonomous.

However, that would have been the case if Tesla could deliver level 5 full self-driving in any timeline that Elon Musk predicted.

Musk has been saying level 5 autonomy is only a year away since 2016. Understandably, people have lost faith in Tesla’s FSD roadmap, and the EV maker has had to lower the price repeatedly to sell the software package.

This has understandably angered Tesla owners, who paid as much as $15,000 to purchase the FSD software. One such owner, who plopped the $15K, says Tesla should at least offer these owners store credits for the difference to make them whole.

Other people who have paid $12,000 and $8,000, even some as early as a few days ago, echo this sentiment and are asking Tesla for a refund.

What makes Musk’s broken FSD promises even more frustrating is that the people who most likely paid the $15,000 are the ones who believe Elon’s words and his mission.

Others who were more skeptical of Musk held on and can now purchase the same software at a $11,500 discount.

Understandably, Musk supporters feel betrayed and are asking Tesla to rectify the situation. Let me know what you think Tesla & Musk ought to do now. Share your opinion by clicking the red “Add new comment” button below. Also, visit our site, torquenews.com/Tesla, regularly for the latest updates.

Image: Courtesy of Tesla, inc.

For more information, check out: Tesla Says The Cybertruck Hitch is Rated to Support the Same Vertical Loads as the Model Y – “No More than 160 lbs or 2 Bicycles”

Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and the evolution of the EV space daily for several years. He covers everything about Tesla, from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.

Comments

Autological (not verified)    September 20, 2024 - 4:37PM

Yeah, I paid $15K last June for FSD for my Model Y. Yeah, it was expensive. Yeah, I knew what I was doing. Yeah, it was worth it! And yeah, it would be nice to get some sort of recompense for being an early supporter. But no, I don't expect anything, nor am I asking for any. Elon can just consider it a nice 25% tip I left him for THE best car I ever drove--Correction: The best car that ever drove ME! Thanks, Elon!

James (not verified)    September 27, 2024 - 1:09PM

In reply to by Autological (not verified)

Understood, you always passively give big tips to whoever charges it first. Wait, that's how you give tips?
I paid big time before the price cut, I'm happy to get FSD. Am I glad to be charged more? Hell no, what's wrong with you thinking that way (feel free to do it though, that is your money)

William Wojahn (not verified)    September 21, 2024 - 7:58AM

To have Full Self Driving be a really attractive feature, it should be a one time purchase to the purchasing person. Allowing it to be transferred to another vehicle for life would make it a more attractive option to have continuing loyal Tesla owners for life.

Cambion (not verified)    September 21, 2024 - 8:06AM

This is for supervised full self driving. Nothing related to people who paid for full self driving. But true FSD purchasers will get refunds when the company has to admit they cannot produce the product, right?

Right?

Fox (not verified)    September 21, 2024 - 9:27AM

Prices decrease as technology advances. If your the person who needs the latest and greatest right away this will happen to you alot, lol.

james (not verified)    September 27, 2024 - 1:14PM

In reply to by Fox (not verified)

I am surprised that you like to pay for services promised but not delivered, and still be very happy about it.
Those who paid more and waited for long are those who have trust in Tesla, while Tesla is rewarding those who hesitate and are suspicious of Elon's promise. That is how you nourish your fans and supporters?

Robert (not verified)    September 21, 2024 - 10:12AM

I agree, Elon has lied to all of us that purchased FSD for many years now. FSD has in fact progressed many times over, however with the current hardware it’s impossible to reach level 5. It looks like he’s realized this and is back peddling by offering it a deep discount when originally he stated it would escalate in cost.

Paul Lee (not verified)    September 21, 2024 - 2:25PM

I paid $15000 for FSD was based on Elon's prediction that it will go up otherwise I could have rented it and waited.
I recognize his talent but I hate his way of salesmanship, he is not selling frozen pizzas he is selling car, no cars were ever spld like this with huge amount of price cut, and consumer will lose faith in him.
I say that he should refund $11,500 to people who paid $15,000, at least give the same as a credit for future purchases.
That's for his own good, these refunds amount could be large but cannot compare to lose of his reputation.

Bert Green (not verified)    September 21, 2024 - 6:31PM

I bought my 2021 tesla Rwd SR + custom ordered in January of 2021 and paid 10k . I have seen major improvements and I am a content creator that has reported on my channel about the miraculous breakthroughs that Tesla has made since . I'm never the one that just follows the herd when it comes to debate . I have always been a visionary, and I do trust the software engineers that are continuously developing f. S d software, from day to day, driving the technology forward to a level five autonomy. I will say this if they're happens to be an incentive for those that paid over $5000.
I would gladly appreciate a new set of tires.
On tesla's tab .

Kevin (not verified)    September 21, 2024 - 7:54PM

Own 2.....2020 paid 5k and 2022 paid 10k...I have been patiently waiting for fsd...happy with the progress....but this implies we're not getting fsd....we like the cars but abhor elons manipulation

Can Math (not verified)    September 22, 2024 - 8:30AM

I don’t see where you reported FSD for sale for $3500.

“What makes Musk’s broken FSD promises even more frustrating is that the people who most likely paid the $15,000 are the ones who believe Elon’s words and his mission.

Others who were more skeptical of Musk held on and can now purchase the same software at a $11,500 discount.”

Paul (not verified)    September 22, 2024 - 9:17AM

Honestly simple solution. Let people that paid 10k+ to have FSD for life as a thank you. Puts a positive spin on it.

Jeremy Sheets (not verified)    September 22, 2024 - 10:01AM

I bought a 1080p Sony 46” TV in 2007 for $3500. Now I can buy a 50” 4K Sony for $600. I chose to be an early adopter, and I got to enjoy that tv for many years prior to the price dropping. Sometimes you spend more money to be an early adopter. That’s the risk you take. I’m in the same boat with my 2023 MSP purchased in December of 22 before the price cuts.

James (not verified)    September 22, 2024 - 1:25PM

I'm not a Tesla owner but I do think those individuals who purchased the FSD option do have a legitimate concern. I will be very skeptical if in the future I was interested in purchasing a vehicle from Mr. Musk.
I don't have any other concerns with Tesla or Mr. Musk. I hold Mr. Mysk in high regards.

Ps. His purchase of X (twitter) is a great contribution to Free Speech and Democracy.

Thank you.
James Dion
Meriden Ct.

Rick R (not verified)    September 22, 2024 - 2:39PM

TESLA has been promising FSD for years! How long will it take before there’s finally a class action lawsuit against TESLA?

Junie (not verified)    September 23, 2024 - 8:49AM

I bought my model 3 October 2023, & missed the 3 years of free supercharging. I’d take 3 years free supercharging in exchange for paying full price for FSD.

Raouf Arafat (not verified)    September 23, 2024 - 8:08PM

FSD should be sold at a set price for all people. If I didn’t buy the service with the car, then I should be able to buy it at the existing price. Any thing else is not ethical to me.

Brian (not verified)    September 24, 2024 - 9:44PM

I was an early adopter and purchased FSD in 2019 on a lease under the promise that FSD would be coming in months and sales people stating there were talks of transferability. I thought of the car as a rolling iPhone and I’d upgrade every couple of years. Well, that promise never was fulfilled in the time I owned the car, neither was the transferability.

Personally, I believe that FSD should be portable, and tied to the driver profile. All modern Teslas have the hardware, this is doable, and to be honest, I think there may be a legal argument for instances where it’s added after to achieve a tax credit as a separate purchase. The only reason to play the games the way they do is greed. And to be honest, while I love the cars, the company is awful, and probably one of the worst at a corporate level. Their price manipulation has screwed thousands of customers out of hundreds of millions of dollars. Not just on FSD. I backed out of a Plaid I ordered with a sale price of $148k, that they dropped to $105k within a year, combine that with their price induced depreciation up to 25% in a year, that car was worth $70k in two years. Owners should be pissed. And this is coming from someone who is on their third Tesla, and currently owns two, and plans on buying another. Great hardware and software, but poor customer service and practices.