Tesla moves its FSD(S) to subs model
Words: Kyle Cassidy
Those looking to buy Tesla’s FSD(S), that’s Full Self Driving (Supervised), outright only have a limited time left to do so. As of April 1 (no joke) Tesla will revoke the option of outright purchase of FSD(S). Tesla says vehicles with FSD(S) purchased outright must be ordered and delivered by March 31 to be eligible.
Existing ‘HW4’ vehicle owners can purchase FSD (Supervised) via the app until 31st March 2026 as an upgrade post purchase.
Currently the FSD(S) option is an $11,400 option. Tesla describes the tech; “Under your supervision, your car will be able to drive itself almost anywhere with minimal driver intervention.”
Read more – 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance Review
There are a few caveats mentioned too. “Currently enabled features require active driver supervision by a fully attentive driver who must maintain proper control of the vehicle at all times and do not make the vehicle autonomous.”
The subscription pricing remains unchanged, at $159 per month.
Tesla Full Self‑Driving (Supervised)
What it is
Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (Supervised), or FSD‑S, is the company’s most advanced driver‑assist system available in New Zealand. It can steer, brake and navigate city streets, intersections, and highways, provided the driver remains attentive.
Currently, Hardware 4 (HW4)
vehicles — including the latest Model 3 Highland and Model Y — support FSD‑S. Indications are that Hardware 3 (HW3) cars may gain access later, though Tesla hasn’t confirmed when.
How it works
FSD‑S relies on Tesla’s camera‑based Vision system, using eight exterior cameras and a cabin camera for driver monitoring. Data is processed by the onboard neural‑network computer, which interprets lanes, vehicles, and objects to control steering, throttle, and braking. Drivers can gently guide the car using indicators or the accelerator without disengaging FSD — a useful feature that makes the system feel cooperative rather than rigid.
FSD‑S isn’t fully autonomous. The driver must stay alert and be ready to intervene at any time; the system disengages if attention warnings are ignored.
Tesla continues to refine it using anonymised fleet data collected from real‑world driving.
