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Tesla gives update for early FSD adopters with legacy Model S, Model X vehicles
Longtime Tesla FSD adopters with legacy vehicles recently received an update from the electric car maker. The update sheds some light on what is waiting for customers who purchased FSD and are still driving legacy Model S and Model X vehicles today.
Tesla functions like a tech company, so it is no surprise that it has moved very fast over the years. This means that constant improvements to its vehicles’ hardware are being implemented as soon as they are ready. This also means, however, that the latest updates to systems like FSD (Supervised) or Autopilot are mostly focused on vehicles that represent the majority of the company’s fleet.
This was highlighted by Elon Musk in a recent post on X, when he noted that while Tesla’s Hardware 4 will ultimately be better, all training that the company is doing right now is for Hardware 3 vehicles. Hardware 4 is just running on emulation mode.
Within Tesla’s pursuit of autonomous driving lies a group of Model S and Model X owners who bought into FSD even before the Model 3 was ramped. These owners were promised that their vehicles would have the necessary hardware to be self-driving one day, but they have not received much of Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD improvements to date. Granted, Tesla has launched a hardware upgrade program for legacy vehicles, but they are paid options that some owners have refused.
It was then no surprise that amidst the excitement for FSD (Supervised), some legacy Model S and Model X owners have expressed their frustration at being left out again. Among these is Anthony Spina, who noted in a post on X, that “all of us legacy S/X owners still haven’t received V12 yet, with no official communication stating whether or not we even will. MCU1 FSD S/X owners have been living in the dark on this for years, and now MCU2 owners are beginning to be lumped into this group as well, at least it would seem on the surface.”
Thanks @Speenuh and others who have posted on @X about this. While we normally prioritize our paid FSD customers to the extent possible, there is a group of S/X customers (~3% of total FSD eligible vehicles) who have a different hardware which the @Tesla_AI team is working to… https://t.co/W3l3SYlVZu— Rohan Patel (@rohanspatel) March 31, 2024
In a response on X, Tesla Vice President of Public Policy and Business Development Rohan Patel explained that the electric vehicle maker is putting a lot of efforts into releasing systems like FSD (Supervised) to older vehicles. The executive noted that Tesla cannot give a timeline as to when FSD would be released to older vehicles, but the company’s AI team is working on it.
“Thanks @Speenuh and others who have posted on @X about this. While we normally prioritize our paid FSD customers to the extent possible, there is a group of S/X customers (~3% of total FSD eligible vehicles) who have a different hardware which the @Tesla_AI team is working to validate. We have a rigorous safety validation cycle for every software update, and we are working as hard as possible to ship the latest builds to all customers. We don’t want to give false precision on timing until the validation can be completed, but want you to know we are focused on trying to solve this. Many of you have been with us on the FSD journey from the start and it’s super appreciated,” Patel wrote.
We ? get it and understand and sincerely appreciate the patience. Our software engineers and validation teams really are doing all they can to try and solve even on Easter Sunday.— Rohan Patel (@rohanspatel) March 31, 2024
In a follow-up post, the Tesla executive also noted that the company understands the frustration of its legacy customers. “We 100% get it and understand and sincerely appreciate the patience. Our software engineers and validation teams really are doing all they can to try and solve even on Easter Sunday,” the executive noted.
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News
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y earn Euro NCAP Best in Class safety awards
“The company’s best-selling Model Y proved the gold standard for small SUVs,” Euro NCAP noted.
Tesla won dual categories in the Euro NCAP Best in Class awards, with the Model 3 being named the safest Large Family Car and the Model Y being recognized as the safest Small SUV.
The feat was highlighted by Tesla Europe & Middle East in a post on its official account on social media platform X.
Model 3 and Model Y lead their respective segments
As per a press release from the Euro NCAP, the organization’s Best in Class designation is based on a weighted assessment of four key areas: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User, and Safety Assist. Only vehicles that achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating and were evaluated with standard safety equipment are eligible for the award.
Euro NCAP noted that the updated Tesla Model 3 performed particularly well in Child Occupant protection, while its Safety Assist score reflected Tesla’s ongoing improvements to driver-assistance systems. The Model Y similarly stood out in Child Occupant protection and Safety Assist, reinforcing Tesla’s dual-category win.
“The company’s best-selling Model Y proved the gold standard for small SUVs,” Euro NCAP noted.
Euro NCAP leadership shares insights
Euro NCAP Secretary General Dr. Michiel van Ratingen said the organization’s Best in Class awards are designed to help consumers identify the safest vehicles over the past year.
Van Ratingen noted that 2025 was Euro NCAP’s busiest year to date, with more vehicles tested than ever before, amid a growing variety of electric cars and increasingly sophisticated safety systems. While the Mercedes-Benz CLA ultimately earned the title of Best Performer of 2025, he emphasized that Tesla finished only fractionally behind in the overall rankings.
“It was a close-run competition,” van Ratingen said. “Tesla was only fractionally behind, and new entrants like firefly and Leapmotor show how global competition continues to grow, which can only be a good thing for consumers who value safety as much as style, practicality, driving performance, and running costs from their next car.”
News
Tesla is shifting FSD to a subscription-only model, confirms Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the upcoming update in a post on social media platform X.
Tesla will be ending one-time purchases of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system after Valentine’s Day, transitioning the feature to a monthly subscription-only model.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the upcoming update in a post on social media platform X.
No more FSD one-time purchases
As per Elon Musk in his post on X, “Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14. FSD will only be available as a monthly subscription thereafter.” This marks a shift in how Tesla monetizes its FSD system, which can now be purchased for a one-time fee or accessed through a monthly subscription.
FSD’s subscription model has been $99 per month in the United States, while its one-time purchase option is currently priced at $8,000. FSD’s one-time purchase price has swung wildly in recent years, reaching $15,000 in September 2022. At the time, FSD was proficient, but its performance was not on par with v14. This made its $15,000 upfront price a hard sell for consumers.
Tesla’s move to a subscription-only model could then streamline how the company sells FSD. It also lowers the entry price for the system, as even price-conscious drivers would likely be able to justify FSD’s $99 monthly subscription cost during periods when long-distance travel is prevalent, like the holidays.
Musk’s compensation plan and FSD subscription targets
Tesla’s shift to a subscription-only FSD model comes amidst Musk’s 2025 CEO Performance Award, which was approved by Tesla shareholders at the 2025 Annual Shareholders Meeting with roughly 75% support. Under the long-term compensation plan, Musk must achieve a series of ambitious operational milestones, including 10 million active FSD subscriptions, over the next decade for his stock awards to vest.
The 2025 CEO Performance Award’s structure ties Musk’s potential compensation to Tesla’s aggressive targets that span market capitalization, vehicle deliveries, robotics, and software adoption. Apart from his 10-million active FSD subscription target, Musk’s compensation is also tied to Tesla producing 20 million vehicles cumulatively, delivering 1 million Tesla bots, and having 1 million Robotaxis in operation. He must also lead Tesla to a market cap of $8.5 trillion.
If successful, Elon Musk’s 2025 CEO Performance Award could make him the world’s first trillionaire. It could also help Tesla become the world’s most valuable company by market cap by a notable margin.
Tesla is planning for a new 300+ stall Supercharger station that will be an expansion of an existing facility, and the company is planning to add a surprise for the Semi.
The Firebaugh, California Supercharger is currently 72 Superchargers, but Tesla filed for an expansion that will add 232 additional plugs for passenger vehicles, and it also plans to add 16 Semichargers.
This will be the biggest Supercharger station Tesla will have to date, just months after it finished the Supercharger Oasis in Lost Hills, California, which has 168 stalls. This will have 304 total Supercharger stalls, and then the additional 16 Megachargers.
🚨 This Supercharger station will have 304 total stalls and 16 Semichargers following this expansion
Absolutely INSANE size 🔥
This is located on I-5, so many semis will be traveling along this route https://t.co/hM9hdLcWwg
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 13, 2026
The Firebaugh Supercharger is located on I-5, which is a major reason for why Tesla has chosen the location for additional Megacharger plug-ins, as Tesla Semi Program Manager Dan Priestley said on X earlier today.
Lots of trucks to electrify on I-5
— Dan Priestley (@danWpriestley) January 13, 2026
The project was revealed by MarcoRP, a Supercharger tracker.
The expansion is a massive signal for charging demand, especially as Tesla’s Superchargers are opened to numerous automakers and are no longer exclusive to the company’s EVs. Additionally, the installation of Megachargers is a good sign to come for the Tesla Semi program, which aims to truly ramp up this year.
Tesla plans to launch production of the Semi later this year.
It could also mean Tesla is going to expand its footprint of large-scale Supercharger projects in the coming years, which would be a big boost as EV adoption continues to soar in the United States.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y earn Euro NCAP Best in Class safety awards
Tesla is shifting FSD to a subscription-only model, confirms Elon Musk
