You won't catch me defending Tesla often, but at least they actually do regular software updates and committed to needed hardware updates.
Ford and Chevy otoh are doing exactly the self sabotaging greedy bullshit you expect. Chevy already told previous gen super cruise owners that they are no longer getting updates or more mapped areas, and ford just segregated their line into before and after 2025. 2025 cars getting the latest bluecruise version, earlier cars don't have the hardware (but you still need to pay annualy for that deprecated older version!)
Ford also has never exteneded the mapped area in 4 years, and releases minor updates maybe once a year, where you will wait another 8 months to get the OTA.
It is supposed to include hardware upgrades too. Chevy and others upcharge for semi autonomous safety features too, but I'm not sure to what extent that is pure software or added hardware.
> So Tesla is charging $8000 to activate full safety software features in their vehicles?
I think you're being obtuse, but to be clear, many car manufacturers offer trims don't include features that would qualify making the car 'safer' - blind spot detection, back up cameras (I think these are legally required now but were a premium feature for over a decade), parking assistance, crash detection, etc.
I have a Tesla and use FSD every day, and while it is a safety feature, it is _the_ pinnacle 'luxury' feature that a car can have today and they honestly do not charge enough for it.
Well, I think that is also morally reprehensible in all other cases where it's also a matter of activating software safety features.
Most of the things you mentioned aren't software locked behind a paywall, hopefully, you don't swipe your credit card and get those features added via OTA in minutes. If your car doesn't have back seat airbags it's hopefully not because you haven't paid for the back seat airbag in-app purchase.
Okay you are correct. If they are going to market FSD as a safety feature and it's just a software update, they need to include it by default and adjust their price.
I didn't realize how much they market it as a safety feature.
How is this not way more controversial than having to pay extra to activate features like heated steering wheels in other brands?