One of the most common questions that Tesla Model 3 owners have is whether they can upgrade their vehicles to Full Self-Driving (FSD) later. FSD is Tesla's advanced driver-assist system that enables features such as Navigate on Autopilot, Smart Summon, Auto Lane Change, Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, and Autosteer on city streets. Tesla claims that FSD will eventually allow the car to drive itself without human intervention, but this is still subject to regulatory approval and software development.
Tesla offers FSD as an option when buying a new Model 3, but it also allows existing owners to purchase it as an upgrade through the Tesla app or website. The price of FSD varies depending on when and where you buy it, but it is generally more expensive to buy it later than at the time of purchase. As of November 2023, FSD costs $10,000 in the US if you buy it with a new Model 3, or $12,000 if you buy it as an upgrade later. Tesla has also introduced a subscription model for FSD, which costs $199 per month in the US.
There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to upgrade your Model 3 to FSD later. The first one is the cost. As mentioned above, buying FSD later is usually more expensive than buying it upfront, and Tesla has a history of increasing the price of FSD over time as it adds more features and capabilities. Therefore, if you are confident that you want FSD and you can afford it, it may make sense to buy it sooner rather than later to lock in the lower price. However, if you are unsure about FSD or you have budget constraints, you may want to wait and see how FSD evolves and improves before making the investment. You can also try out FSD for a month with the subscription option and see if you like it before buying it permanently.
The second factor to consider is the availability of FSD features in your region. Tesla's FSD is not available in all markets or jurisdictions due to different regulations and technical challenges. For example, some features such as Smart Summon or Autosteer on city streets are not enabled in Europe or Asia due to stricter rules on autonomous driving. Therefore, before upgrading your Model 3 to FSD, you should check what features are available in your country and whether they meet your expectations and needs.
The third factor to consider is the hardware compatibility of your Model 3 with FSD. Tesla has upgraded its hardware platform for FSD several times since the launch of the Model 3 in 2017. The latest version is Hardware 4 (HW4), which is expected to be released in late 2023 or early 2024. HW4 will have more computing power and memory than the previous versions (HW2.5 and HW3), and will be able to run more advanced neural networks for FSD. Tesla has promised that all Model 3 owners who have purchased FSD will receive a free hardware upgrade to HW4 when it becomes available. However, this may take some time and depend on the production and supply chain of Tesla. Therefore, if you upgrade your Model 3 to FSD later, you may have to wait longer to receive the HW4 upgrade and enjoy the full potential of FSD.
In conclusion, upgrading your Model 3 to FSD later is possible, but it comes with some trade-offs and uncertainties. You should weigh the pros and cons of buying FSD upfront or later based on your personal preferences, budget, location, and hardware compatibility. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
