Following changes earlier in the year to Tesla’s last-chance FSD Transfer policy, Tesla is now reaching out to customers of the newer Cybertruck AWD trim ahead of deliveries to update customers on available FSD options. Customers who placed a reservation for an AWD Cybertruck with the FSD Transfer option will no longer be entitled to transfer FSD on the AWD Cybertruck.
The policy is troubling for customers, many of whom may feel they have been victims of a bait-and-switch.
Customer Options
According to recent official communications from Tesla to buyers who placed orders for the Cybertruck AWD before March 1st (the end of free FSD transfers), they will now be required to upgrade if they intend to keep their FSD transfer in place.
Instead of honoring the transfer terms at the time of the reservation, Tesla is giving reservation holders three options.
Buyers can choose to proceed with the delivery of their lower-cost AWD trim, but they must forfeit their grandfathered FSD transfer. That means these customers must subscribe to FSD to use Tesla’s autonomy capabilities, which is especially important because the Cybertruck does not have access to basic Auto Steer.
They can preserve their FSD transfer, but only if they agree to upgrade their order to a significantly more expensive Premium AWD or tri-motor Cyberbeast variant.
If neither financial compromise is acceptable, Tesla offers to refund the initial $250 reservation fee and cancel the order entirely.
The Cost of Compliance
The timing of this policy update is particularly damaging to consumer trust because it targets individuals who had locked in reservations for the new trim before the FSD transfer contract terms were amended.
Buyers who opted for the lower-tier AWD trim are now being forced to subscribe to FSD. Because outright FSD purchases have been phased out in favor of ongoing monthly subscriptions, owners who choose to stick with the base AWD are forced to pay indefinitely for a feature they should have been allowed to transfer.
The Cost of Loyalty
This latest change validates prior criticisms regarding Tesla’s approach to loyalty and policies, especially those around FSD. Reservation holders expect Tesla to stick to the terms at the time of the reservation.
By locking FSD behind a paywall or forcing customers to upgrade trim levels, Tesla is treating this as an opportunity to upsell. For many who don’t closely follow Tesla closely, upcoming messages from Tesla regarding the inability to transfer FSD will come as an unwelcome surprise.
