Tesla Cybercab: Mandatory $299 Autonomy Plan and What It Covers

Purchasing a $29,990 Cybercab for personal use also requires enrolling in Tesla’s $299-per-month Autonomy Subscription. It is not optional. According to Tesla’s Autonomy Subscription Agreement, “your Cybercab will not operate without an active Autonomy Subscription.” The plan covers far more than self-driving capabilities.

What’s Included

The foundation of the subscription is Cybercab Technology, the software that allows the vehicle to drive itself within Tesla’s active Robotaxi service areas. In addition, the plan provides:

Vehicle connectivity, with Premium Connectivity features such as live traffic and media streaming.
Remote support.
Roadside assistance, including towing to a Tesla service center or your home within about 50 miles.
Tire inspections, rotations, replacements, and flat tire replacements.
Windshield replacement and cleaning, plus a water-repellent coating.
Wiper blade replacement and cleaning, along with washer fluid refills.
Cabin air filter replacements.
Exterior camera lens cleaning, and removal of film buildup from the inside of the forward-facing camera.
Regular vehicle inspections.

Service needs are communicated through the app. When scheduled, the Cybercab drives itself, unoccupied, to a Tesla service center and returns when the work is completed.

What’s Not Included

Insurance is not part of the subscription. Owners are also responsible for registration, parking, charging, and routine cleaning. Other repairs are excluded from the plan, although some items may be covered under the vehicle warranty, and Tesla may bill for damage caused by misuse.

How Does $299 Compare?

Comparable benefits are available as separate subscriptions on Tesla’s consumer vehicles. For a Model Y, FSD (Supervised) costs $99 per month and Premium Connectivity costs $9.99. The Wheel and Tire Protection Plan runs $16, and the Windshield Protection Plan adds $12. That totals about $137 a month and still does not include roadside assistance, tire rotations, or wiper replacements.

Elon Musk has said the current $299 price is too high and indicated it should drop to around $115 a month, roughly aligning with what FSD and Premium Connectivity cost on other Tesla vehicles. If reduced, Cybercab owners would receive more for less than a Model Y owner pays for the same group of subscriptions. Tesla’s agreement allows the subscription price to change with one month’s notice.

Does It Count Toward Musk’s FSD Goal?

An open question is whether Autonomy subscriptions count toward the 10 million active FSD subscriptions milestone in Musk’s trillion-dollar pay package. Since the subscription includes unsupervised self-driving, it would be reasonable for them to count, but Tesla has not confirmed this. The milestone is significant for Musk, and sources have recently said he personally decided to remove Basic Autopilot from new vehicles to boost FSD subscriptions.

With the first Cybercab deliveries expected next month, additional details about the required Autonomy subscription should become clear.