Tesla has changed what new buyers can expect as standard from its most popular vehicles, quietly removing lane-keeping functionality from base Model 3 and Model Y configurations in North America. From now on, new vehicles will ship without Autosteer, the feature that actively keeps the car centred in its lane, unless owners subscribe to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) package, priced at $99 per month. Only Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, which adjusts speed based on surrounding traffic, remains included by default.
The adjustment represents a notable rollback in standard driver-assistance capabilities for Tesla, particularly as much of the automotive industry moves in the opposite direction. Since 2019, Tesla has bundled Basic Autopilot with every vehicle it sold, positioning lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control as baseline features rather than optional extras. That approach helped differentiate the brand early on, especially as competitors lagged behind on software-driven assistance systems.
The company’s latest pricing update reverses that philosophy. What makes the move particularly striking is how it compares with the broader market. Electrek highlights that Toyota includes Lane Tracing Assist as part of its Toyota Safety Sense package on the Corolla, while Honda offers Lane Keeping Assist through Honda Sensing on the Civic, both without subscription fees. Tesla, meanwhile, now charges approximately $1,200 per year for similar core functionality.
This shift risks weakening Tesla’s value proposition, especially for buyers drawn to the Model 3 and Model Y, which are often marketed as relatively affordable entry points into the EV market. The company has repeatedly argued that Autopilot and Full Self-Driving improve road safety and reduce driver fatigue when used correctly. Removing lane-keeping from the standard equipment list complicates that narrative, particularly as competitors treat the same capability as a non-negotiable safety baseline.
Now, whether this strategy succeeds in boosting subscription revenue or instead pushes potential customers towards rival brands remains to be seen. What is clear; however, is that Tesla’s definition of "standard" features has just become far narrower.