So let me get this straight because Im confused. In order for the button to show up.. you have to either have previously purchased OR subscribed to the FSD program. Meaning its a minimum cost of $199 to get the button & safety score driving test to actually show up?
I'm honestly not going to spend $199 to get those features to show up because Im just not driving much right now. However if sometime in the future I was planning on a long drive or driving more than I normally do.. I would consider spending the $199 to at least try the current FSD features and receive a rating from the app.. knowing that will might also grant inclusion into the FSD beta program.
You would think at a minimum the safety score driving test would be available to every Tesla owner, regardless of FSD purchase/subscription status. It seems like an awesome way to 1) see how good or bad the car measures your safe driving ability.. 2) sample if you are even eligible for the FSD beta program. Would really suck to spend $199 or $10,000.. only to find out your driving is rated so badly you will never get included in the FSD beta program.
Tesla is preparing to enroll beta testers for the FSD software. To be eligible to be a beta tester you have to have FSD, either via purchase or subscription and agree to let them monitor your driving. No one knows how many people will actually be given the beta software to test, when that will occur or what ‘safety score’ you need to qualify. As others have pointed out, we also don’t know if the monitoring will continue for those who do become beta testers and if they can have the beta software revoked for poor driving.
I agree with
@bozer - it’s interesting to see people obsess and stress over their scores. (And people complain about Tesla being Big Brother for monitoring your driving, even though you have to consent to it.) I paid for FSD when I bought my car, but I would absolutely not pay $200 per month solely to sign up for a chance to be a beta tester. To each their own, though.
The other thing everyone here needs to realize - this is beta software, and you are potentially signing up to be a beta tester. That means the software will have bugs, not do everything you want it to and you will likely have to submit to monitoring and reporting requirements. I’ve seen this with iphones - people download the beta version of the latest iOS revision because they want the new features and then complain that their phone crashes, etc. If you’re not OK with the risks and obligations of beta software, don’t sign up.
We have State Farm insurance and they have a ‘Drive Save and Save’ program that has you install a beacon in your car that monitors acceleration, braking, turning, etc. (basically everything Tesla does except following distance and autopilot deactivations.) You get a discount on your insurance based on your driving, so it really is the same as what you’ve suggested.