Tesla Raises Model S Prices by 6% Amid Autonomous Driving Push

Tesla has announced a price increase for its Model S vehicles in the United States. The Model S all-wheel-drive version will now cost $84,990, up from $79,990, while the Model S Plaid version has seen its price rise to $99,990 from $94,990. This marks the second price hike for the Model S all-wheel-drive version in recent months, following a previous increase from $74,990 to $79,990 in December of last year. The Model S Plaid version also underwent a price adjustment last December, rising from $89,990 to $94,990.

These price increases come as Tesla continues to advance its autonomous driving technology. CEO Elon Musk recently announced that the company will deliver its first fully autonomous driving vehicle on June 28. This vehicle, which will be produced at Tesla's factory in Austin, Texas, will feature the latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and will not require a steering wheel or pedals. Musk also revealed plans to launch a Robotaxi service trial in Austin on June 22, although the exact timing may be subject to change based on safety considerations.

Tesla's journey towards fully autonomous driving began in 2014 with the introduction of the Autopilot system as an optional feature for the Model S. Initially, Autopilot provided basic assistance features such as automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, and adaptive cruise control. Over the years, Tesla has continued to refine and enhance its autonomous driving capabilities, culminating in the development of the HW5.0 hardware platform and the FSD V12 software.

The HW5.0 platform, which powers the latest Model Y vehicles, includes advanced sensors and a powerful Dojo supercomputer chip. This hardware, combined with the FSD V12 software, enables the vehicle to handle complex driving scenarios with improved decision-making capabilities. Musk has described the system as having "human-like decision-making" abilities, highlighting Tesla's progress in developing fully autonomous driving technology.