Tesla removes free Autopilot in the Netherlands
Tesla has quietly removed Basic Autopilot from its configurator in the Netherlands, making it the first European market where buyers no longer receive Tesla’s lane-centering and Autosteer features for free. New Model 3 and Model Y orders now only show Full Self-Driving (Supervised) as the available driver-assistance option.
Buyers can either pay €7,500 upfront, subscribe for €99 per month, or add it later. Without paying, customers are left with only basic cruise control and mandatory safety systems required under European regulations. Tesla has not officially announced the change, but the update is now live on the Dutch configurator.
Europe could be next
The move closely mirrors what Tesla already did in North America earlier this year, where the company removed standard Autosteer from new vehicles and pushed customers toward the FSD subscription model. The Netherlands appears to be Tesla’s European testing ground because it recently became the first country in Europe to approve FSD Supervised under new regulations.
Tesla also set a May 15 deadline for one-time FSD purchases in the Netherlands, strongly suggesting the company is preparing to transition toward a subscription-first strategy. Similar deadlines are appearing across Europe, raising speculation that Germany, France, and other markets could soon lose free Autopilot as well.
If that happens, Tesla would be charging monthly for features many competitors already include standard.
Competitors already offer these features free
The timing creates a difficult comparison for Tesla in Europe’s EV market. Automakers like Hyundai, Volkswagen, BMW, and Toyota already include active lane-centering and highway assistance systems on vehicles that often cost less than a Tesla Model 3.
Under EU GSR2 regulations, all new vehicles must already include emergency lane-keeping systems. Tesla is technically compliant, but many buyers are criticizing the company for locking everyday driving assistance behind a subscription paywall while competitors bundle similar functionality at no extra cost.
For many European customers, this shifts Tesla’s value proposition in the wrong direction. Instead of FSD feeling like a premium upgrade, some buyers now see the subscription as paying extra to restore features that used to be standard.
Bigger pressure on Tesla’s strategy
Tesla’s broader goal is clear: grow recurring subscription revenue around Full Self-Driving. Moving standard features into the paid package makes the €99 monthly fee easier to justify financially, even if the actual self-driving capabilities remain limited and supervised.
The risk is backlash. Tesla already faced criticism in North America after removing free Autosteer, and Europe may react even more strongly because buyers there already have strong EV alternatives with generous standard equipment.
If more European markets adopt the same strategy over the summer, Tesla could face increasing pressure as competitors use the controversy to market their own driver-assistance systems as “included” rather than subscription-based.
