In a move poised to accelerate the adoption of its advanced autonomous driving technology, Tesla is gearing up to introduce a gifting feature for its Full Self-Driving (FSD) trials just in time for the holiday season. According to recent reports, this initiative could allow current Tesla owners to share the benefits of FSD with friends and family, potentially boosting subscriptions and enhancing the company’s revenue streams amid competitive pressures in the electric vehicle market.

The feature, teased by Tesla executive Raj Jegannathan, is expected to roll out before Christmas, enabling owners to gift a 30-day trial of FSD (Supervised) to others. This comes as Tesla continues to refine its semi-autonomous driving suite, which has been a cornerstone of CEO Elon Musk’s vision for the future of transportation.

A Strategic Holiday Incentive

Tesla’s gifting program is not entirely new in concept; the company has previously offered free trials to boost uptake. For instance, in March 2024, Tesla provided a one-month free trial of FSD to U.S. customers, as reported by WardsAuto. This latest iteration, however, focuses on peer-to-peer gifting, which could create a viral effect among Tesla enthusiasts.

Details from Teslarati, published on November 4, 2025, indicate that the program will integrate seamlessly with Tesla’s app, allowing users to send trial subscriptions directly. Raj Jegannathan, a Tesla executive, confirmed the timeline, stating the company would ship the feature ‘before the holidays, making a great gift for owners just in time for Christmas.’

Evolution of FSD Subscriptions

Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) is available via subscription or one-time purchase, with the monthly option priced at $99, as noted in recent updates from SlashGear. The 30-day trial has been a key tool for Tesla to demonstrate the technology’s capabilities, with the official Tesla Support page outlining eligibility for new and existing owners with compatible vehicles.

Industry insiders view this gifting as an extension of Tesla’s data-driven sales strategy. A post on Not a Tesla App, dated about a week ago as of November 12, 2025, explains that Tesla is transforming its order page into a comprehensive platform including subscriptions and trade-ins, with gifting as a natural progression.

Boosting Revenue Amid Challenges

The push for FSD adoption comes at a critical time for Tesla, which has faced scrutiny over the system’s performance. A September 2025 article in Forbes highlighted issues during tests, where FSD ignored street signs and even ‘squashed a mannequin child.’ Despite such criticisms, Elon Musk continues to hype the AI-enabled system as pivotal to Tesla’s future.

By enabling gifting, Tesla aims to convert trial users into paying subscribers, potentially offsetting dwindling operating margins. As Automotive Dive reported in March 2024, similar trial offers were designed to generate revenue through increased subscriptions.

Integration with Recent Updates

Recent software updates have enhanced FSD’s appeal. For example, Tesla reintroduced ‘Mad Max’ mode for more aggressive driving, as covered by Fox News two weeks ago. This mode, part of the latest Full Self-Driving update, allows vehicles to recover automatically from interruptions, according to The Cool Down.

Moreover, Tesla teased ‘something crazy’ in an upcoming FSD update, per a Teslarati article from a month ago, which later materialized as the fastest speed profile yet. These enhancements could make gifted trials more enticing, showcasing real-time improvements.

Sentiment from Social Media

On social platform X (formerly Twitter), users have expressed excitement about past and potential FSD promotions. Posts from accounts like Whole Mars Catalog in 2022 highlighted free 30-day trials of Enhanced Autopilot for holidays, while more recent ones from users like Total Tesla discuss referral links offering three months of FSD (Supervised) or discounts.

Current buzz on X, as of November 12, 2025, includes discussions of demo drives with FSD, unlimited mileage, and free supercharging, as shared by users like Sunnyhith Kanakanti. Such sentiment underscores the community’s enthusiasm for sharing Tesla’s tech, aligning with the gifting program’s goals.

Market Implications for Tesla

This gifting feature could significantly impact Tesla’s market position. As detailed in Drive Tesla Canada a week ago, it allows owners to gift subscriptions directly, potentially increasing user base without heavy marketing spend.

Analysts suggest this ties into broader incentives, such as the 1.99% financing on select models mentioned in X posts from Total Tesla. By leveraging holidays, Tesla taps into seasonal gifting trends, much like its 2020 year-end push offering three months of free FSD, as reported by Sawyer Merritt on X.

Regulatory and Safety Considerations

While innovative, FSD remains under regulatory scrutiny. The system’s ‘Supervised’ designation emphasizes the need for driver attention, as per Tesla’s official guidelines. Recent investigations into FSD’s safety, noted in Fox News coverage, highlight ongoing challenges.

Elon Musk has defended the technology, but critics like those in Forbes argue for stricter oversight. The gifting program must navigate these waters, ensuring recipients understand the supervised nature to avoid misuse.

Future Prospects for Autonomous Driving

Looking ahead, Tesla’s gifting initiative may prelude more accessible FSD options. With competitors like Waymo advancing, Tesla’s strategy focuses on widespread trials to gather data and refine AI.

As Raj Jegannathan hinted in Teslarati, this is part of a holistic platform evolution. Combined with updates like automatic recovery features from The Cool Down, it positions Tesla to lead in autonomous tech adoption.

Industry-Wide Ripple Effects

The program’s success could influence other automakers. Tesla’s model of subscription-based autonomy, as opposed to hardware-only sales, sets a precedent. Publications like SlashGear note the $99 monthly fee’s attractiveness, potentially pressuring rivals to offer similar trials.

Ultimately, by making FSD giftable, Tesla not only fosters loyalty but also democratizes access to cutting-edge tech, potentially accelerating the shift toward autonomous vehicles in everyday life.