Tesla Autopilot scares off customers more often than it attracts them — study

A new survey has shown that Tesla's FSD (Full Self-Driving, Supervised) autopilot technology is more likely to repel consumers than attract them, CNBC writes.

Only 14% of U.S. respondents to a Slingshot Strategies survey said FSD makes them more likely to buy a Tesla, while 35% said the feature reduces interest. Another 51% said the presence of FSD does not affect their choice. Almost half of those surveyed believe the technology should be banned.

The negative results come as Tesla's sales in Europe fell 40% year-on-year in July, its seventh straight month of decline. The company is lagging behind rivals such as Alphabet's Waymo and Baidu's Apollo Go in the robotaxi space. Meanwhile, Tesla's reputation has suffered due to Musk's political statements and his cooperation with the Trump administration.

Musk has repeatedly emphasized that Tesla's future depends on autonomous cars. At the same time, the majority of the company's revenue still comes from selling electric cars, and half of Tesla owners who have access to FSD have not even tried it.

FSD Supervised is available today for $99 per month or a one-time payment. To encourage demand, Tesla is offering 0% APR financing on new Model 3s through September 1st if you add FSD to your order.