Tesla Became Popular Selling the Fun of Driving, Now Selling Cars to Not Be Driven - CleanTechnica

The article highlights an ironic shift in Tesla’s brand appeal and user experience. Initially, Tesla gained massive popularity and profitability by selling the excitement and fun of electric driving—emphasizing instant torque and thrilling acceleration modes like “Insane Mode” and “Plaid.” This driving enjoyment was a key factor in Tesla’s social media buzz and consumer demand, alongside environmental motivations. However, the current focus has shifted dramatically toward Tesla’s self-driving capabilities, with much of the conversation centered on how little owners actually drive their cars themselves, relying instead on autonomous features. Despite the hype around Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, many current Tesla owners express frustration with its performance and usability. Complaints include erratic and unnecessary lane changes, inconsistent speed control that risks traffic violations, and unreliable behavior in complex driving environments such as neighborhoods. Users lament the removal of certain features like “Minimal Lane Change” and report that updates have not improved the system as expected. These issues have led some longtime Tesla