AUSTIN — By Brian Storming, AI Bee Reel Staff

January 24, 2026

AUSTIN, Texas — Local commuter Greg Miller was seen frantically swiping his Visa card through a new slot in his Model Y dashboard today while his car drifted dangerously toward a guardrail. The vehicle’s center screen flashed red with the message “SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRED: TURN RIGHT TO RENEW” as Miller struggled to authorize a $99 payment to avoid hitting a cement truck.

“We noticed drivers were getting too much safety for free,” said Marcus Steele, VP of Recurring Revenue. “That is bad for business.” With falling sales and shrinking profits, the recurring revenue will be most welcome. “By locking the brakes behind a paywall, we ensure customers really verify their payment method before stopping.”

“The feedback is great. People feel more connected to their car when they pay per turn,” explained Sarah Swipely, Director of User Friction. She noted that premium subscribers can now unlock the steering wheel for an extra $40 a month, while the ad-supported tier requires drivers to watch a 30-second commercial before merging onto the highway. “It gives them time to think about their destination,” she added.

At press time, Tesla announced a new “Airbag Plus” tier that requires a 20% tip selection before deployment during a crash.

Inspired by the real story: Tesla is discontinuing standard Autopilot on new vehicles to force drivers into a monthly subscription for Full Self-Driving features. Read the full story.