Tesla will start charging a monthly fee for 'premium' data usage

The free ride is almost over, late-arriving Tesla drivers.

A new update on the auto maker's website confirms that Tesla data access will divide into two tiers starting on Jan. 1, 2020. It doesn't affect every customer (more on that below), but many of them will soon need to choose between the free "Standard Connectivity" tier and the $9.99/month "Premium Connectivity" tier.

If all you want from your car's data access is basic maps and navigation, plus the ability to stream media over Bluetooth, then Standard is the way to go. You'll still have access to the fancier features (if you want them) whenever your car is connected to Wi-Fi. Read more...