For nearly five years, Elon Musk has repeatedly offered to license Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology to other automakers. Despite these overtures, no major car company has yet adopted the system. Musk’s strategy includes public calls for collaboration, even suggesting that rival manufacturers are actively avoiding what he considers a superior autonomous driving solution.
The Unanswered Offer
Musk first publicly floated the idea of licensing FSD in 2019 and has revisited it multiple times since. In 2023, he claimed Tesla was in negotiations with a “major automaker” – speculation pointed towards Ford – but no deal materialized. This week, Musk reiterated the offer on X (formerly Twitter), lamenting that legacy automakers “don’t want it.” He accompanied this statement with a provocative image of competitor brands in a mock “graveyard of autonomy” and dismissed their interest as “pointless.”
Why Automakers Are Hesitant
The lack of industry response is likely rooted in Tesla’s unconventional development process. Unlike traditional automakers that prioritize in-house testing and controlled rollouts, Tesla has deployed beta versions of FSD to its customer base, effectively using public roads as a testing ground. This approach has raised safety concerns and regulatory scrutiny, making it a less attractive option for companies wary of liability or brand reputation risks.
The Broader Context
The situation highlights the industry’s broader reluctance to fully embrace Tesla’s aggressive, sometimes controversial, approach to autonomous driving. Automakers may also be hesitant to rely on a competitor’s proprietary technology, preferring to develop their own systems internally. This standoff reinforces Tesla’s position as an outlier in the automotive space, while traditional manufacturers continue to pursue more incremental, validated approaches to self-driving technology.
The continued rejection of Tesla’s licensing offer suggests a deeper ideological and strategic divide within the industry, with established automakers opting for caution over rapid, untested advancement.
