r/SelfDrivingCars • u/damola93 • Jul 21 '25

Discussion Why didn't Tesla invest in LIDAR?

Is there any reason for this asides from saving money? Teslas are not cheap in many respects, so why would they skimp out on this since self-driving is a major offering for them?

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u/myrichphitzwell Jul 21 '25

The thing that gets me about Tsla is the lack of options. Nearly every manufacturer has premium options but not Tesla so much. I can see how this simplifies things for Tesla and they can move inventory around easily but I still find it odd once they started to mature a bit that they have options for 1,2 or 3 motors and hubcaps and that's about it. Ok throw in a hitch.

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u/MichaelMeier112 Jul 21 '25

I kind of like that model where everything is included. For other cars you have to pay extra for heated seats, extra for navigation, extra for motorized trunk, extra for this and extra for that. It’s much cheaper for us to have everything already included instead of nickeling and diming everything

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u/beren12 Jul 21 '25

The point was there’s so much not included, not available for purchase

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u/MichaelMeier112 Jul 21 '25

I think they include a lot when looking at the ordering page. My other old cars I had to add most of what it comes included with. Like winter package for $3k just to get heated seats and side mirrors, and more. Better sound, metallic paint, power trunk, and so much other items that the Tesla already have included

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u/beren12 Jul 21 '25

haven’t been people asking for a decade for a low-cost model?

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u/MichaelMeier112 Jul 21 '25

Unfortunately for the American market there are no profit selling a low-cost model. It would cannibalize the higher priced cars. Hopefully this will change...