Every year since 2016, Musk has promised self-driving Teslas would arrive no later than the following year. In 2019, when Tesla first offered leasing for the Model 3, Musk told podcast host Lex Fridman that the ability to add autonomous-driving software would make every used Tesla an "appreciating asset."

Tesla’s strategy to withhold leased cars for a robotaxi fleet has resulted in selling them instead, reported Reuters. Initially, Tesla prohibited customers from purchasing leased Model 3 sedans at lease-end, citing the need for an upcoming robotaxi fleet.