Shares of Tesla surged by approximately 4% following an announcement by CEO Elon Musk that the electric carmaker will be offering a one-month free trial of its driver-assist technology to customers in the United States. Musk's goal of achieving a fully autonomous driving experience has faced significant challenges, including regulatory and legal scrutiny regarding Tesla's safety and marketing practices.

In a social media post on platform X, Musk stated, "All U.S. cars that are capable of FSD will be enabled for a one-month trial this week." This news resulted in Tesla shares spiking by as much as 6.7% before settling at a 3.7% gain, reaching $178.98.

Musk's announcement comes ahead of Tesla's upcoming report on delivery numbers for the first quarter of this year, which is expected to disappoint due to the easing impact of aggressive price cuts, softened demand, and increased competition. To further promote the Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, Musk has instructed employees to offer demonstrations of FSD to new buyers and owners of serviced vehicles, according to internal emails.

This move towards free trials could be a significant step in encouraging customers to adopt the technology. Ken Mahoney, CEO of Mahoney Asset Management, stated, "Maybe this will entice drivers to purchase full self-driving for $12,000 at some point." Currently, FSD software is also available as a subscription model for $199 per month. However, some experts, such as researcher Troy Teslike, believe that the price is too high for a driver-assist system that still requires constant monitoring by the driver.

Tesla investor Gene Muster estimated that only about 5% of new Tesla buyers currently opt to purchase or subscribe to the FSD software. However, Muster suggested that if this number rises to 20% by 2026, it could potentially contribute nearly $1 billion in net income for the company.

It is worth noting that Tesla has experienced setbacks in relation to its Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system. In December, the company recalled over 2 million vehicles in the United States to implement additional safety measures after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) expressed concerns following multiple incidents of Tesla vehicles colliding with stationary emergency vehicles.

Despite these challenges, Tesla's commitment to improving its driver-assist technology and expanding its customer base through free trials may prove to be a positive step towards achieving Musk's vision of a fully autonomous driving experience.