Tesla, Turo team up to promote FSD rentals

Turo said eligible “hosts” who rent out their cars on the platform will receive the one-month trial. The company is working with Tesla to access the automaker’s API directly and verify which vehicles have FSD enabled, Turo said.

The collaboration comes days after Tesla disclosed updated FSD figures. Tesla said about 1.7 million customers have paid for FSD globally, out of more than 10 million vehicles built and sold to date. The automaker said more than 75% of customers who took delivery of a car in North America in the third quarter paid for an FSD subscription, roughly a 20% increase from the second quarter, even as its U.S. sales have declined.

Tesla has spent much of the past year reworking some showrooms to make FSD a larger selling point. Chief Executive Elon Musk said in a post last week that the effort is working. “People are buying FSD with a car attached, not the other way around,” Musk wrote. On Tesla’s earnings call last week, finance chief Vaibhav Taneja said customers are asking, “Can we get into an FSD drive?” rather than requesting a Model 3, Model Y or Cybertruck.

For Turo, offering FSD-equipped rentals could increase demand for vehicles that are already among its most heavily rented. Turo said Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y are the third- and fourth-most popular vehicles on its platform this year. “This integration further increases host earning opportunities as interest in self-driving technology grows,” Turo said.

Turo Chief Executive Andre Haddad called the arrangement an “industry-first integration with Tesla” and said it shows how the company is redefining car rental and access. He said most travelers have had limited opportunity to experience driver-assistance technology, while citing Turo research showing 55% of Americans are interested in driverless technology for travel, rising to 71% among Gen Z. Haddad said Turo’s marketplace model is positioned to close the gap between consumer curiosity and hands-on access.

Customers who rent an FSD-enabled Tesla through Turo will be shown cautionary language requiring them to monitor the software and be ready to take over at any moment, according to Turo. Drivers will also have the option to view a Tesla-created tutorial. A screenshot of the Turo app cited by TechCrunch says that when enabled, “your vehicle will drive you almost anywhere with your active supervision, requiring minimal intervention.” Turo listings will also let owners promote their cars as “Self-Driving,” according to another screenshot provided by Turo.