Will Teslas have a blind spot directly in front of the vehicle?
Munro
They may look sleek and smooth without those circular sonic sensors, but the non-ultra-sonic Tesla was not welcomed with open arms by hundreds of Reddit users.
Two weeks after announcing it was removing ultrasonic sensors (USS), new Model 3s were delivered to owners looking noticeably less polka-dotted, leading to heated debates and several unanswered questions as the company transitions to an improved Tesla Vision and its occupancy network.
A few users said they would cancel their order, questioning how the system could effectively replace the sensors parking. User Zeek215 posted: "I had a base Model 3 to be delivered next month. I'm cancelling because of this. Not just because of the USS, but it's a trend in the wrong direction for what is an expensive car." MunroLivereported Tesla would save $114 per vehicle by eliminating USS. Users said they would have gladly paid the additional $114 to keep the system in the car.
However, this figure doesn't include the additional logistics needed to source, stock and maintain these sensors.
Munro takes a look at Tesla's USS
The biggest question about removing the USS system and going strictly with Vision is regarding accuracy. Tesla owners like pulling into parking spaces or garages and having the sensors indicate down to inches the distance to objects. The concern is that precision will be lost, and many people believe there is no way Vision can replace it.
But people were defending the switch. Callmesaul8889 posted: "Who said they don't know if they can guarantee feature parity? I've heard a bunch of Redditors claim that, but Tesla has explicitly said they feel they can match or exceed the USSs with Vision alone in the original announcement... I get the impression that some of you guys assume Tesla has a bunch of dumb dumb engineers who are constantly cutting costs without thinking of the consequences..."
Tesla anticipated these concerns when it announced it was removing USS. In that announcement, it stated: With today's software, this approach gives Autopilot high-definition spatial positioning, longer range visibility and ability to identify and differentiate between objects. As with many Tesla features, our occupancy network will continue to improve rapidly over time.
Many Reddit users who were more supportive of the Vision system believe it will reach parity with USS quickly, as the company said in the initial announcement. We will know when Tesla is confident with Vision when the non-polka dot vehicles get some features enabled.
For example, the non-USS Teslas will not be able to use Park Assist, Autopark, Summon or Smart Summon. But according to Tesla's website: once these features achieve performance parity with today's vehicles, they will be restored via a series of over-the-air software updates.
Another popular question was if the company would stop supporting the system in USS-enabled vehicles. Telsa posted: At this time, we do not plan to remove the functionality of ultrasonic sensors in our existing fleet. USS will be removed from the Model S and Model X in 2023.
The Kilowatts on Twitter took a close look at these new Teslas' cameras and discovered no significant differences between the two.
The repeater camera on a Tesla without USS compared to a current Tesla with USS
@klwtts/Twitter
Some speculated that Tesla would add a front bumper camera, but that doesn't appear to be the case. The biggest noticeable change is that the repeater cameras on the fenders appeared to have a slightly different housing. There's no word whether the lens itself, the sensor, or the angle of the camera is any different from previous Teslas.
Cybertruck
Since the Cybertruck's introduction, we've wondered how Tesla would integrate ultrasonic sensors into the vehicle, however, it looks like we now have our answer.
There's no question that this move cuts costs and reduces complexity for Tesla, allowing them to manufacture even more vehicles and increase operating profits. The only question is how close can Tesla's occupancy network get to the accuracy that ultrasonic sensors provide.
Cybertruck Unveiling in Five Minutes
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Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot is back in the spotlight, and this time it's showing off some impressive new footwork. In a pair of videos shared on X this week, Optimus demonstrated a surprising level of agility and coordination while dancing. The first demonstration had a precautionary safety cable, but the second demo was impressive without support.
Tesla has been making some astounding advances in Optimus’ unique FSD model, particularly through simulation and reinforcement learning. Optimus has come a long way since tripping over its own feet.
This first glimpse showed Optimus performing a simple series of dance-like movements. While there was a safety cable visible, indicating the relatively early nature of the test, the fluidity of the movements was noteworthy. Check out those feet—maintaining balance on two legs may be easy for humans, but it’s much harder for a robot as it shifts its center of gravity.
Milan Kovac, a member of the Optimus AI team, provided some additional context on this initial video. He mentioned that more was coming shortly, and the team has been hard at work. What’s key here is that he emphasized that the routine was entirely trained in simulation with reinforcement learning. He also mentioned that there are many optimizations and fixes already put in place for the sim-to-real training code. Finally, regarding the cable, he mentioned it's there in case of a fall and that it is not actually holding Optimus up directly.
Dance Baby, Dance
True to Kovac’s promise, the Tesla Optimus X account followed up with a second, more impressive video, declaring that it was just “getting warmed up.”
This time, Optimus engaged in a far more dynamic EDM-style dance, and crucially, without a safety cable or restraint. Optimus put on a good show of its balance, quicker movements, and an even greater range of dynamic motion, all untethered.
Murtaza Dalal, another Optimus AI team member, commented on this cable-free performance, stating, "As promised, the team is crazy fast :)" He pointed to the core methodology enabling such rapid progress: "Sim2real RL is the key to getting next level agile, dynamic motions. It’s also the key to precision and robustness."
Sim-to-Real Learning
The recurring theme from the Optimus team is the power of sim-to-real transfer using reinforcement learning. This approach involves training the AI model extensively in a simulated virtual environment, where it can learn complex behaviors (like walking, balancing, and now dancing) through trial and error at an accelerated pace. The best part is that it can all be done without risking damage to the physical hardware and done across multiple nodes of Tesla hardware. Imagine thousands of Optimus bots learning to dance all at once - except virtually.
Once the AI masters these skills in the simulation, the challenge lies in transferring that learning effectively to the real-world robot - which is the sim-to-real step.
These latest dance demonstrations suggest Tesla is making some fairly substantial strides in bridging that gap, allowing Optimus to translate simulated learning into real-world physical competence.
Rapid Development
While dancing may seem like a novelty, it serves as a compelling visual demonstration of Optimus’ advanced capabilities in balance, coordination, and dynamic movement - all essential for performing useful tasks in real-world environments. This progress builds on previous milestones, like Optimus learning to walk.
The "crazy fast" development pace lauded by Dalal indicates that Tesla is treating Optimus with the same iterative intensity it applies to its vehicles and FSD software. Each new demonstration, from sorting objects to walking and now dancing, offers a glimpse into a future where humanoid robots could play an important role in manufacturing, logistics, and eventually daily life.
The ability to quickly iterate and improve in simulation and then successfully deploy those improvements to the physical robot is crucial. While Optimus might not be ready for household chores just yet, its new dance moves are a clear sign that FSD is learning and evolving at an impressive rate.
A recent sighting at Giga Texas by drone operator and detail hound Joe Tegtmeyer has really caught our eye. A red Model Y was driving within the factory premises with its front and rear sections heavily camouflaged in Tesla’s standard black coverings. To top it off, there wasn’t just one, but two vehicles.
Tesla usually conceals vehicles when it has something to hide or test, and this timing suggests to us that a new variant of the world’s best-selling SUV is on its way. This leads us to two theories - a refreshed Model Y Performance or the anticipated, more affordable E41 Model Y.
Caught something interesting today … two heavily camouflaged cars driving on the W side of Giga Texas. Several viewers noted this in my short video on the autonomous drive.
— Joe Tegtmeyer 🚀 🤠🛸😎 (@JoeTegtmeyer) May 14, 2025
The front fascia, headlights, and hood are almost entirely obscured, with similar coverings applied to the rear, hiding the taillight design and bumper. This is a classic practice to keep new design elements under wraps before an official unveiling, and this is exactly what we saw with the Model 3 Highland and Model Y Juniper projects. The rest of the vehicle, including the central body and roofline, appear fairly consistent with the current Model Y.
Refreshed Model Y Performance?
One compelling possibility is that Tesla is preparing for the launch of the refreshed Model Y Performance. This speculation gains traction when we look at the launch of the refreshed Model 3 Performance. The Performance variant launched several months after the Long Range AWD and RWD variants and came with a bespoke front fascia. That fascia included air ducts for improved aerodynamics and brake cooling, helping to differentiate it both visually and by performance from other refreshed Model 3s.
It stands to reason that Tesla is preparing to launch the refreshed Model Y Performance. The extensive covering on the front fascia could be hiding a more aggressive, aerodynamically optimized bumper and air ducts to match the Model 3 Performance.
More Affordable Model Y?
Alternatively, this mystery vehicle could be the prototype of the previously discussed affordable variant of the Model Y, known as E41. Tesla has been working on further cost reductions for its highest volume vehicle, which includes cost-cutting components and features, as well as working on manufacturing efficiencies.
Tesla is focusing on making its existing models, like the Model Y, more affordable. In this case, the camouflage might be concealing simplified exterior features designed to help reduce production costs. This could include a revised front-end design, along with different headlights or taillight assemblies. Tesla could even forgo the distinctive front lightbar, as well as the afterburner-style rear lightbar, if it contributes to worthwhile savings.
This would be a step beyond the recently introduced Model Y Long Range RWD, which improves the vehicle’s range and lower the price by $4,000.
For now, the identity of this camouflaged Model Y remains a mystery. The fact that it is out and about at Giga Texas suggests that whatever changes Tesla has incorporated are significant enough to warrant covering up the front and rear of the vehicle.
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