Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reasserted his longstanding promise to produce a vehicle to operate almost entirely in autonomous mode. Musk discussed the car during a conference with Morgan Stanley, where he also talked about Tesla's progress in developing Full Self-Driving capabilities.
The vehicle will be built at Tesla's new factory in Mexico, announced at last week's Investor Day, and the company expects it to be significantly more affordable. Musk explained that Tesla's primary goal is autonomy and that the new vehicle will be geared toward this aim.
FSD is Improving
Tesla has been working on Full Self-Driving technology for several years. Although the vehicles are not yet fully capable of being autonomous, the company has made significant strides in this area. FSD version 11.3.1 has been released and is drawing rave reviews.
Musk also pointed out that an affordable, autonomous vehicle is a clear path forward for Tesla, as it will allow the company to help more people drive sustainable powertrains. He did not provide a timeframe for the new vehicle's release, but Mexico officials expect that Tesla will begin building cars at the new plant late next year.
Autonomous Vehicles are the Future
According to Musk, autonomy is the most critical goal for Tesla, representing a massive opportunity for the company. He stated, "The thing that is really gigantic for Tesla is autonomy. The total addressable market stuff is like guys; this is not the right way to think about it. The total addressable market is everyone, all humans."
Elon Musk & Morgan Stanley Interview
Musk went on to explain that autonomous vehicles would be used far more frequently than human-driven ones, resulting in a significant increase in the value of a car. "If those vehicles are autonomous, they'll probably get used for 50 or 60 hours a week. That's a 5x increase in the value of a car, but it costs the same to make the car. At that point, you basically have software margins and a hardware product that's insane," he said.
Musk's comments on the upcoming Tesla vehicle underscore the company's commitment to autonomy and its vision for an affordable, sustainable, and autonomous future.
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Well-known Tesla hacker Greentheonly has discovered a new FSD computer labeled Model Y “Reloaded.” This AI4 FSD computer differs from other Model Y Autopilot hardware which is usually just labeled “Model Y.”
Initially, it looks like this new computer may be for the just-announced refreshed Model Y Juniper, which is now open for orders in North America and Europe as well as Asia Pacific, but several features reveal it’s not for Tesla’s upcoming best-seller.
So, with that said, put on your detective hats, we’re going for a little sleuth into what exactly this “Reloaded” computer could be used for.
Model Y Reloaded Computer
The AI4 computer is the brain behind Tesla’s FSD. It is the Autopilot computer, where all the vehicle’s cameras connect, enabling real-time data processing and analysis.
This particular unit is not the standard FSD unit that’s being shipped with the current, now “first-gen” Model Y. The biggest sign that it differs from the current AI4 computer is that it features a connector for the front bumper camera. While the 2024 Model 3 was expected to come with a front bumper camera, it was only ever available on the Cybertruck and will soon be available on the new 2025 Model Y.
This is similar to the physical connector for the front bumper camera present in newer iterations of the Model S and Model X computers. These vehicles were originally slated to get a bumper camera last year, but that hasn’t happened yet. We reported back in 2022 that they received the additional camera hook-ups but no camera.
Tesla recently issued a recall for the AI4 computer, citing physical and software issues that could cause a potential short on the board. According to Green, this board is not the recalled unit but could instead be a replacement unit. However, why the board includes a front bumper camera connection remains a mystery.
Not a Juniper FSD Computer
We know that this isn’t the correct part for the refreshed Model Y Juniper because it lacks a connector for the secondary rear screen in the upcoming model.
Additionally, Tesla has labeled this computer unit as “MY Reloaded” - previous versions of the computer for the Model Y were listed as just “MY.” In addition, all the other computer versions have been pulled from Tesla’s Electronic Parts Catalogue - only this one is now available as Part #2003160-S0-E.
The label with
@greentheonly on X
Speculation
This new FSD hardware doesn’t appear to match the current or new Model Y, so what could it be? Well, there are a few things here. Tesla wouldn’t bother populating that front bumper camera slot for no reason - and this computer is a slightly different form factor than the one that goes in the Model S and Model X - so they’re not just sharing parts between the Model S and Model Y.
The most likely scenario is that Tesla is planning to replace any faulty AI4 computers with this updated part. But could Tesla be open to offering a retrofit for the front bumper camera? It’s important to note that this is not the hardware upgrade that many HW3 owners are waiting for. It is a different form factor than the HW3 computer and wouldn’t fit in HW3 vehicles. If anything, this is a potential replacement for the AI4 computer to support forward compatibility if FSD ever requires a bumper camera.
The full computer.
@greentheonly on X
Bumper Camera Retrofit?
Is Tesla planning to offer a front bumper camera retrofit? Maybe. Tesla doesn’t typically offer retrofits. They did for several items in the past, but they have largely stopped doing so.
Tesla included a front bumper camera on the refreshed Model Y Juniper, as well as on the Cybertruck - and it could be extremely useful for both Actually Smart Summon and FSD to remove the frontal blind spot.
However, it could be an optional feature rather than a retrofit feature. Until FSD Unsupervised arrives, we won’t know for sure whether a bumper camera is required.
For now, it would be best to keep an eye on this. Just like the Model S and Model X having the slot populated, it may not necessarily happen, but it leaves the door open for a future upgrade if necessary.
Tesla has announced steep price increases for its vehicles in Canada, with adjustments of up to CA$9,000 set to take effect on February 1, 2025. This move impacts nearly all models, with the Model 3 Performance trim seeing the steepest hike, rising from $70,990 to $79,990 Canadian. The Model Y, Model S, and Model X will each see a flat increase of CA$4,000 across all trims. Notably, the Cybertruck remains unaffected by these changes.
These price hikes coincide with the expiration of Canada’s federal EV incentive program, which previously offered CA$5,000 rebates on eligible vehicles, further increasing the price of Tesla vehicles.
Additionally, the Canadian dollar’s recent decline against the US dollar and looming trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada may have influenced Tesla’s decision. President Trump proposed a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, and Tesla may be expecting Canada to retaliate with a similar tariff on US goods. However, it’s interesting that Tesla has chosen to raise prices so drastically before any tariffs have been announced.
Price Increases
Model
Price Increase
Model 3 Long Range RWD
CA $4,000 ($2,800 USD)
Model 3 Long Range AWD
CA $8,000 ($5,600 USD)
Model 3 Performance
CA $9,000 ($6,300 USD)
Model Y
CA $4,000 ($2,800 USD)
Model S
CA $4,000 ($2,800 USD)
Model X
CA $4,000 ($2,800 USD)
Cybertruck
$0
Buyers
This could be a critical time to act for prospective buyers, with the price increase going into effect in just about a week. Tesla’s online configurator allows customers to lock in current prices by placing an order before February 1st. The company’s referral program also offers CA$1,300 off Model Y, Model S, and Model X purchases, providing additional savings before the price hike takes effect.
It’s not clear how much these adjustments will impact Tesla sales in Canada. If the increases are related to an upcoming tariff, then they’ll impact other manufacturers as well. We may see a potential surge in orders ahead of the February 1 deadline, especially for the AWD and Performance variants of the new Model 3, which will see the largest increase.
The price increase is expected to impact the new Model Y as well, which was announced last night for North America and Europe. Deliveries for the new model begin in March.
If you’re on the fence about whether you should order a new Tesla, now may be a good time to place your order. Tesla offers the ability to cancel your order, but buyers would lose their deposit.
