Tesla is Now Offering an Ambient Lighting Retrofit Option in China

August 1, 2024

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

Tesla has begun to offer the ambient lighting feature as a retrofit for certain Model Y vehicles in China.

The kit, including the installation, should cost ¥1,299, or approximately $180 USD. Tesla will have to conduct the installation in service by Tesla technicians. In order for the ambient lighting features to show up in the vehicle’s software, Tesla enables a flag in the vehicle’s firmware.

Ambient Lighting and Dash

This ambient lighting kit, like the updated Model Y in China, only covers the dash and doesn’t flow into the doors, so it’s a little different than the built-in ambient lighting that’s being offered with the refreshed Model 3 Highland and Cybertruck. It also doesn’t have the distinctive curve in the dash that’s in the updated Model 3. This ambient lighting feature is located much lower – at the lower edge of the dash, rather than the top edge in the new Model 3.

In terms of software, this kit should have all the same software options that the Model 3 and Cybertruck have for ambient lighting, including color options, as well as the upcoming brightness control and Night Mode for ambient lighting.

The dashboard upgrade removes the classic Model Y’s wooden dash trim that’s available elsewhere and replaces it with an updated light-grey fabric trim, similar to what’s available in the Model 3 Highland. However, this configuration with the fabric and ambient lighting is only available in China.

Availability

For now, this kit is only available to Model Y vehicles in China – and only a certain subset of them. Only Model Y vehicles built between January 24, 2022, and October 01, 2023, are eligible for the retrofit.

We’re assuming that this may be chalked down to a hardware difference in the electrical harness. Model Y vehicles built in China past October 1st, 2023 all come with Ambient Lighting pre-installed, and this kit is the same upgrade.

We’re not quite sure if this kit will ever make its way out of China – however, many Model Y vehicles in Europe and Canada are built in Giga Shanghai, which means they could also have the same required harness, making them eligible for the update. We’ll wait and see if this retrofit hits other markets in the near future.

Tesla’s Robotaxi Easter Egg: Surprise Tip

June 25, 2025

By Karan Singh

BLKMDL3

Tesla has always embraced whimsy in its software, packing it with playful Easter eggs and surprises. From transforming the on-screen car into James Bond’s submarine to the ever-entertaining Emissions Testing Mode and the fan-favorite Rainbow Road, these hidden features have become a signature part of Tesla’s software.

Of course, launching a new product like Robotaxi wouldn’t be complete without a fun little easter egg of its own. The end-of-ride screen in the Robotaxi app presents a familiar option “Leave a tip.”

For anyone pleased with their Robotaxi ride, they may be tempted to leave a tip. However, tapping the button presents our favorite hedgehog instead of a payment screen.

The app displays a message, alongside the familiar Tesla hedgehog, that simply states “Just kidding.”

While it's a fun prank, it’s also a nod to what Tesla really wants to do. They want to reinforce the economic advantage of an autonomous Robotaxi Network. Without a driver, there is simply no need to tip. The gesture is playful, but it’s a reminder of what Tesla’s real aim is here.

Had to been done lol https://t.co/SnZ3afXXzB
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 22, 2025

Even Elon is in on the joke. It is a small detail, but it’s all about those small details with Tesla.

First Recorded Tesla Robotaxi Intervention: UPS Truck Encounter [VIDEO]

June 25, 2025

By Karan Singh

@BLKMDL3 on X

Over the last few days, we’ve seen some exceptionally smooth performance from the latest version of FSD on Tesla’s Robotaxi Network pilot. However, the entire purpose of an early access program with Safety Monitors is to identify and learn from edge cases.

This week, the public saw the first recorded instance of a Safety Monitor intervention, providing a first look at how they’re expected to stop the vehicle.

The event involved a complex, low-speed interaction with a reversing UPS truck. The Safety Monitor intervened to stop the Robotaxi immediately, potentially avoiding a collision with the delivery truck. Let’s break down this textbook case of real-world unpredictability.

The Intervention [VIDEO]

In a video from a ride in Austin, a Robotaxi is preparing to pull over to its destination on the right side of the road, with its turn signal active. Ahead, a UPS truck comes to a stop. As the Model Y begins turning into the spot, the UPS truck, seemingly without signaling, starts to reverse. At this point, the Safety Monitor stepped in and pressed the In Lane Stop button on the main display, bringing the Robotaxi to an immediate halt.

This is precisely why Tesla has employed Safety Monitors in this initial pilot. They are there to proactively manage ambiguous situations where the intentions of other drivers are unclear. The system worked as designed, but it raises a key question: What would FSD have done on its own? It’s not clear whether the vehicle saw the truck backing up, or what it would do when it finally detected it. It’s also unclear whether the UPS driver recognized that the Robotaxi was pulling into the same spot at the exact same time.

It’s possible this wouldn’t result in a collision at all, but the Safety Monitor did the right thing by stepping in to prevent a potential collision, even one at low speed. Any collision just a few days after the Robotaxi Network launch could result in complications for Tesla.

Who Would Be At Fault?

This scenario is a classic edge case. It involves unclear right-of-way and unpredictable human behavior. Even for human drivers, the right-of-way here is complicated. While a reversing vehicle often bears responsibility, a forward-moving vehicle must also take precautions to avoid a collision. This legal and practical gray area is what makes these scenarios so challenging for AI to navigate.

Would the Robotaxi have continued, assuming the reversing truck would stop?

Or would it have identified the potential conflict and used its own ability to stop and reverse?

Without the intervention, it’s impossible to say for sure. However, crucial context comes from a different clip involving, surprisingly, another UPS delivery truck.

A Tale of Two Trucks

In a separate video posted on X, another Robotaxi encounters a remarkably similar situation. In that instance, as another UPS delivery truck obstructs the path forward, the Robotaxi comes to a stop to let its two passengers out just a few feet from their destination.

Once they depart, the Robotaxi successfully reverses and performs a three-point turn to extricate itself from a tight spot. That was all done without human intervention, by correctly identifying the situation.

This second clip is vital because it proves that the Robotaxi's FSD build has the underlying logic and capability to handle these scenarios. It can, and does, use reverse to safely navigate complex situations.

RUN THE CLIP!

UPS Truck vs Tesla Robotaxi https://t.co/GLc86BS5bc pic.twitter.com/O2c8c2KRB2
— Bradford Ferguson (@bradsferguson) June 25, 2025

A Valuable Data Point

Far from being a failure, this first intervention should be seen as a success for Tesla’s safety methodology. It shows the safety system is working, allowing monitors to mitigate ambiguous events proactively.

More importantly, this incident provides Tesla’s FSD team with an invaluable real-world data point.

By comparing the intervened ride with the successful autonomous one, Tesla’s engineers can fine-tune FSD’s decision-making, which will likely have a positive impact on its edge case handling in the near future.

This is the purpose of a public pilot — to find the final edge cases and build a more robust system, one unpredictable reversing truck at a time.