Tesla has made some significant changes to the Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive that’s sold in Mexico – in fact, they’re launching an entirely new textile interior option for the market.
There are several significant changes throughout the interior, but let’s take a look at the new textile interior first.
Textile Seats
Tesla has been well-known for offering vegan leatherette in all its vehicles up to this point, as the only interior option – primarily in black and white for the Model 3 and Model Y, but also in cream for the Model S and Model X.
This new textile interior is now the only option available for the Model 3 RWD in Mexico – coming in gray and is listed as “Standard Fabric”. This textile-only option is also not available for the Long Range or Performance variants, or on any of the Model Y variants.
Tesla has introduced a fabric seating material
Tesla
Heating & Cooling Features Removed
Tesla didn’t stop at the seating material with these changes. They also included other, somewhat surprising changes throughout the interior. There is no longer a semi-premium interior for the RWD Model 3 in Mexico. This means all the Alcantara fabric has been replaced with the same textile fabric as the seats.
Alongside the lack of vegan leatherette, Tesla has also removed heated front and rear seats, as well as the heated steering wheel. This isn’t a surprising move in a warmer market like Mexico and it makes a lot of sense as Tesla makes its way into other markets that don’t require heated elements such as India and parts of Africa. However, due to the fabric textile seating, ventilated seats have also been removed from this model.
While we can see the advantages of not having leather-like seats in the Mexican heat, the lack of ventilated seats is a big disappointment.
Rear Screen Removed
The rear screen is also removed in this model
Tesla
There are a few changes that strike us as odd as well. The rear screen is powered by the same infotainment unit that powers the front screen, so the cost for Tesla is extremely minimal. Think of the rear screen as an additional display on a computer.
Tesla is unlikely to create a custom harness that would power the rear screen for this vehicle, so it’s possible the rear screen could be retrofitted in these models.
Ambient Lighting, Glass, and Speakers
In addition, Tesla has replaced its RGB ambient lighting with a white-only version. This seems like an odd choice, especially as in the open market, a color-capable LED strip versus a single-color strip is only the difference of a few dollars. While this may not provide significant savings for Tesla, it could be a tactic to upsell their higher trim levels that include the RGB feature.
The colorful, customizable ambient lighting feature likely helps sell quite a few cars. Tesla has recently been expanding the capabilities of its ambient lighting feature. With update 2024.26 Tesla added the ability to choose the brightness of the ambient lighting, as well as adding the option to have it only turn on at night time. Both of these features are expected to remain in this Mexican version. However, the ability for the ambient lighting to turn red when Service Mode is active won’t be available.
In addition to ambient lighting changes, Tesla is limiting its acoustic glass, which helps reduce road noise, to just the front windows.
The audio performance in this model has also been reduced. The number of speakers has gone from 17 down to 9. In addition, both subwoofers have been removed and there is now a single amplifier.
The Model 3 RWD's interior in Mexico
Not a Tesla App
Price
In exchange for dropping all of these changes, Tesla has dropped the price of the Model 3 RWD by $50,000 MXN – which is approximately $2,680 USD at the time of writing. We’re not sure that these significant changes will have a positive impact on Mexican sales. Tesla may be testing the waters with these changes, and if it bodes well for sales, we could see these changes be applied to other factories and markets as well.
Next-Gen Vehicle
Most interesting is that this new format could be the standard for Tesla’s upcoming next-generation vehicle – which is expected to be priced at around $25,000 USD. Earlier this year, Tesla pivoted and said that its next-gen vehicle will be built using the same manufacturing process as current models instead of the new unboxed process, which Tesla is now saving for the robotaxi.
The changes we’re seeing with this Mexican model will be something to keep an eye on, as the lack of a heated steering wheel and seat heating won’t be taken too well in most European countries or northern US states, nor in China and other colder climates. We’ll keep an eye out to see if this model makes its way into any other regions. For now, the Model 3 Long Range and Performance come with all the usual features we’ve come to expect.
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.
