It's only been a few days since Tesla officially announced the Model Y refresh, but we’re already finding out more. While deliveries won’t begin for at least another three months, there are plenty of things to get excited about.
We covered the Model Y Refresh in detail, but it is always worth it to take a moment and appreciate all the little things Tesla has included in this version of the Model Y.
Turn Signal Stalk & Steering Wheel
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First up is the return of the signal stalk. The Cybertruck and Model 3 Refresh both shipped without a signal stalk. Instead, the signals, as well as the wiper control, were located on the steering wheel.
For the Model 3, this was met with considerable pushback, given that it was a vehicle intended for the mass market rather than enthusiasts. While it's possible to get 3rd-party stalks for the Model 3 now, Tesla has clearly taken consumer sentiment to mind when refreshing the world’s best-selling vehicle.
With the Model Y Refresh, there’s a single turn signal stalk on the left side. Based on the photos, it appears that this may be a simpler stalk than we’ve seen in the past, as it doesn’t appear to have a button at the end. Given the headlights button on the steering wheel, it’s unlikely to move forward/back for high beams as well.
The steering wheel itself is very similar to the new Model 3 but with reduced buttons, thanks to the stalk. On the left side of the steering wheel you have buttons for the Wipers and High Beams. While on the right, it looks like there will be a button for Voice Commands (soon to be the smart assistant) and the rear/front camera.
There is no right stalk, so Autopilot and shift functionality is the same as the new Model 3, which means that you’ll be using the right scroll wheel and the screen for that functionality instead.
Rear Power Reclining Seats
The new Model Y is definitely aimed at families and those with lots of stuff to move. Tesla has put some good thought into this - and has added power reclining seating, which folds flat.
At the press of a button from the trunk or with a tap on either the front screen, the rear seats can be folded flat or raised up to their normal position. That’s definitely a helpful feature, especially if you’re trying to get something big into the trunk of your vehicle - and you need to drop the seats.
Now, a single-button press does the trick, which is super convenient. The ability to fold the seats flat is also new. In the previous Model Y, the seats folded mostly flat - and they’d squish down further if you put something heavy on them, but that could potentially damage the seats.
The rear seat cushions are also a 1/2” longer than before, making them more comfortable for adults to sit in.
Rear Trunk / Lift Gate
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The vehicle’s lift gate has also received some upgrades. Instead of being a “single” piece, there’s now a seam between the sides and the tail of the trunk piece. This will likely make repairs much cheaper for light rear-end accidents or other light damage. Owners can opt to replace just the trim part of the trunk instead of having to replace the entire life gate.
The rear glass has also been updated. Instead of featuring a curved edge at the bottom, it’s now much more rectangular. This appears to be a cosmetic change or tied to the new seam location.
To go along with the changes to the trunk, the new Model Y will also support the new hands-free trunk opening. Users with a supported phone will be able to automatically open the trunk simply by standing near it. This is something all new models have had since last year, but it will come to the Model Y for the first time.
Frunk
One change that didn’t make the cut is a powered frunk. While we’re disappointed that the new Model Y won’t include a powered frunk like the Cybertruck, Tesla did add a drain plug to the bottom of the frunk.
A drain plug allows the frunk to easily be used for cooling drinks during tailgating. Simply add ice and drinks.
New Speaker Placement and Double Stitching
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The new Model Y includes new speaker placements on the doors. The speakers on the door have been moved up next to the door handle. Their integration feels a lot smoother, and they’re fitted with a metal grill instead of a plastic one.
The interior also features a lot more double stitching when compared to the new Model 3. You can see this on the dash, where this is a single piece on the Model 3. While it likely adds a little bit to the cost, it makes the vehicle look a lot more premium.
The ambient lighting is also slightly different, now only reaching half the length of the door — on the front and rear doors. However, the design is sleek and fits in nicely.
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To Tow, or Not to Tow
We initially reported that the Model Y Refresh doesn’t have a tow hitch. We still stand by this point, but others have pointed out that the openable slot for the tow hitch still seems to be present.
Tesla doesn’t show the tow hitch as an option on any of the Asia Pacific sites right now - so it seems that, at the very least, the Launch Edition will not include a tow hitch. It also doesn’t show up as a feature, and the maximum tow weight is not listed as a vehicle specification.
We’re hoping that this is either an oversight or that Tesla intends to bring the tow hitch to the market as a Tesla Store retrofit and then offer it for new vehicles sometime in the future. Towing is very popular on the Model Y, but many people also use the hitch for bike racks and luggage carriers - owing to the versatility of the Y as a do-everything vehicle.
New Wheels
Alongside all the fun new features - the Model Y also comes with a new set of 20” Helix 2.0 wheels. One interesting item of note is that there is no aero cover included with these wheels, at least for now. They’re probably already quite efficient and likely wouldn’t benefit too much from aero covers like the current generation Model Y’s wheels.
This likely won’t be the only wheel option - but it is the standard for the Launch Series. We’ll likely see a 21” performance wheel option once the Performance variant arrives, as well as a cheaper 19” wheel variant with aero covers.
However, the new Helix 2.0’s are some of Tesla’s best-looking wheels, in our opinion, so there is that too. 20” wheels are a good balance in terms of looking good and providing enough rubber to dampen sounds, vibrations, and bumps. Tesla also claims to have improved handling performance and comfort, so these new wheels likely contribute to the overall experience.
If you’ve managed to pick up on something we’ve overlooked for all the small stuff, let us know on social media or here on the forums.
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Tesla’s Dan W Priestley attended the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Anaheim, California, and provided an update on Tesla’s Semi truck program. The presentation covered several key developments on the status of Tesla’s Nevada Semi Factory, refinements to the Semi, and Tesla’s plans for charging and ramping production through 2026.
Let’s dig in and take a look at everything that was captured by the Out of Spec team at ACT Expo. The original video is embedded below if you’d like to watch it.
Semi Factory & Production Ramp
Priestley reaffirmed the timelines mentioned during Tesla’s Q4 2024 Earnings Call that Tesla will scale Semi production in 2026. To achieve this, Tesla has been actively building and expanding the Gigafactory Nevada site, specifically to support the production of the Tesla Semi. The dedicated Semi facility will have a targeted annual capacity of 50,000 Semi trucks.
Following the beginning of production, Tesla will utilize the initial trucks to integrate into its own logistics operations. This will serve as both a final real-world testing ground as well as an opportunity for Tesla to gather data internally. Tesla plans to begin subsequent customer deliveries throughout 2026 as the ramp-up continues.
Reuters also reported that Tesla is hiring over 1,000 new employees at the Semi Factory to begin the rapid ramping of the program.
Semi has already amassed 7.9 million miles with Tesla’s current testing and operational fleets, providing some real-world data and testing. Feedback for the truck has been exceptionally successful, with many drivers praising the Semi’s performance and comfort.
New Tesla Semi Features
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Tesla keynote without showing off some new things. The Semi will be available in 500-mile and 300-mile range configurations, now featuring updated mirror designs and a drop-down glass section to improve visibility and allow easier interaction with external elements—such as control panels at ports, for example.
New Electric Power Take-Off (e-PTO)
The Tesla Semi will also feature a new capability called Electric Power Take-Off, or e-PTO system. Similar to the PTO systems found on other vehicles, this will allow the Semi’s high-voltage battery to power auxiliary equipment at variable voltages. That includes being able to power things like climate-controlled reefer trailers, potentially replacing the noisy and polluting diesel generators traditionally used for this purpose.
Charging and Batteries
Out of Spec BITS/YouTube
Tesla is also working on an updated battery pack design for the final production design of the Semi. This new pack is designed to be more cost-effective to manufacture. The battery pack itself is slightly smaller than before, but the truck maintains the same level of range through efficiencies. Dan also confirmed during his keynote that the battery cells for the Semi will be sourced domestically inside the United States, helping to alleviate potential burdens due to tariffs.
On the charging front, Tesla is using MCS - the Megawatt Charging System - capable of 1.2MW - and designed specifically for Semi. The system uses the same V4 charging hardware found at Supercharger sites but focuses on that larger power output. Alongside a smaller physical footprint, Tesla will be able to configure these V4 cabinets for either dedicated Semi charging or for shared power scenarios with regular Superchargers. Tesla is also working on an integrated overnight charging product, but Tesla isn’t ready to talk about it yet.
46 Semi Charger Sites Coming
The 46 new MCS sites coming soon.
Out of Spec BITS/YouTube
Finally, Tesla has made substantial investments in a public charging network for the Semi. There are currently 46 sites in progress throughout the United States, and plans for significant expansion throughout 2026 and 2027. These sites are strategically located alongside major truck routes and within industrial areas to support long-haul and regional operations. Tesla is aiming to offer the lowest possible energy costs to operators to help incentivize adoption.
This was one of the best updates to the Tesla Semi we’ve received since its initial unveiling. It seems that the Semi will receive a big portion of Tesla’s attention in 2026, while Robotaxi and FSD Unsupervised take the stage this year.
The Tesla Semi has the potential to transform transportation even more dramatically than EVs already have, serving as a testament to Tesla’s mission to electrify the world.
Sentry Mode is an invaluable tool for owners - capable of keeping the vehicle safe and secure even when you’re not around. This is especially true in recent times, with the misguided and unfortunate incidents surrounding Tesla ownership, including damage to Tesla vehicles, showrooms, and Superchargers.
B-pillar Camera Recording and Dashcam Viewer
With the 2025 Spring Update on 2025.14, Tesla is expanding Sentry Mode’s functionality for certain vehicles with some much-needed changes. Sentry Mode and Dashcam can now record footage from the vehicle’s B-pillar cameras. These cameras are located on the side pillars of the vehicle, between the front and rear doors.
This adds two crucially needed viewpoints, making Tesla’s Sentry Mode a truly 360-degree security system. These cameras also provide the best angles for capturing license plates when parked, so they will be greatly appreciated by owners in the event of an incident.
These vehicles are also receiving an improved Dashcam Viewer, which now displays the six camera feeds along the bottom and a new grid view. It also allows users to jump back or forward in the video in 15-second increments.
However, to the disappointment of many owners, not all vehicles are receiving these updates due to the additional processing power needed.
Limited to Hardware 4 Vehicles, Ryzen Isn’t Enough
We have confirmed that Tesla is only adding the additional camera recording and improved Dashcam Viewer on hardware 4 (HW4 / AI4) vehicles. The newer hardware presumably has the additional processing power and bandwidth needed to handle recording and saving the two additional video streams during Sentry Mode and Dashcam.
For the time being, owners of HW3 vehicles are not receiving this feature. This includes all vehicles with HW3, even those with AMD Ryzen infotainment systems. If you’re not sure whether your vehicle has HW3 or HW4, you can refer to our FSD hardware guide.
While there’s no doubt that recording two additional camera streams would be more computationally intensive, we hope that Tesla adds the improved Dashcam Viewer to HW3 vehicles in a future update.
Cybertruck Also Missing Improved Sentry Mode
Surprisingly, and most confusing for many - is the fact that the Cybertruck is also not receiving the improved Dashcam Viewer and B-pillar camera recording with this update. This struck us as odd, especially since the Cybertruck is currently the only vehicle with the improved, more efficient version of Sentry Mode.
Every Cybertruck is equipped with HW4 and AMD Ryzen infotainment units, so this clearly isn’t a hardware restriction. It’s possible the more efficient Sentry Mode is playing a role here due to the infrastructure changes. However, we expect Tesla to address this in a future update and eventually release these features for the Cybertruck as well.
Given the Cybertruck’s high visibility and its status as a frequent target for both positive and negative attention, many owners hoped that the Cybertruck would be one of the vehicles to receive this feature.
Adaptive Headlights
Tesla finally started rolling out its adaptive headlights in North America. While the new Model Y already came with the feature when it was released last month, other vehicles with matrix headlights are now receiving the feature in the Spring Update.
All vehicles with matrix headlights are receiving this feature, which includes the new and old Model 3, first-gen Model Y, and the new Model S and Model X.
If you’re not sure if your vehicle includes matrix headlights, check out our guide. What’s interesting here is that older vehicles that were retrofitted with matrix headlights due to an accident or user replacement are also receiving the adaptive headlights feature.
Legacy Model S & Model X
As with most updates, the older legacy Model S and Model X are not receiving all the features included in this update. Unfortunately, some of the features, which include the Blind Spot Camera on the instrument cluster, Save Trunk Height Based on Location and Keep Accessory Power On are limited to the new Model S and X.
Legacy S and X models will receive the Alternative Trip Plans feature, Avoid Highways (Requires Intel MCU) and the Keyboard Languages feature.
These vehicles are also receiving all the features in the Minor Updates section except for the visualization showing how far the door is opened, which is exclusive to the Cybertruck. These additions include improved music search results, contact photos in the phone app, automatic connecting to hotspots, the ability to show third-party chargers, view Supercharger amenities, and various improvements to music services.
While many users will be disappointed not to receive the B-pillar camera recording and Dashcam Viewer improvements, it’s important to remember that Tesla typically does a great job at bringing features to older vehicles, at least with the Model 3 and Model Y. If a feature isn’t added, it’s usually due to a hardware limitation.
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