Tesla design lead, Pawel Pietryka, who left the company last month has now shown off some prototype design videos of the Cybertruck and Model 3/Y on his website as part of his portfolio. He showed some interesting footage of the Cybertruck and the Model 3/Y UI. We covered the Model 3/Y video in what could be a part of the new FSD visualizations here if you haven't seen it yet.
These videos appear to be recent based on the Model 3 video containing many recent UI changes. There’s a lot we haven’t seen of the Cybertruck so this video is especially interesting since in some areas it gives us a first peek into the Cybertruck UI.
The Tesla Model S and X use similar UI elements as the Model 3 and Y. The design language used is essentially the same and the UI only differs when necessary, based on feature or hardware changes.
However, based on this video it doesn’t look like Tesla has any plans to merge the Cybertruck UI with the rest of the Tesla models. As unique as the Cybertruck is on the outside, it looks like it will be just as unique on the inside.
Tesla Cybertruck UI
You can check out the full video below.
Although the Cybertruck will be similar to the Model 3/Y with its single, center-mounted screen, it seems that it will differ in that it will mostly use a single app on screen at a time.
Whereas the Model 3 will display visualizations on the left side and the music or maps app on the right side, the Cybertruck incorporates the visualizations and the map into a single view. It shows the truck’s visualization inside of the map to let you know where you are on the map, instead of a standard arrow.
In order for the visualizations and surroundings to still be useful, the map has a much more zoomed-in view. It’s an interesting concept that merges the near-by environment renderings that the truck’s cameras are able to determine with the further-away map data like buildings and streets. It is essentially merging real-time environment data with pre-mapped data into a single view. It makes a lot of sense in some ways, but you do lose the big-picture route view that the map usually provides.
When the truck is parked and there’s no need for a map view, then the truck visualization will take up the whole screen, allowing you to open or close the frunk, tailgate or adjust the suspension in this nice full-screen type view.
We also get our first look at the HVAC controls. In this particular instance, since the truck is driving, the HVAC controls fluidly slide in from the left, revealing similar controls to current Tesla models, but with the Cybertruck interior.
The controls look very simplified and only include a power button, temperature control and vent direction control, but on closer inspection it looks like you’ll be able to slide over to reveal another HVAC pane that may include additional controls, like the ability to keep the climate on when exiting the car, turning on/off the AC and the ability to control the air recirculation.
All signs point to the Cybertruck doing extremely well, but one thing for sure is that the Cybertruck will be a very different and interesting vehicle.
For the first time in quite a while, Tesla has increased the price of one of its vehicle offerings. The Model S Long Range and the Model S Plaid have both received a hefty price increase. However, not all is bad - as Tesla also added a new benefit for buyers.
Price Increase
The price increase for the Model S is $5,000 - currently only in the United States. This price increase will likely impact other markets, including Canada, in the coming days.
The Model S Long Range now starts at $79,990, while the Model S Plaid now starts at $94,990. The Model S and Model X now have the same starting price. Interestingly, that’s also the same pricing point for the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast Trimotor non-Foundation Series.
The vehicle configuration does not appear to have changed, so the new pricing is simply an increase rather than the addition or removal of features. Tesla previously cut the price of the Model S and Model X by 15% in 2023, so this could simply be an adjustment to ensure that the vehicle pricing stays in line with inflation and other factors.
Free Lifetime Supercharging
For those on the fence about ordering a Model S, Tesla has brought back Free Lifetime Supercharging when you order a new Model S on or after December 13, 2024. As always, Free Lifetime Supercharging is restricted to the buyer’s Tesla account and to that specific vehicle. It cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner after ownership transfer. It’s worth noting, that it also doesn’t exclude the owner from receiving Supercharger idle fees or congestion fees. There is currently no end date for this promotion.
There are currently no changes to the Model X, neither a price increase nor the addition of Lifetime Superchargering. However, when Tesla makes changes to one of their premium vehicles, it usually affects the other one as well. So be on the lookout for potential changes to the Model X offering in the coming days.
We’ve seen Tesla value Lifetime Supercharging at $5,000, so this falls in line with the price increase we’re seeing. It’s possible that Tesla will begin to bring back Lifetime Supercharging as a perk for buying into their more premium Model S and Model X cars, or this could be another temporary promotion to get buyers who are on the fence to go ahead and make their purchase while this promotion lasts.
Tesla recently showed off a demo of Optimus, its humanoid robot, walking around in moderately challenging terrain—not on a flat surface but on dirt and slopes. These things can be difficult for a humanoid robot, especially during the training cycle.
Most interestingly, Milan Kovac, VP of Engineering for Optimus, clarified what it takes to get Optimus to this stage. Let’s break down what he said.
Optimus is Blind
Optimus is getting seriously good at walking now - it can keep its balance over uneven ground - even while walking blind. Tesla is currently using just the sensors, all powered by a neural net running on the embedded computer.
Essentially, Tesla is building Optimus from the ground up, relying on as much additional data as possible while it trains vision. This is similar to how they train FSD on vehicles, using LiDAR rigs to validate the vision system’s accuracy. While Optimus doesn’t have LiDAR, it relies on all those other sensors on board, many of which will likely become simplified as vision takes over as the primary sensor.
Today, Optimus is walking blind, but it’s able to react almost instantly to changes in the terrain underneath it, even if it falls or slips.
What’s Next?
Next up, Tesla AI will be adding vision to Optimus - helping complete the neural net. Remember, Optimus runs on the same overall AI stack as FSD - in fact, Optimus uses an FSD computer and an offshoot of the FSD stack for vision-based tasks.
Milan mentions they’re planning on adding vision to help the robot plan ahead and improve its walking gait. While the zombie shuffle is iconic and a little bit amusing, getting humanoid robots to walk like humans is actually difficult.
There’s plenty more, too - including better responsiveness to velocity and direction commands and learning to fall and stand back up. Falling while protecting yourself to minimize damage is something natural to humans - but not exactly natural to something like a robot. Training it to do so is essential in keeping the robot, the environment around it, and the people it is interacting with safe.
We’re excited to see what’s coming with Optimus next because it is already getting started in some fashion in Tesla’s factories.
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