Tesla offers Long Range model owners the ability to increase their vehicle's performance
The Kilowatts/Twitter
If you haven't driven a Tesla, you might not be familiar with the rollercoaster-like feeling of going from 0 to 60 mph. The Long Range Model 3, for example, can accomplish this in 4.2 seconds as-is. All Teslas pull you off the line almost instantly and are already quicker than most internal combustion engine vehicles.
What if, though, you could increase the speed of your Tesla even more? We break down what Tesla's Acceleration Boost is, and whether it's worth the price tag.
What Does Tesla's Acceleration Boost Do?
If you drive a Long Range Model 3 or Model Y, you may be able to purchase the 'Acceleration Boost' upgrade that increases your vehicle's acceleration and lowers your 0-60 time.
The Tesla Model 3 Long Range already has an acceleration from 0 to 60 mph time of about 4.2 seconds. With Acceleration Boost, Tesla claims that time is reduced to 3.7 seconds.
The Tesla Model Y Acceleration Boost shaves off half a second on the vehicle’s 0 to 60 mph time, dropping its run from 4.8 seconds down to 4.3 seconds.
It’s worth highlighting that these are the only two vehicles that are eligible to purchase this upgrade. When Tesla first started delivering the new Model Ys with the 4680 cells, owners of the Standard version were able to upgrade, but the company has since removed this option.
Acceleration Boost vs Performance Times
While Acceleration Boost will give you a very noticeable boost in all performance aspects, it will not turn your vehicle into a Performance model.
Here are the 0 to 60 mph time comparisons between the Long Range model, Long Range with Acceleration Boost and Performance models.
Model
Long Range
Acceleration Boost
Performance
Model 3
4.2 seconds
3.7 seconds
3.1 seconds
Model Y
4.8 seconds
4.3 seconds
3.5 seconds
As you can see from the table above, a Long Range model with the Acceleration Boost upgrade falls roughly between a Performance model and the Long Range model in terms of acceleration.
An owner independently tests out Tesla's Acceleration Boost
MagnusMako/Tesla Motors Club
The graph above was created by an independent owner and displays the vehicle's performance from 0 to 10, 0 to 20, 0 to 30 and 0 to 60 mph after purchasing Tesla's Acceleration Boost. From the graph we can see how the vehicle's acceleration rate remains fairly constant from 0 all the way to 60 mph.
Does Acceleration Boost Add Track Mode?
Track Mode is a feature that is exclusive to Performance models. It allows you to adjust how your vehicle handles and performs. For example, it allows you to adjust features that may be useful on a track, such as adjusting the motor bias from front to rear, reducing traction control or adjusting vehicle cooling.
Although vehicles with Acceleration Boost have better performance than their Long Range counterparts, they do not include Tesla's Track Mode feature.
Is Acceleration Boost Worth It?
While the Acceleration Boost update can be a costly one at $2,000, it unquestionably gives drivers acceleration capabilities that are comparable to those of the Performance model.
According to Tesla drivers who have purchased the upgrade, the actual acceleration boost is quite notable and affects all speeds, not just 0-60 mph.
On the other hand, your Model 3 or Model Y's quick acceleration will result in quicker tire wear. Additionally, it can result in decreased efficiency, which results in higher ownership costs. However, this does depend on the individual and how often they take advantage of the speed boost.
Performance models are usually quite a bit more expensive than the Long Range models, so in terms of value, the Acceleration Boost upgrade is a good deal that will increase the vehicle's value. If you own your vehicle, you'll also likely recoup some of the upgrade's cost if/when you decide to sell the car or trade it in at some point in the future.
Cost and How to Purchase
The price for Acceleration Boost hovers around USD 2,000, depending on your region and local tax rate. Owners can conveniently purchase the upgrade directly from their Tesla app, or through Tesla's website.
To purchase or see if the upgrade is available for your vehicle, open the Tesla app and navigate to the Upgrades section.
Then tap on Software Upgrades and if the feature is available for your Tesla you will see Acceleration Boost listed.
If you'd like to purchase the upgrade, make sure your vehicle is in Park and connected to Wi-Fi or has a strong cellular connection so that the vehicle can download an updated configuration.
You can add the Acceleration Boost upgrade to your cart and follow the payment instructions.
The upgrade is a one-time payment that can be made with a credit card, debit card, or Apple Pay. However, it is not possible to add the cost of the upgrade to your lease or vehicle loan payments.
Once the payment has been processed, the update should only take a few minutes to show up in your vehicle.
How to Check if Your Vehicle Has Acceleration Boost
Once you've made the purchase, you can confirm that you have received the upgrade by tapping on Controls (car icon) and navigating to Software. Below your vehicle's image, you'll see a list of features, including possible features like Full Self-Driving, Premium Connectivity and more.
If your car has received the upgrade, you should now see Acceleration Boost listed.
In addition to the upgrade appearing under the Software tab, you can also navigate to the Pedals & Steering section and your acceleration choices will now be 'Chill' and 'Sport,' instead of the previous options of 'Chill' and 'Standard.'
Your vehicle should now be noticeably faster.
An owner independently tests out Tesla's Acceleration Boost
Smvarg/Medium
Is there an Acceleration Boost Trial?
Although not formally promoted as a trial period, Tesla does provide you the chance to get a refund for your original purchase within 48 hours of purchase, if you change your mind or the upgrade didn't meet your expectations.
It is not possible, however, to receive another refund if you re-purchase the Acceleration Boost upgrade at a later time. Any future purchases for Acceleration Boost will be final.
The Acceleration Boost upgrade might be worthwhile for you if you frequently travel on long, open highways or appreciate experiencing the acceleration surge when you depress the pedal. But if you use your Tesla for routine activities like grocery shopping or being stuck in traffic on the way to and from work, it might not be the best bang for your buck.
However, if you initially had your eye on the Performance model and ultimately decided on the Long Range version, Acceleration Boost is a great way to get closer to the performance of the higher-end trim.
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Tesla is officially opening up its long-anticipated Robotaxi service — but only for a select, invite-only group. Invitations have gone out to influencers to experience the first autonomous rides this Sunday, June 22, in Austin. Dubbed an “early access” program, this marks the official launch of Tesla’s Robotaxi service and the new Robotaxi app.
Invitation Details
Tesla is taking a cautious approach to its initial rollout. Only invited users — largely influencers and carefully selected individuals — will get to hail a ride using the new Robotaxi app. These early testers will be among the first to experience what Tesla describes as a fully autonomous ride, although not entirely without human oversight.
The invitations were sent out early this morning and offered plenty of new details about the Robotaxi service, the app and ride restrictions.
Human Safety Monitors
Elon Musk previously stated that there would be “no occupant in the driver seat,” and while that’s technically accurate, it’s not exactly what we expected. These Robotaxi rides will have a Tesla employee seated in the front passenger seat. This “safety monitor” will oversee the ride but not intervene unless necessary.
Interestingly, the documents shared with influencers indicate that these safety monitors will be subject to the same restrictions as Tesla owners with FSD Supervised. The cabin camera will monitor their gaze to make sure they’re paying attention and presumably warn them if they stare off to the side for too long.
Teleoperators
While there will be safety monitors in the vehicle, there are also expected to be teleoperators. Although Tesla doesn’t explicitly mention teleoperators, it does note that the cabin camera will only be used in the event of a support request or if “operator assistance” is required in an emergency.
Teleoperators aren’t a surprise at all, as all autonomous vehicles use them today when a vehicle needs help. While in the case of a Model Y, it’s possible for the safety monitor to take over the vehicle, Tesla is preparing for the future when there won’t be a safety monitor in the vehicle and the vehicle doesn’t have a steering wheel like the Cybercab.
Cabin Camera and Mic: Off By Default
Passenger privacy appears to be a priority. Tesla confirms that the cabin camera and microphone will be off by default during the ride. These features will only activate if the rider opts in, requests assistance, or in the case of an emergency. This appears to contradict what Tesla mentions about the cabin camera monitoring the safety driver, but it’s possible Tesla means that these features will be off by default when there isn’t a safety monitor in the vehicle.
Tesla says that after the ride, the camera may be temporarily activated to check for cleanliness or forgotten items before the vehicle continues to its next destination.
Will React to Emergency Vehicles
While we know that these vehicles will be equipped with a newer version of FSD, it’s not yet clear exactly which version it's. However, it appears that this version will now feature sound detection, allowing it to detect and react to emergency vehicles.
Tesla says the vehicles will use the vehicle’s microphone to recognize sirens or other road alerts. If a safety event is detected, the vehicle will reduce media volume and notify users on screen.
Like Tesla’s vision processing, all audio is processed in the vehicle and not transmitted unless explicitly enabled by the rider.
Recording and Sharing Encouraged
Tesla is allowing invited guests to bring one additional guest with them to experience the Robotaxi network. Tesla will be allowing the recording and sharing of photos and videos, so we should have plenty of new details on the Robotaxi soon.
Tesla is also asking users to rate their experience via the Robotaxi app, likely trying to identify any trouble points.
Restrictions for Robotaxi Rides
Tesla’s Robotaxi service will operate within a geofenced area of Austin and will be available between 6:00 AM and 12:00 AM. So, essentially, there are only six hours when Robotaxis won’t be available. Tesla states that users will be able to see the geofence area within the app; however, we currently don’t know the size of this area.
Airport rides are not allowed, presumably due to more complicated scenarios. Tesla also states that the Robotaxi service can be paused at any point due to inclement weather; however, the forecast for Austin over the next week is clear and sunny, so this is unlikely to be an issue.
Pricing and Fees
Tesla’s agreement states that all rides will be priced in U.S. dollars and may include tolls, airport fees, and other regulatory charges. It’s not clear whether invited guests will need to pay for rides, but since Tesla is mentioning prices and doesn’t explicitly state that these rides are free, they’ll likely have to.
We may soon find out what Tesla will charge for Robotaxi rides and compare it to other services, such as Uber and Lyft. However, like all other Tesla pricing, these will likely change over time as well.
Tesla reserves the right to charge users for damages or litter left in the vehicle, according to documents shared with influencers.
Robotaxi App, Not the Tesla App
One of the more surprising revelations is that Tesla is not using the Tesla app for this service. Instead, riders will be required to download a new Robotaxi app. While code related to Robotaxi features has been found in Tesla’s main app, it now appears that the Robotaxi app will serve ride-hailing passengers.
The Robotaxi details we’ve seen in the Tesla app may be for future support when owners start adding their vehicles to the Robotaxi fleet. This way, an owner can open up the Tesla app and know the status of their vehicle.
The Robotaxi app won’t be publicly available on the App Store yet. Instead, invitees will receive a separate download invitation, likely through a service like TestFlight, which allows users to test unreleased apps. Tesla emphasizes that only the original invitee can download and use the app, but hopefully, we’ll have our first look at the Robotaxi app soon.
What’s Next
While this represents a soft launch for Tesla’s Robotaxi service, it offers our first glimpse at what the service will be like in terms of restrictions, geo-fenced areas, price, and, of course, a look at the Robotaxi app. Like all things Tesla, they’ll iterate and improve the app, service, and process over time.
We should have a lot more details and the first ride-along videos soon.
According to a new report from Business Insider, Tesla is planning a week-long production pause for the Cybertruck and Model Y lines at Giga Texas. On the surface, the reason seems pretty straightforward: maintenance and line upgrades.
But Tesla has been infamous for never shutting down lines unless it's an absolute production necessity. Given that this is the third production pause in the last 12 months, this suggests that Tesla is planning something other than routine maintenance.
Official Story
The facts, as reported by BI, are fairly straightforward. Tesla will be shutting down the Model Y and Cybertruck lines from June 30th to July 4th. In a staff meeting at Giga Texas, Tesla stated that the pause would enable maintenance and upgrades to help ramp up production.
While this could seem odd for the recently updated Model Y and Cybertruck lines, it also makes sense as Tesla continuously makes production improvements, rather than waiting for model year updates.
There definitely feels like there’s more to this story than a simple pause, but the timing and context suggest this pause is far more significant.
The Affordable Model
The key to this shutdown is Tesla’s strategy for its more affordable model. Tesla has pivoted away from building Giga Mexico, and is instead planning to build both the Cybercab with its unboxed assembly process, as well as the next-gen affordable vehicle at Giga Texas.
For now, Tesla plans to build the affordable model based on existing production lines within Giga Texas, rather than build a standalone line. This is mostly because Tesla intends for the affordable model to have a high part familiarity with the Model 3 and Model Y.
The Model Y line, in particular, is the prime candidate for this retooling. It is Tesla's most refined high-volume production line, and the tooling and equipment on the line are perfectly suited to enable Tesla’s quick transition to producing the new model.
A week-long shutdown is not enough time for a complete overhaul, but it is the perfect window to begin preparatory work. This could include installing new mounting points for future robotics, rerouting utilities, or even running initial trials for new assembly processes in a portion of the line.
Timing is Everything
This theory makes even more sense in the context of recent events. The cheaper model was initially planned for the first half of 2025, but following reported delays, the timing seems right for Tesla to start incorporating changes to support the new vehicle. While Tesla initially planned for a cheaper model to be based on the Cybercab with its unboxed assembly, they decided to produce one based on the current assembly line to get to market sooner. This isn’t the cheaper, “$25k” vehicle we were all hoping for, but instead a more affordable version of the Model 3 or Model Y.
While the Cybertruck line is likely undergoing standard ramp-up tweaks, the shutdown of the Model Y line likely presents something more. While it could also include maintenance and incorporate updated tools, it may include changes required for the newer model.
More Than Maintenance
While the official reason reported by Business Insider seems fairly plausible, there’s always more under the surface when it comes to major decisions like this with Tesla. Using the planned maintenance window to quietly begin the process of retooling is the kind of move we expect from Tesla.
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