Euro NCAP investigating Tesla for potentially modified testing software
Euro NCAP
Tesla hacker Greentheonly recently discovered Tesla added various testing agencies’ names into some of its development software, sparking an investigation by Euro NCAP, Europe’s government-supported organization that thoroughly tests vehicles for safety.
Tesla just added ANCAP support in their code. This is in addition to already existing "I VISTA" (Chinese testing grounds), Euro NCAP and Korea NCAP
One wonders why do it (they also give testing houses one-off builds with the testing house in the name (with tweaked settings?) )
Green found Tesla recently added ANCAP, Australasia’s testing agency, to its software. I VISTA, which is China’s testing grounds, Euro NCAP, and Korea NCAP were already mentioned in the vehicle's code. The addition of ANCAP into the software aligns with Tesla beginning sales of the Model Y in Australasia.
Although Green was able to find these references in Tesla's software, he wasn't able to determine what they're being used for since they're run on Tesla's FSD hardware, which has limited access.
No Evidence of Any Attempt to Cheat
After Green's tweet, Euro NCAP took a closer look at Tesla’s software and their testing results and found no evidence that Tesla attempted to cheat in any of the agencies' tests.
“The integrity of its star-rating scheme is of utmost importance to Euro NCAP and we will continue to do all we can to ensure the rating reflects the safety which consumers can expect from their vehicles,” Aled Williams, Euro NCAP’s program director, told CNN Business. “So far, Euro NCAP’s investigations have not revealed any evidence of an attempt to ‘cheat’ the tests by Tesla.”
Euro NCAP Testing
Tesla does use geofencing to enable and disable its Full Self-Driving software. Notably, the company does this in Toronto, and owners are anticipating Tesla to remove the geofence in version 10.69.3.
“It is possible that GPS location is used to identify that the car is at a specific test track,” Williams added. “It’s one of the possibilities we put to Tesla and they absolutely deny that this is done.”
Others are speculating that adding agencies’ names to the code is likely for Tesla to contain the data at these testing sites. Tesla could gather test data so they can make improvements to both the hardware and software of their fleet.
It's important to note that the vehicle's software could not impact any of Tesla's safety crash tests done by these agencies as all vehicle sensors are covered before crash tests are performed.
The only testing that relies on the vehicle's software is software-assisted tests such as automatic emergency braking, pedestrian avoidance, lane departure, etc.
Tesla would be putting too much at risk by trying to cheat during any of these tests. Their vehicles are already some of the safest vehicles on the road, and they continue to improve their safety by making improvements to seat belt tensioning systems and improving the vehicle's hazard lights.
Tesla’s latest software update, version 2025.2, brings new features to Service Mode, continuing the trend of improving in-vehicle diagnostics.
Currently, this feature is only available for vehicles with AMD Ryzen infotainment systems and requires Service Mode+, which is a subscription service aimed at technicians. Intel-powered vehicles aren’t supported yet, but we expect this feature to roll out to them as well unless hardware limitations prevent it.
Thanks to Spencer for providing an image of the panel in action.
Signal Viewer Panel
While update 2025.2.6 adds four service mode improvements, including updates to brake burnishing, charge port calibration, and noise recording panel improvements. In this article, we’ll focus on the new signal viewer panel.
This new panel offers a live data feed from selectable vehicle sensors. You select the signals you’re interested in and it’ll plot the signal on a graph. In addition to allowing you to view real-time signal data, it also allows you to record them.
The signals are searchable and can be easily added or removed from the panel. You can track up to 10 sensors, and the UI allows three of them to be viewable at once.
However, this is Service Mode and it’s more than just pretty looks. You can really dig down into these charts. You can pan them left and right through time, and tapping a specific point shows the exact value of that signal. The panel also supports pinch-to-zoom, enabling you to adjust the time scale across all panels simultaneously.
This feature is exclusive to Service Mode+, which requires a subscription to Tesla’s ToolBox3 software and a connection to a computer. It’s designed to help technicians diagnose issues related to signal quality, noise in the vehicle’s electrical systems, and signal variance in components during driving.
Tesla has updated its Model Y lineup in Europe, introducing new standard configurations while discontinuing the limited-edition Launch Series. With the new variants now available, European customers will have more choices and cheaper options to pick from.
The Launch Series and some of its exclusive features will no longer be offered—except in the UK, where it remains available alongside the new lineup.
New Models Introduced
Tesla’s new Model Y lineup in Europe includes three main variants. The prices vary slightly from country to country.
Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD): Priced at €44,990, this model is the most affordable new Model Y, but it also has the shortest range and is missing a few features available on other trim levels.
Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (LR RWD): Available for €49,990, this version is essentially the same as the RWD model, but with a larger battery. It has seen a €1,000 price increase compared to the outgoing Long Range RWD model.
Long Range All-Wheel Drive (LR AWD): At €52,990, this model has seen a price drop of €2,000, making it a better deal than the previous LR AWD Model Y. This is also the only new Model Y to come with most of the same features as the Launch Series, including additional speakers, a subwoofer, premium materials inside the cabin and improved acceleration. Acceleration boost should also become available for this model, letting it match the performance of the Launch Series.
All Model Y variants come with all the improvements that we’ve discussed about the new Model Y, including the new front and rear light bars, improved aerodynamics, ventilated seats, improved heat and sound isolation, and the 8-inch rear touchscreen. Some exclusive options, like the Midnight Cherry Red paint, appear to no longer be available. However, Tesla has already said that they’ll be introducing new paint options for the Model Y in North America.
Compare Model Y Variants
Here’s how the various Model Y variants compare to each other:
Launch Series
LR AWD
LR RWD
RWD
Range (WLTP)
353mi (568km)
364mi (568km)
387mi (622km)
311mi (500 km)
Acceleration (0 to 60 mph)
4.1s (includes Acceleration Boost)
4.8s
5.6s
5.9s
Audio
15 speakers + subwoofer
15 speakers + subwoofer
9 speakers
9 speakers
Interior
Premium materials
Premium materials
Fabric door trim
Fabric door trim
Weight
4,402 lbs (1,997 kg)
4,402 lbs (1,997 kg)
4,191 lbs (1,901 kg)
4,250 lbs (1,928 kg)
Power Consumption
15.3 kWh/62 mi (100km)
15.3 kWh/62 mi (100km)
14.2 kWh/62 mi (100km)
13.9 kWh/62 mi (100km)
Tow Hitch
Included
Optional
Optional
Optional
Supercharging Power
250 kW max
250 kW max
250 kW max
175 kW max
Charging Speed
165 mi (266 km) in 15 mins
165 mi (266 km) in 15 mins
165 mi (266 km) in 15 mins
148 mi (238 km) in 15 mins
Battery Warranty
8 years or 120k mi
8 years or 120k mi
8 years or 120k mi
8 years or 100k mi
Extras
FSD + Acceleration Boost + Puddle Lights + LS badges + Free Upgrade to Helix wheels
None
None
None
Availability
Late February
March
June
May-June
Price
€60,990
€52,990
€49,990
€44,990
Launch Series Ends
Not a Tesla App
The Launch Series, which debuted just weeks ago in Europe, has now been phased out. This limited-edition model was priced at €60,990 and included a suite of premium features comparable to a bundle deal you may find with other products. It came equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD), Acceleration Boost, and exclusive badging on the rear liftgate, door sill plates, and puddle lights.
While the Launch Series is no longer available for new orders in most European countries, customers can still get a similar vehicle by opting for the Long Range AWD model and manually adding premium features like FSD. Acceleration Boost, which was standard in the Launch Series, is expected to become available for purchase once these vehicles are delivered or soon afterward. However, some exclusive elements, such as badging and trim details, will remain unique to the discontinued edition.
For now, the UK remains an exception, still offering the Launch Series alongside the newly introduced models.
Performance Model Still to Come
With Tesla now introducing the expected variants of the refreshed Model Y, one notable absence is the Performance model. While the Launch Series was fast due to the Acceleration Boost addon, there’s no doubt the Performance version will be in a league of its own.
What we saw Tesla do with the 2024+ Model 3 Performance variant was more than just using binned motors. The vehicle featured unique bumpers, a spoiler, an improved suspension, sport seats, Track Mode V3 and other features that made the vehicle stand out compared to the Model 3 AWD.
The Performance version of the new Model Y is expected to become available later this year, however, expect it to carry a $5-$8k premium over the AWD model.
Other Regions to Follow
As Europe phases out the Launch Series, other regions are expected to see similar changes. With the other models now revealed, owners in other regions have a better idea of whether they should buy the Launch Series or wait for the additional models to arrive.
Tesla naturally adjusts its offerings based on market demand, and if sales of the Launch Series remain strong in other parts of the world, Tesla will likely wait it out a little longer before offering the other models.