2023 is sure to bring good things, but if you live in Europe, it could get even more exciting. Tesla has posted a new job position to its careers site for an ADAS test operator.
ADAS, which stands for “Advanced Driver Assistance Systems,” is the broader category for Tesla's Autopilot and FSD features. Although FSD is quite capable, it is still officially a level-2 system. The addition of this position to Tesla's careers site could mean that Tesla is stepping up testing in Europe, where it expects to release FSD next.
The job description says the "ADAS test operator will be responsible to identify improvements and regressions across software iterations."
This is particularly interesting because Tesla hasn't been actively developing its Autopilot or Navigate on Autopilot features for several years since the new tech stack that FSD leverages will be the foundation for future iterations of Autopilot.
Elon Musk has said various times before that Tesla's FSD feature will expand to Europe next. In March of 2022, Musk stated that he expects FSD to be available in Europe as early as summer. He tweeted:
"FSD Beta should be available in Europe for LHD this summer, RHD a few months later. These dates depend on regulatory approval."
During Tesla's AI Day 2, Elon Musk also mentioned that he hopes to expand FSD to Europe before the end of 2022.
Tesla's FSD feature was limited to the U.S. until it expanded to Canada with FSD Beta version 10.11.1, which was rolled out in March 2022.
Public Testers
Tesla required public testers to achieve a certain safety score in order to be included in the FSD beta program in the U.S. and Canada. That restriction was removed at the end of 2022 when FSD Beta was opened up to everyone eligible.
It's not clear what Tesla's plan is for the expansion of FSD, but we know it will expand to Europe next and this job posting appears to indicate testing is already underway. Tesla may utilize the Safety Score again once they're ready to open up FSD Beta in Europe to public testers.
The Austin, Texas-based automotive company continues to ramp up production and prepare for a new vehicle platform in March 2023. Furthermore, they’re preparing for hardware 4.0, which will see a higher megapixel cameras, heaters, and fans. It will also reduce the amount of front-facing cameras from three down to two.
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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.