Tesla appears to be ready to replace the wood trim in some of its vehicles
Tesla
Tesla appears ready to replace the natural wood trim in the Model 3 with non-woven fabric. The wood trim has long been a hallmark of luxury cars, and it is often associated with a classic and timeless aesthetic. However, the look has started to look dated in vehicles, especially as many manufacturers have moved to fake wood to reduce costs.
With this move, Tesla may be embracing a more modern and sustainable design approach. Non-woven fabrics are often made from recycled materials and are designed to be more durable and longer-lasting than traditional wood.
Cost Cutting
According to Chris Zheng, which one of our sources later confirmed, Tesla is replacing the wood trim in the Model 3, and possibly other models with a non-woven fabric that will be significantly cheaper to produce. The move is in line with the company's efforts to reduce the costs of its vehicles and make them more affordable and environmentally friendly.
The wood trim has been a notable feature of the Model 3 since its inception in 2017, but it is also a costly one. By removing it and replacing it with fabric, Tesla can reduce the vehicle's manufacturing costs.
This is in line with the upcoming Model 3 revamp which is rumored to be centered around cost-cutting and is expected to be available later this year.
Environmentally Friendly
It is important to note that the move away from wood trim is not just about cost-cutting. While wood is a natural and renewable resource, its production and harvesting can have significant environmental effects. In contrast, non-woven fabrics are often made of recycled materials, which can help to reduce the environmental impact of vehicle production.
Tesla has always been committed to sustainable and eco-friendly design practices, and this change is in line with that philosophy. By using recycled materials and reducing the environmental impact of vehicle production, Tesla is staying true to its mission of creating a more sustainable future.
Different Colors
While the use of non-woven fabric in place of wood trim is a significant change, Tesla may also be considering using different fabrics for different models or trim levels.
In the Model 3 Tesla changes the trim based on the interior color of the vehicle. However, with the use of fabric, Tesla could increase the number of options available. Tesla could offer carbon fiber trim for the performance model, or white/black fabric based on the interior of the vehicle.
More Customization
However, they could go one step further. One of the often-mentioned downsides of owning a Tesla is the lack of customizable options. If Tesla wants to provide more customization options for its customers, it could offer a variety of trim colors, much like you'd pick the exterior color of the vehicle.
Tesla could also change the interior trim to match the exterior color of the vehicle to offer a more cohesive look.
Which Models This Will Apply To
Tesla has often shared as many parts as possible between their models, especially 'sibling' vehicles such as the Model 3 and Model Y. While the Model 3 vehicle is the one spotlighted in news regarding Tesla's revamp, it's likely that many of the features that are being talked about for the Model 3 will also carry over to the Model Y.
While the Model S and Model X also include wood trim on the dash, doors and center console, it's not clear whether Tesla will take a similar approach to their luxury line of vehicles.
The decision to replace wood trim with non-woven fabric in Tesla's vehicles is a multi-faceted one. While it will help reduce costs and make their cars more affordable, it is also part of a broader trend toward sustainable design practices.
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Like clockwork, it’s time for the opportunity to submit questions for Tesla’s Q1 2025 Earnings Call. Q1 has historically been difficult for Tesla and other auto manufacturers in general, but doom-and-gloom aside, there’s plenty more to be excited about, including upcoming improvements to FSD and the first phase of Tesla’s Robotaxi network.
Earnings Q1 2025 Questions
Tesla is gearing up for its Q1 2025 Earnings Call, providing an opportunity for shareholders to once again submit and vote on questions they want to be addressed during the event. Tesla has already announced the lower-than-expected delivery numbers for Q1 2025, and also held a Public All-Hands Meeting for the first time, so we’re interested to find out what answers to some of these questions during their Q&A session.
Most Popular Questions
When will FSD unsupervised be available for personal use on personally-owned cars?
Is Tesla still on track for releasing “more affordable models” this year? Or will you be focusing on simplified versions to enhance affordability, similar to the RWD Cybertruck?
Robotaxi still on track for this year?
How is Tesla positioning itself to flexibly adapt to global economic risks in the form of tariffs, political biases, etc.?
Regarding the Tesla Optimus pilot line, could you confirm if it is currently operational? If so, what is the current production rate of Optimus bots per week? Additionally, how might the recent tariffs impact the scalability of this production line moving forward?
Did Tesla experience any meaningful changes in order inflow rate in Q1 relating to all of the rumors of “brand damage”?
When will Tesla Insurance be available in all 50 states. I’m from Idaho, and I’m surrounded by states where it is available, but it isn’t available in my state.
How is the company planning to deal with the impact of Elon’s partnership with the current administration?
is there a possibility of a stock split if so what would it be
Questions and voting are conducted through Say, a third-party platform that validates share ownership. Once your ownership is verified, you can use your shares to vote, with your vote weight corresponding to the number of shares you hold. Submitting a question initially gives it votes equivalent to your number of shares.
Below, we also compiled a list of the top questions going into the Earnings Call, which takes place a week from today.
The Earnings Call itself will take place on April 22, at 5:30 PM EDT (2:30 PM PT). Links to the live stream will be made available closer to the event. A recap of the key points will also be provided as usual, so stay tuned for that in the hours after the call.
With Q1 2025 now behind us, another round of Tesla’s Supercharger Voting has wrapped up. The previous vote took place back in December, and we now get to see which locations came out on top.
Let’s take a look at the Q1 2025 winners of the Supercharger Vote:
North America
🇺🇸 Lake Wales, FL
🇺🇸 Henderson, NV
🇺🇸 Clarksville, TN
🇺🇸 Roswell, NM
🇺🇸 Long Beach, CA
🇺🇸 Decatur, IL
🇺🇸 McAlester, OK
Europe
🇬🇧 Bournemouth, United Kingdom
🇮🇹 Bari, Italy
🇵🇱 Wrocław, Poland
🇨🇿 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
Asia-Pacific
🇰🇷 Namyangju - South Korea
🇦🇺 Nicholls, Australia
Supercharger Voting Q2 2025
Another quarter means another round of Tesla's Supercharger Voting, giving Tesla owners the chance to influence where new Supercharger sites will be built. Following the Q1 2025 voting round, Tesla is now opening the polls for Q2 2025.
How to Vote
To participate in the Q2 2025 Supercharger Voting, visit the Tesla Supercharger Voting page and sign in to your Tesla account. You can vote for up to five different locations, with a limit of one vote per location, every three months. The most popular Superchargers are displayed on the leaderboard, and you can also suggest new locations for future voting cycles.