Tesla Changes Free Color Option, Pearl White Gets the Boot for the Model 3 and Y

By Kevin Armstrong
Midnight Silver is the new free color option for the Model 3 and Model Y in North America
Midnight Silver is the new free color option for the Model 3 and Model Y in North America
Tesla

There are a lot of white Teslas, says Captain Obvious. The free color of white mixed with record-high sales figures has produced a whiteout on many Tesla lots and several highways around North America. The stormtrooper paint job, also known as Pearl White Multi-Coat, will now cost you as the company has made Midnight Silver the free color option for the Model 3 and Model Y in North America.

The History of Tesla's Free Color Options

Tesla's history with color options tells a tale of evolution. Pearl White Multi-Coat has been the default color for the Model 3 since June 2019, taking the baton from Solid Black. The company's choice of free color heavily influences the vehicle's road presence, leading to waves of monochromatic Teslas. This new change to Midnight Silver promises to bring a touch of diversity to Tesla's presence on our streets.

In late 2021, a tweet from a Tesla owner to Elon Musk sparked a conversation around the abundance of white Teslas on the roads. The user suggested a change in the free color option, favoring silver over white. Musk must've taken this to heart, stating that he would discuss it with his team. Fast forward to today, and the team's decision is clear — Midnight Silver now reigns as the no-cost color choice.

Other Available Colors and Their Costs

Despite the change, customers can still opt for the Pearl White Multi-Coat, albeit for an additional fee. Other paid color options include Deep Blue Metallic for $1,000, Solid Black for $1,500, and Red Multi-Coat for a hefty $2,000. The color palette varies in different regions globally, adding to Tesla's distinctive and localized charm.

Model S and Model X Remain Unaffected

Importantly, this change in color options only applies to the Model 3 and Model Y. The Model S and Model X continue to offer Pearl White as the free color choice. Midnight Silver Metallic still comes as a $1,500 upgrade for these models.

A Colorful Future

This modification in Tesla's color offering is a fresh move that signifies the company's willingness to listen to its customers and adapt accordingly. However, there is no news on additional colors. We have seen Midnight Cherry Red and Quicksilver in other jurisdictions and Ultra Red offered for the Model S and Model X. While some may bemoan the additional cost of the previously free Pearl White Multi-Coat, others may rejoice in the change, adding a new hue to the Tesla family on the road.

Tesla Cybertruck: Puddle Lights, Powershare & FSD in Canada and Cybertruck on Mars?

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

The Cybertruck is having an eventful November. Just last week, we shared the news that Tesla isn’t offering their in-house wrap service for the Cybertruck anymore; the Foundation Series is now available in inventory in select US locations, Crossbars have arrived, and faster charging is around the corner. Now there’s even more to discuss about the stainless steel beast.

Projection Puddle Lights

Like the recently launched puddle lights for the Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla has introduced a set of add-on Projector Puddle Lights for the Cybertruck. These Cybertruck-specific ones go for $75 USD, or $105 CAD and are available in both the Canadian and US Tesla stores.

However, these don’t have the Tesla wordmark - instead, they feature the iconic Cybertruck symbol and, in our opinion, look even nicer. Here’s to hoping Tesla also introduces a set with the graffiti-style Cybertruck wordmark.

Powershare in Canada

While the Foundation Series Cybertruck has been getting delivered in Canada since November 7th, there was no news on Powershare being supported due to regulatory constraints. On the 20th, Foundation Series owners in Canada began to receive emails to get their Powershare installs started through Tesla’s official installer - Qmerit.

More to follow on pricing and the process as we receive our Canadian quote from Qmerit soon.

FSD in Canada

The Cybertruck Program Manager, Siddhant Awasthi, confirmed that with Powershare now becoming available, FSD for the Cybertruck in Canada will also become available soon. Canadian trucks shipped with a factory software build that didn’t include FSD, but did include TACC and stoplight/traffic control.

Early this morning Tesla began rolling out a new version of FSD 12.5.5.3 for the Cybertruck, which is update 2024.39.5. Will this be the version that rolls out in Canada?

Update 2024.39.5

FSD Supervised 12.5.5.3
Installed on 0% of fleet
0 Installs today
Last updated: Nov 22, 11:17 am UTC

First Mars Payload

Following Integrated Flight Test 6 for SpaceX’s Starship, Elon Musk confirmed that uncrewed Starships are likely to begin making their way to Mars in about 2 years. You’re probably going to ask what’s going to be in those Starships - that’s what Brett Winston on X asked as well. Elon confirmed that Cybertrucks and Optimus robots will be among some of the first items landing on Mars.

That’s a ton of awesome news for Cybertruck, and there’s absolutely going to be more around the corner, especially as we await the big Tesla Holiday Update. While you wait, why not take a look at our Holiday Update Wishlists?

First Look at Tesla’s New 'Blind Spot While Parked' Feature [VIDEO]

By Karan Singh
Automobile Propre

Tesla software update 2024.44.3 has started rolling out to customers in larger waves recently and it brings several new features - including Actually Smart Summon to Europe and the Middle East, as well as improvements to Autopark. But that’s not all, it also adds a new Blind Spot Monitoring feature to the new Model 3, and potentially the Cybertruck, but that’s still to be determined.

We previously covered the Blind Spot Warning While Parked as part of our preview notes for update 2024.44, but now that it's going out to customers, it's time to see it in action.

Blind Spot Monitoring While Parked

If the vehicle’s door open button is pressed, and a vehicle or object is near or incoming, the vehicle’s Blind Spot Warning Light (2024 Model 3 and Cybertruck) will illuminate, an audible tone will ring and the door won’t open. A message will also be displayed on the center displaying, letting driver’s know why the door didn’t open.

Pressing the button a second time will allow you to override the warning and open the door normally, providing a way to get out in case you just parked close to a nearby vehicle or obstacle.

The object detection for this new feature includes cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and other objects - like things including traffic cones, bollards, strollers, and other large obstacles that FSD and vision-based Autopark detect during normal operation. Of note - this only works for the front two doors. Thanks to X user Max, who did some testing for us, It does not work for the rear passenger doors.

Optional Feature

The feature is optional - it’ll be enabled by default for safety, but if you need to enable or disable it, you can do so under Controls > Safety. For now, the feature is only available on the 2024 Model 3, but we expect it to roll out to the Cybertruck at least. However, there’s no reason why it can’t be added to other vehicles as well, minus the small red dot. We expect Tesla to eventually add this feature to all Tesla vehicles, but it’s currently not a part of update 2024.44.

Enhauto’s S3XY Buttons & Commander

If that’s not enough safety and vision for you, Enhauto, the makers of the popular S3XY Buttons and Commander recently put out a new software update for the 2024 Model 3, which makes some fantastic use of the ambient lighting.

With Enhauto’s solution, users are able to tie their ambient lights to Autopilot use, turn signals or even if a vehicle is their blind spot. Check out the video below for this awesome implementation, where the ambient lights turn red when another vehicle approaches.

Maybe Tesla will integrate something like this into a future update? We’ve been hoping for more customizability with their ambient lighting - it's an easy safety win and a demonstration of Tesla’s do-more-with-less attitude.

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