Tesla Model 3 'Highland' Performance Details Discovered in European Documents

September 22, 2023

By Kevin Armstrong

Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades

Tesla

Tesla outdid itself with the refreshed Model 3, known as the Highland. Despite all the fantastic upgrades, something is missing - the Performance version or perhaps the Plaid. The letter "T" has shown up on vehicle certificates in Europe, and despite Elon Musk's sense of humor, it is unlikely this is a Mr. T reference.

Deciphering the 'T'

A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor

eivissacopter / X

Diligent scrutiny of the European Type Certificate, issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW and shared on the TFF Forum, revealed a subtle yet pivotal alteration — including the letter 'T' in the eighth digit of the Model 3 Performance's VIN.

This seemingly minor detail, indicative of the vehicle's motor/drive unit type, sparked curiosity and speculation on the forum. Could it be a tri-motor setup to usher in a new Plaid version of the Model 3? This vehicle has already got endless amounts of zip, but three motors? May The Schwartz Be With You!

This could also explain the Model 3+ badging that was spotted during the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China inspection of the refresh. However, the regulatory filings highlighted just two distinct variants of the car: a rear-wheel drive (RWD) with a 194 kW motor and an all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor setup that combines to deliver a formidable 331 kW of maximum power.

Initial conjectures leaned towards the possibility of a tri-motor setup, drawing parallels with the Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X. However, a deeper dive into the certification document clarified that the Model 3 Performance retained its Dual Motor setup, dispelling the possibility of a tri-motor upgrade.

Strategic Enhancements: A Glimpse into Potential Upgrades

Given the documented specifications, it becomes plausible that Tesla has strategically enhanced one of the dual motors, potentially aligning it with the advanced motor found in the Model S/X Plaid. This modification is poised to augment the top-end speed and acceleration of the Model 3 Performance, addressing its comparative limitations in extended races against traditional gas-powered supercars.

Meanwhile, the Model 3 refresh has become the new Bigfoot of the roads of North America, with rare sightings posted on social media. However, it appears the continent is excluded from the initial launch of the Model 3 Highland. Internal communications within Tesla suggest North American enthusiasts might have to exercise patience until 2024.

Tesla Introduces 5G Modem; Speeds Up to 1000 Mbps

February 25, 2025

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

Tesla has long equipped its vehicles with LTE (4G) modems, including the new Model Y, Cybertruck, and new Model 3. However, all three models now appear to be transitioning to a new, 5G-capable modem.

This marks a first for Tesla, and it’s likely that the upgraded modem will be integrated into newly manufactured vehicles as supplies become available. The modem, listed as “TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT - TCU - GEN II,” was spotted in Tesla’s Electronic Parts Catalog (EPC) by well-known Tesla hacker Green on X.

Faster Speeds, Where Possible

5G coverage remains limited in many areas, with rural and suburban regions still relying on LTE—or even 3G in some cases. Since around 2018, every modern Tesla has been equipped with the Gen I modem, which supports LTE speeds ranging from 20 Mbps on the low end to 100 Mbps at peak performance.

The new Gen II modem, where supported, will enable 5G speeds of up to 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps). While this will be most effective in urban areas with dense 5G transmitter coverage, it will also benefit some well-developed suburban regions.

New Model Y

Interestingly, the new Model Y may come with either a Gen I or Gen II TCU, meaning buyers won’t know which modem they’re getting until they receive the vehicle. Green confirmed on X that both the LTE-equipped Gen I unit and the new 5G-capable unit are valid configurations for the new Model Y.

Retrofits

Not a Tesla App

While Tesla now offers direct-to-customer parts sales, the EPC does not list a price for either the LTE or 5G-capable TCUs. This is because these units require programming by Tesla Service or a trained technician and must be paired with a SIM card linked to the vehicle’s VIN.

Although the hardware swap itself is expected to be relatively straightforward, this isn’t something owners can retrofit on their own. However, Tesla may offer a retrofit service in the future. For now, with parts still in limited supply, pricing remains uncertain.

If 5G support becomes essential, you might be able to request a TCU retrofit through Tesla Service in the coming months as availability improves.

When Tesla vehicles were equipped with 3G-only modems, Tesla offered a paid retrofit to an LTE-capable modem, but this was mostly due to AT&T shutting off their 3G network, and these vehicles would lose their cellular connection otherwise.

Ultimately, this news of the 5G modem confirms that Tesla remains committed to cellular connectivity in its vehicles—at least for now. Direct-to-satellite Starlink support isn’t here yet, but we’re still hoping for it in the future. Until then, a Starlink Mini strapped to your Tesla’s glass roof remains a solid alternative.

Tesla Launches FSD in China: First Look [Video]

February 25, 2025

By Karan Singh

zhongwen2005

A series of articles on Sina Finance, a leading Chinese finance news organization, recently reported that Tesla’s FSD would soon start rolling out in China. Although there have also been reports of delays, Tesla appears to have finally addressed those regulatory issues as it has now officially started rolling out FSD in China.

FSD is being enabled with software update 2024.45.32.12 to owners who have purchased FSD outright. However, it isn’t clear whether this is exactly the same FSD as North Americans know it.

Urban Road Autopilot Assistance

This software update introduces “Urban Road Autopilot Assistance” (let’s call it URAA for short), an FSD-based driver-assistance system for Chinese Tesla owners. On controlled-access highways and urban roads, URAA guides vehicles according to navigation routes, assisting with entering and exiting highways, navigating intersections, and recognizing traffic lights to perform actions like going straight, turning left or right, or making U-turns.

Same FSD as North America?

While URAA shares many similarities with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving based on the information Tesla released, it’s not clear whether its functionality is exactly the same. It could just be FSD under a different name, or it could be slightly different.

Based on initial videos (shown below), FSD looks very capable and similar to what we’re used to. In the video, you can see the vehicle using its turn signals to go around vehicles, stopping at red lights, and making turns. It also slows down appropriately when there are pedestrians nearby. If there are differences between North American “FSD” and URAA, Tesla doesn’t make it clear what they are.

It appears that FSD in China is trained on its own set of data, as China did not want Tesla to use data from other countries to train their system, so there could be some limitations or differences between what’s available in North America and China. However, it’s also possible that it’s just a name change and Tesla was not allowed to use the term “Full Self-Driving" in China.

Some more FSD CHINA footage pic.twitter.com/E7YSEFbz6v
— JacksonS (@shrmodelx) February 25, 2025

Visualizations

The full suite of FSD visualizations are also available in China with this update. They appear to be the same ones available in North America and we haven’t been able to detect any differences so far. However, it’s great to see additional owners being able to experience them for the first time.

Navigation Update

In September 2024, Tesla added the FSD option in Chinese vehicles, but it was just greyed out and required a navigation update. With this FSD update going out, Tesla is also requiring users to update the navigation maps to version CN-2025.8 before FSD can be enabled.

Most Teslas Now Have Access to FSD

This is Tesla’s first release of FSD outside of North America, which millions of customers have been waiting to see. Just recently, Tesla released FSD in Mexico, and before that, it expanded it to Puerto Rico, making it now available in four countries. Since North America and China are Tesla’s two largest markets, Tesla’s FSD is now available to the majority of Tesla owners, the first time this has happened.

While Tesla initially faced difficulty in getting regulatory approval in China due to data transmission laws, it appears Tesla is making progress with regulatory laws outside of the United States. Europe and Oceania are the next two phases for FSD, with Europe likely coming first due to it being a left-hand drive market.

While it’s not surprising to see FSD released in China, we expected more of a hold-up due to Chinese laws, so this is an encouraging sign of Tesla being able to work around country-specific laws.

In Tesla’s 2024 roadmap, Tesla said that it’d release FSD in China and Europe in Q1 2025, which it has partially achieved. The next step appears to be Europe, where many users are anxiously awaiting.