Is Model 3 Codename 'Highland' a Myth? Unpacking Elon Musk's Mysterious X Post

January 11, 2024

By Kevin Armstrong

Highland Is Not Real

Not a Tesla App

A late-night Elon Musk post on X has this writer wondering if the Matrix has a glitch. For over a year, credible Tesla-focused websites and the mainstream media have referred to the Tesla Model 3 as the "Highland." But the company’s CEO says the Highland name “is not real,” although it has been seen in various Tesla documents. The cryptic message comes just 24 hours after the new Model 3 launched in North America. Is Musk simply joking, or is there a deeper meaning to his words?

It’s not real
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 11, 2024

The Speculative Origins of "Highland"

Reuters was the first to use the word Highland. On November 28, 2022, the news outlet ran an “exclusive” story citing “four people with knowledge of the effort” of a revamped version of Model 3 codenamed "Highland." The name made sense. Although the exact origin remains unknown, there were intriguing theories:

Historical Reference to Ford: Some believe "Highland" might refer to Ford Motor Co's Highland Park plant, the birthplace of Ford's revolutionary assembly line.
Cinematic Nod: Others speculate that the name could be a homage to the 1986 film "Highlander", known for its immortals' battle and the iconic line, "there can only be one." This theory aligns with Musk's penchant for movie references and quirky humor.

A few weeks after the report, the mysterious partially covered Model 3s appeared around California. The name Highland took off from there.

Musk vs. Mainstream Media: A Turbulent Narrative

Elon Musk's relationship with the mainstream media has been tumultuous, marked by a series of confrontations and criticisms. His stance has been particularly conspicuous since he acquired Twitter. This ongoing battle with the press can be seen as a backdrop to the "Highland" mystery, casting Musk's latest tweet in a different light.

Perhaps his dismissive comment about the "Highland" codename might not be a straightforward denial but a nuanced swipe at media credibility. Considering that Reuters, a major news outlet, was the first to report on Highland, it could be interpreted as a continuation of his broader skepticism towards media reporting, mainly when it involves narratives about Tesla.

This dynamic adds an intriguing layer to the story, where the "truth" of the Model 3 "Highland" becomes not just a matter of fact but also a symbol in the larger narrative of Musk's complex relationship with the media. As Musk continues to engage in this media tug-of-war, each tweet and statement becomes a potential chess move in an ongoing battle of narratives.

Tesla Community Reaction

Seriousness aside, the internet did not fail to bring a few laughs in the replies to Musk’s post. Some played with the idea of it being part of a grand simulation, adding a touch of sci-fi flair to the debate. Others jokingly asked if this was all just a clever trick or even a plot twist worthy of a movie. The popular “TMFINR” meme showed up a few times.

pic.twitter.com/pkPdUlUerL
— Shamara Myers (@Shamara_Myers) January 11, 2024

A few users leaned into humor and parody, echoing the playful skepticism that often accompanies Musk's cryptic messages. Amidst the laughter, there were genuine queries and theories, with several pondering if "Highland" was just an internal project name or something more.

Rumors and conspiracy theories weren't far behind, as some speculated about hidden meanings and possible secret projects. This led to various interpretations, from outright dismissal to earnest theorizing. Could it also have been used to identify who was leaking information? There are a lot of leaks! YoursYour's truly was reminded of a classic Creed line from The Office:

It all makes sense now. pic.twitter.com/FSdkR8TpzE
— Kevin Armstrong (@KVNArmstrong) January 11, 2024

Overall, the community's response was a lively mix of jest, confusion, and curiosity, showcasing the engaging and speculative environment that Musk's tweets often create. It's a unique relationship between Musk, his projects, and his audience, where a single tweet can ignite a spectrum of imaginative and playful discussions.

The Model 3 "Highland" story continues to blend mystery and speculation, fueled by Musk's latest remarks. The “Highland” name was used internally, as it has shown up in several internal documents, so Musk's post causes some confusion. Does he possibly mean that Highland isn’t a part of the (final) product’s name and shouldn’t be used by media to differentiate it from the previous generation?

Whether a clever ruse, a misunderstood codename, or a media misinterpretation, it is a fascinating example of Tesla's cultural impact. Dare we ask if Juniper is real?

Musk Confirms Robotaxi on Track for June, More Cities Coming, Customer-owned Cars in 2026

April 1, 2025

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

Tesla signaled its intention to launch its first Robotaxi network in Austin, Texas, with company-owned and operated vehicles, back in January. This network will be Tesla’s first foray into truly autonomous vehicles - ones that aren’t being directly supervised by a driver. Later in February, Tesla’s executive team confirmed that the plans were on track for the launch of the Austin network both on X and during several interviews that they participated in.

At the end of February, we also found out that Tesla has applied for a Supervised Robotaxi license in California, where the network will also launch, but with safety drivers in place.

This is an ambitious plan, but FSD has really come a long way in the past year. FSD V12 was a massive step forward from V11, and V13 has made the experience smoother and safer than ever before. FSD V14 is expected to be another big step up with auto-regressive transformers and audio input.

Still on Track

Now, Elon has tripled down on the fact that Tesla will be launching their first autonomous robotaxi network in Austin - just two months away at this point. It seems that Tesla is fully set to launch their first fully unsupervised self-driving vehicles that will carry paying passengers in June.

Additional Cities

The best part is that Elon also confirmed that they’re targeting robotaxi networks launching in many cities within the United States by the end of this year. However, remember that this will be a Tesla-run network at first - Tesla owners won’t be able to add their vehicles to the Robotaxi fleet right away.

Adding Customer Vehicles

It will take some time before Tesla meets their strict internal safety requirements before it lets customers add their own vehicles to the network. Tesla’s executive team mentioned that they intend to let owners add their own vehicles to the fleet sometime in 2026. This happens to be the same time frame that Tesla plans to launch the Robotaxi across the United States, Mexico, and Canada — something that could only be done with customer-owned cars.

That final step will be bold—and it may come with complications, especially given that autonomous vehicle approval spans municipal, state or provincial, and even federal levels. There are plenty of regulatory hurdles ahead, but this is undoubtedly shaping up to be one of the most exciting times for Tesla.

Launch Event

With the Robotaxi network launching and Unsupervised FSD just around the corner, there’s a lot to get excited about. Tesla is expected to host a launch event at Gigafactory Texas in Austin to mark the debut of its first Robotaxi network. The company previously hinted that referral code users could receive invites—offering a rare chance to score an early ride in a Robotaxi outside the Hollywood studio lot.

Tesla Mule Model 3 Spotted With Front Bumper Camera

April 1, 2025

By Karan Singh

Ready_Medium_6693 on Reddit

Tesla’s engineering mule vehicles—used to test autonomy for future platforms—have resurfaced after an extended absence. The last time we saw them was back in July, when Tesla was gearing up for its initial We, Robot event. Since then, sightings have been scarce.

These vehicles typically signal that Tesla is testing new camera placements or validating FSD ground-truth data. This time, however, they appear to be outfitted exclusively with the updated camera hardware seen on the Cybercab.

New Sightings

The mules have now been spotted in Boston, Massachusetts, and Concord, New Hampshire—their first known appearances this far east. This suggests Tesla is actively collecting data to evaluate and optimize FSD performance in new regions. Thanks to Reddit user Ready_Medium_6693 for catching the one in Concord.

Elon Musk recently mentioned that Tesla plans to expand Robotaxi networks beyond the initial Texas and California launches. So while these sightings aren’t entirely unexpected, the speed of their arrival is. It suggests Tesla is confident in its ability to train FSD for local traffic rules and driving behaviors to the point it no longer needs a driver.

Bumper Cameras

The vehicle that’s been spotted in Boston is the usual Tesla engineering Model 3… except with one unique twist. It includes a front bumper camera. Shout out to @Dylan02939106 for catching the bumper camera in these photos.

The Refreshed Model 3 Mule with a Bumper Camera!

@Dylan02939106 on X

We previously released an opinion piece regarding whether the front bumper camera would be required for Unsupervised FSD. In our eyes, Tesla will require a bumper camera for Unsupervised FSD - if only to improve direct visibility in the bumper area of the vehicle. This is key for low-speed maneuvering in crowded areas like parking lots and garages, as well as for key features like Actually Smart Summon.

It isn’t surprising that Tesla is continuing to evaluate vehicles with a bumper camera - the Cybertruck, Cybercab, and Refreshed Model Y all have them now - and the rest of the lineup, including the flagship Model S and X, as well as the refreshed Model 3 - were supposed to eventually receive them as well.

With the Model S and Model X set for refreshes this year—and the front bumper camera on this Model 3 looking well-integrated rather than a temporary setup—it seems likely that front bumper cameras will soon become standard across Tesla’s entire lineup.

The Robotaxi Mule in Boston

@Dylan02939106 on X

In fact, Tesla’s newest iteration of the FSD computer has a slot for the Bumper Camera on all AI4/HW4 vehicles, so a future retrofit could even be possible.

These are some pretty exciting times - we may see Robotaxi networks actually deploy in time for Tesla’s lofty goal of “sometime in 2026” for cities throughout North America. Once many American cities begin to accept their deployment, it will be easier to seek homologation in Mexico and Canada, enabling deployment throughout the continent.