Tesla VP Says Adaptive Headlights Are Coming to North America Soon

October 28, 2024

By Karan Singh

Lighting Manufacturer

Tesla launched its adaptive headlights for vehicles with matrix headlights in software update 2024.2. However, the launch excluded North America, where the regulations for adaptive headlights differ from those in Europe.

While Transport Canada has approved adaptive headlight use since 2018, NHTSA has lagged behind considerably, with regulation approval only coming last year. While other manufacturers like Rivian have already launched adaptive headlights in the United States, Tesla is still working on their implementation. The good news is that it looks like Tesla is finally close to completing its implementation of the feature and all recent vehicles will be supported in a software update soon.

Lars Moravy, VP of Vehicle Engineering at Tesla, confirmed on X that adaptive headlight functionality is around the corner for North America. Tesla has already added some changes for matrix headlights with update 2024.20 in North America, but the changes are very subtle.

Adaptive Headlights

@DBurkland

Matrix headlights are able to independently control their LEDs to adapt to the light distribution pattern based on traffic conditions and road curvature. That means you can selectively brighten, dim, activate, or deactivate specific pixels in the matrix array to form dark or light areas in the headlight pattern.

Effectively, you can have perfect high beams while not dazzling drivers or pedestrians in front of your vehicle. Essentially, as oncoming traffic or traffic ahead of you is recognized, the matrix array will track them and blot out the light that would be landing on their vehicle.

How to Tell If You Have Matrix Headlights

To check if your Tesla has matrix headlights, examine the outer edge of the headlight. If there’s a prominent, round projector dome (see the image below), your headlights are likely matrix. If this dome is absent, you have standard, non-matrix headlights.

Another way to confirm is to run a stock light show while parked facing a wall; if the Tesla logo appears in letters, matrix headlights are installed. In general, all Teslas produced after January 2023 come with matrix headlights, while models built between December 2021 and early 2023 may have them, depending on the availability of parts and your region.

Matrix headlights have a circular dome projector on the outer edge

Not a Tesla App

Release Date

Tesla has been developing support for adaptive headlights for North America for some time now. Lars has commented on Tesla’s work on bringing the feature to North America before, but his latest “almost there” comment suggests Tesla is close to releasing the feature. Lars’ previous comment on matrix headlight support was in March of this year, where it complimented the work of the Tesla team in rolling it out to Europe and said that more regions and features will follow as Tesla gets the necessary certifications.

Tesla has various headlight designs, and the implementation could be different depending on the model, so not all models may receive support at the same time. Given Tesla’s most popular vehicles, we may see this added to the Model 3 and Model Y before the Model S, Model X, and the new Model 3.

The addition of adaptive headlights is a huge safety feature and one that will also have a positive effect on safety ratings, so expect Tesla to prioritize this feature over others. Given the timing, we may even see this as part of Tesla’s upcoming holiday update.

Tesla's New Model Y to Receive Adaptive Headlight Support in U.S. Soon

February 10, 2025

By Karan Singh

@DriveGreen80167 on X

In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, confirmed that the new Model Y will feature adaptive headlights.

As Moravy was talking about the updated headlights in the vehicle, which now sit a few inches lower than before, he stated that in a couple of months, Tesla will add adaptive headlights in the U.S.

While Tesla has already introduced adaptive headlights in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, the feature has yet to make its way to North America.

Originally delayed in the U.S. due to regulatory issues, manufacturers have been able to implement adaptive headlights since mid-2024. Meanwhile, competitors like Rivian and Mercedes-Benz have already rolled out their own full matrix headlight systems, matching what’s available in other regions.

Update: This article has been updated to clarify that adaptive headlights will indeed be launched in the U.S., shortly after the vehicle launching in March.

Adaptive Headlights

Back in October 2024, Lars confirmed that matrix headlight functionality was just around the corner for North America. However, as we enter 2025, it’s still unclear when Teslas with matrix headlights will receive the feature.

Currently, Tesla in North America supports adaptive high beams and automatic headlight adjustment for curves, but full matrix functionality has yet to be rolled out. Meanwhile, matrix headlights are already available in Europe, where they selectively dim individual beam pixels to reduce glare for oncoming traffic and adapt to curves in the road.

It was surprising that matrix functionality wasn’t included in the comprehensive 2024 Tesla Holiday Update. This feature would likely improve safety ratings, so we can only assume Tesla is diligently working to secure regulatory approval.

Adaptive Headlights on Other Models

Lars didn’t confirm whether the refreshed Model Y comes with the same headlights as the new Model 3 and the Cybertruck, instead simply calling them "matrix-style” headlights.

The headlights on the new Model Y appear very similar to those available in the 2024+ Model 3, possibly meaning these other models will also receive adaptive headlight capabilities in the next couple of months.

For vehicles with older-style matrix headlights, it’s unlikely that adaptive beams support will launch at the same time, but they will hopefully become available soon afterward.

You can check our guide here to see if your vehicle includes matrix headlights.

Tesla Starts Underwriting Its Own Insurance: Will They Insure Their Own Robotaxis?

February 10, 2025

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

For the first time since launching Tesla Insurance in 2019, Tesla will begin underwriting its own policies, starting in California.

Tesla Insurance originally debuted in California and has since expanded to several U.S. states. Until now, policies were underwritten by State National, a subsidiary of the Markel Insurance Group. However, Tesla is now transitioning to fully in-house underwriting, beginning with its home state.

As part of this shift, California Tesla Insurance customers who receive an in-app offer to switch will be eligible for a one-time 3% discount on their next term’s premium—covered entirely by Tesla Insurance.

What is Underwriting

Underwriting is the process an insurance company uses to assess risk and determine whether to offer coverage, at what price, and under what terms.

Insurers evaluate factors such as driving history, credit score, age, vehicle type, and location. In Tesla’s case, vehicle driving data (not available in California) also plays a key role in risk assessment. These factors help classify drivers into risk categories, which influence their base premium.

From there, coverage limits, deductibles, and policy inclusions or exclusions can further adjust the final premium up or down.

Robotaxi and Other Benefits

At first glance, underwriting insurance might seem like a complex and costly process for Tesla. However, there are several compelling reasons why this move makes sense.

Insurance Income: Insurance is a highly profitable industry. Companies set rates based on risk, offering lower premiums to safer drivers and higher rates to riskier ones. This not only maximizes profitability but also incentivizes safer driving behavior, reducing overall claims.

Data Advantage: Tesla collects vast amounts of driving data through its Safety Score system. While California doesn’t allow Safety Score to impact premiums, Tesla can still use this data in the underwriting process to refine risk assessments and pricing for its vehicles.

Control Over Repair Costs: By underwriting its own policies, Tesla gains direct control over repairs and total loss decisions. This allows them to dictate when, where, and how repairs are done, optimizing costs for parts, labor, and service while ensuring vehicles are fixed according to Tesla’s standards.

FSD-Driven Discounts: Tesla has already begun offering insurance discounts for drivers using Full Self-Driving (FSD). By underwriting its own policies, Tesla could expand these incentives, potentially offering greater discounts to frequent FSD users in the future.

Preparing for Robotaxi: Perhaps the biggest long-term reason for this shift is the June launch of the Robotaxi fleet. How will Tesla insure these vehicles? The answer is simple—by underwriting its own policies and assuming liability.

Tesla’s decision to underwrite its own insurance isn’t just about cutting out middlemen—it’s a step toward lowering costs, increasing profitability, and preparing for the future of autonomous driving, a risk many insurance companies may be unwilling to make.

Further Expansion

This could be a strong sign that Tesla is preparing to expand its insurance offerings now that it has taken on the underwriting process itself. In July 2024, Tesla hired a former GEICO insurance executive to lead the expansion of Tesla Insurance and help reduce costs—a move that now appears to be paying off.

Rather than a traditional expansion, Tesla has instead made a bold move by bringing underwriting in-house, something few expected. However, it aligns with Tesla’s strategy of vertically integrating and controlling key aspects of its business, whether in manufacturing, software, or now, insurance.

If this pilot program proves successful, it could pave the way for Tesla Insurance to launch in more states—and potentially even other countries. With 2025 shaping up to be a pivotal year, we may see Tesla accelerate its insurance expansion sooner than expected.