The refreshed Model Y brought with it lots of changes to the exterior and interior - but there’s more to it than just that. Tesla is doing something completely different than its other vehicles with the new Model Y and that’s how regenerative braking works.
The new Model Y has an updated Dynamics Control menu that has a new deceleration option. At quick glance this appears to be a renamed regenerative braking label, but it’s much more than that.
Tesla has also added two additional options in the Traction Control Mode that aren’t available in the previous-gen Model Y.
Let’s dig into what each of these features does, as we believe many people will be pleased with the way regenerative braking now works in the new Model Y.
Deceleration - Not Just Low Regen
Just below the Acceleration category, where you’ll find the familiar Chill and Standard Modes, Tesla has introduced a new Deceleration category for the new Model Y.
This category offers two options: Standard (the default setting) and Reduced. The Reduced setting adjusts how quickly the vehicle slows down when you release the accelerator pedal.
However, this isn’t just another name for regenerative braking. Tesla has changed how they apply regenerative braking in the new Model Y.
Two Levels of Regen
Tesla previously offered two levels of regenerative braking, Normal or Low, which determined how much regen would be applied when you lifted your foot off the accelerator. Some new EV drivers struggled with the normal regenerative braking mode due to the amount of deceleration, but ultimately, Tesla removed the low regen option because it negatively impacted range and increased wear on the vehicle’s brakes unnecessarily.
Unlike other EVs, Tesla has only applied regenerative braking when the accelerator is released, and tapping the brake pedal would always activate the physical brakes. That is, until now.
Apply Regen With the Brake Pedal
With the new Model Y, Tesla has made changes that allow regenerative braking to activate either when the accelerator pedal is released or when the brake pedal is pressed. That means that sometimes the vehicle’s physical brakes won’t activate when you tap the brake pedal — instead, the vehicle may use regenerative braking.
Drivers now have the option to choose between normal or reduced deceleration when lifting off the accelerator pedal, which essentially means high or low levels of regenerative braking are being applied. However, now, when the brake pedal is tapped, the vehicle decides whether to continue using regenerative braking or use the vehicle’s physical brakes, depending on how hard the pedal is pressed.
This change removes the efficiency loss associated with low-level regenerative braking in older models because regen can again be applied when the driver uses the vehicle’s brake pedal. It’s really the best of both worlds. Drivers can now have the vehicle apply low levels of regen when the accelerator is lifted and still benefit from full regen because it is enabled again when the brake pedal is used.
We still recommend drivers get used to normal regen using just the accelerator pedal since it introduces the ability to mostly drive with just one pedal, but there is a learning curve.
Unfortunately, this new feature is exclusive to the latest Model Y, as it required changes to the vehicle, so we won’t see this feature coming in a future update. The Model Y is the first Tesla to apply regenerative braking when the brake pedal is used, but given how much it eases the transition to EVs, we expect it to roll out in future models as well.
Brake system in New Model Y has the freedom to use either electric motor or mechanical brake when you push the brake pedal
This brings you maximum efficiency, consistency in pedal behavior & improved stability pic.twitter.com/rIwOUxwpXU
Tesla has also made some changes to the new Model Y’s traction control. The Model Y used to have the option to enable Off-Road Assist and Slip Start. However, they’re adding two new options, Auto and Slippery Surface modes.
Slippery Surface
The new Slippery Surface mode debuted with the Cybertruck. It’s designed to improve the vehicle's handling on roads or surfaces that are slick with water, ice, or other snow, which can reduce traction. In this mode, your vehicle will closely monitor each wheel sensor for slippage and automatically apply additional torque where needed—essentially, very fancy torque vectoring to maintain control.
It is a more active approach to how Tesla normally handles active traction control - and it does consume additional energy to keep this active. On the Cybertruck, I’ve personally noticed about 10% additional energy usage when Slippery Surfaces is active, but the truck does handle far better. We’d expect a similar exchange with the Model Y, where you trade a bit of efficiency for better and more precise handling when Slippery Surface is activated.
Off-Road Assist
Off-Road Assist meanwhile, keeps the same overall package from the previous-Gen Model Y. This allows wheels to spin and also balances torque between the front and rear motors, which helps to optimize traction. It’s quite effective in rough and soft surfaces where one side of the vehicle may lose traction, while the other still has it.
Off-Road Assist also provides more gradual torque control, which can help when trying to crawl the vehicle over rocky surfaces. As usual, Off-Road Assist will disable automatically at higher speeds and also disables Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Avoidance, and Autopilot and FSD are disabled while it is active.
Where is Slip Start?
The Slip Start option was available on all variants of the Model Y, which helps to dislodge it if you manage to get it stuck in mud, snow, or ice - enabling the wheels to spin. It seems likely that Slip Start is probably further down in the menu - rather than being removed completely.
These changes to the new Model Y should please a ton of drivers, especially if they’re new to Tesla.
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Last week, the Ride the Lightning podcast interviewed Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravvy. We learned quite a bit from that episode, including the fact that Tesla is working on refreshing the Model S and X.
In this week’s episode, they interviewed Tesla’s Chief Vehicle Designer, Franz von Holzhausen, and there’s another treasure trove of information to enjoy here. This is also the 500th episode of Ride the Lightning, so if you haven’t heard of them, be sure to check them out (video below).
New Paint Colors
Tesla has replaced many of its original colors throughout the years, but it hasn’t really introduced new ones. Franz mentioned that the public weeds out the color choices - so when a color just isn’t ordered, Tesla drops it from its lineup. This includes the browns and the greens.
Meanwhile, black, white, and greys are the vast majority of what people order. The blue and the red are also equally popular. However, adding more colors increases complexity. Certain paints require multiple coats or different spray nozzles - it all adds up to additional complexity.
Colors take a while to develop, too - it takes time to establish the process, develop the color, and make sure the color will last and stay stunning. Each paint also needs to pass durability testing - and different pigments can withstand different things. This is actually why Tesla is going away from paint in the Robotaxi and they’ll instead infuse pigment into the plastic panels themselves.
Glacier Blue
Glacier Blue is the 3rd blue that Tesla has produced - and it’s the lightest color of all the choices. Tesla had been refining this color for some time, experimenting with pigmenting to add depth and character to the silver tones. The result was Glacier Blue, which ultimately found its way to the refreshed Model Y.
Franz avoided answering whether Glacier Blue is coming to North America, but Tesla’s engineering team previously hinted that new colors are coming to North America. It’s likely that Glacier Blue, or some variant of it, will be one of the new colors. Franz also declined to answer whether Midnight Cherry Red - the beautiful red variant in Europe - would be discontinued. He said it was a really beautiful color and that Tesla had spent a lot of time on that color - and that he had to “stay tuned.”
Roadster Sneak Peak
Tesla’s 2nd Gen Roadster has been a bit of a mystery. It was supposed to be a technology showcase - an EV to bring a smackdown to every other vehicle. It also served as a tech testbed - and the tech on the 2017 Roadster prototype eventually made its way down to other vehicles - like the Model S Plaid.
The Roadster should be exciting and capture everyone’s imagination. It should be a car that captures kids’ imaginations, one they have posters of and dream of owning one day. We last heard about the Roadster almost exactly a year ago, with Musk stating that Tesla radically increased the design goals for the vehicle. At the time, Musk said deliveries would be in 2025, but that seems like a pipedream right now, and maybe rightly so. Although the Roadster will undoubtedly be a marvel, it’ll be a very low-volume vehicle. If Tesla wants to continue to reach the masses, it will need to start production on its next-gen, lower-priced vehicle and roll out Robotaxi.
The Roadster serves as Tesla’s racing program, developing and testing what will eventually be integrated into other vehicles. How about cold-rocket boosters on a Cybertruck?
Challenges with Optimus
Optimus may not be a car, but Tesla’s chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, and his team are deeply involved in shaping its design. Tesla’s designers are pushing creative boundaries to rethink what a humanoid robot can be.
The goal is to replicate the human form—a challenge that’s as much artistic as it is technical. The complexity of the human body makes this a difficult task, requiring precision in both mechanics and aesthetics.
To achieve this, Tesla has developed custom-designed actuators and joints, refining Optimus to better fit the humanoid form. Unlike traditional design and engineering teams that often work in silos, Tesla’s designers and engineers collaborate closely, allowing them to tackle and overcome challenges together.
The Affordable Model
Tesla’s mission with its products is simple: each one should feel like a premium purchase, offering more value than what you paid for it. Whether it’s an affordable model or a high-end one, Tesla is committed to creating products that are built to last, beautifully designed, and deliver exceptional performance.
This means exploring innovative materials that make their more affordable products still feel premium. Interestingly, Franz mentions the word “products” multiple times here - something he didn’t really do in other parts of the interview.
This was a fantastic interview with Franz that gave us a closer look at how Tesla works and what they have in the pipeline. Be sure to check it out below.
Tesla has just released software update 2025.8 to employees for testing. This is the norm for Tesla, as they release software updates to their internal audience for testing before beginning a rollout to the public.
While we don’t know what’s in this update just yet, there are several features we know that are coming up and could be included.
Adaptive Headlight Support
Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, recently confirmed that the refreshed Model Y will receive adaptive headlights, as well as the matrix headlight functionality. In fact, it’ll be the first vehicle in Tesla’s line-up that will support matrix headlights in North America.
The feature just received approval in the United States recently and will be rolling out to all Tesla vehicles that have matrix headlights sometime soon. That includes support for the Cybertruck, and Model S, Model X, and Model 3 as well.
Grok Support
xAI recently launched the newest version of their smart assistant - Grok 3. That same smart assistant is eventually supposed to make its way over to Tesla vehicles, according to Elon Musk.
The new smart assistant is expected to provide quite a bit of new functionality when it comes to intelligently handling your voice commands, and it could be included in this upcoming update, although a Spring launch is more likely. Grok 3 just launched voice support last week.
Cybertruck Updates
Siddhant Awasthi, Tesla’s Cybertruck program manager, recently confirmed that a new set of suspension controls are on their way to the Cybertruck. As of now, you can only adjust the vehicle’s height in the vehicle.
We’re hoping this new feature allows access to vehicle height adjustments from the Tesla App, as well as unlocking some new vehicle drive heights in general.
One of the items that didn’t manage to make it into 2025.2 was the Cold Weather Fix for the Cybertruck. Certain Cybertrucks have issues reaching max charging speed due to not properly pre-conditioning in cold weather when plugged into an L2 charger, and some Cybertrucks are also seeing drastically reduced regen in those temperatures, too. Hopefully, this will also get tackled in update 2025.8.
In-Cabin Radar Support
Tesla has started to activate the in-cabin radar in older Model Y vehicles that have it equipped, but it has confirmed that other equipped models will eventually also receive support. The in-cabin radar replaces the front seat occupancy sensors and instead uses the radar to more accurately detect the presence of humans.
New navigation routing options were released for Chinese users in early January, which included new options such as Least Congestion, Prefer Highways, and Lowest Tolls. It also brought with it a new Service Area modal, which shows what amenities are available at various vehicle service areas on the highways.
We’re hoping to receive at least some of these features in North America and Europe sometime soon. We’ve been waiting for that Avoid Highways option for what seems like an eternity now.
Trailer Profiles for Model S, X, Y
Trailer Profiles launched with the Cybertruck, and are, for now, an exclusive feature. Hopefully, the ability to save trailer details will make its way to other tow-hitch-compatible vehicles. Trailer Profiles allow you to save information about your trailer, including type and braking settings - which can help more accurately estimate energy usage. In addition, it is an easy way to track trailer mileage.
Custom Vehicle Wraps for Models S, 3, X, Y
With the 2024 Holiday Update, Tesla gave the ability to wrap the Cybertruck in whatever style you wanted - in the vehicle visualization. Many people used it to match the actual wraps or decals they had on their vehicles. This functionality also covered license plates - including custom styles, numbering, and lettering.
Tesla later confirmed these wrap and license visualizations would eventually roll their way out to the rest of the fleet, so we’re expecting them to either in 2025.8 or shortly after.
Sentry Mode Efficiency Update
Back in November 2024, Tesla made some significant improvements to the Cybertruck’s Sentry Mode. They achieved an almost 40% reduction in the overall energy usage of Sentry Mode by making better use of the onboard vehicle compute.
These updates should soon roll out to the rest of the fleet, greatly improving Sentry Mode efficiency.
Release Date
In general, Tesla takes between one to two weeks to release an update to customers after sending it to wave 1 employees. That timeline isn’t firm - so sometimes it could take five days, and sometimes it could take the full two weeks, but the clock is ticking for this one now. We should have the full release notes in the next week or two and then our first look at some of the new features in the following days.
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