Tesla to Expand Cabin Radar Support to More Models

March 8, 2025

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

Tesla recently started rolling out an update that enabled the cabin radar in recent Model Ys and added support for first-row cabin sensing. This functionality not only lets Tesla replace the seat occupancy sensors in the front seats but also gives them a better idea of the size of the passengers — critical information when an accident occurs.

However, Tesla has now revealed that it won’t just be recent versions of Model Y that will receive these updates. Other recent vehicles also have a dormant in-cabin radar that will be activated in a future update.

Child Presence Detection

This front-row occupant sensing is only half of the update. Tesla also plans to add support to the rear seats that will let it detect occupants left in the vehicle. In a post on X, Tesla stated that at least 37 children die per year from heatstroke, just in the United States, according to the NHTSA. Tesla’s cabin radar will help reduce the number of deaths by detecting children left in the vehicle and alerting the owner or turning on the HVAC system.

The new radar has several safety-focused features, and they’re all designed to help protect someone left behind in a vehicle. First up - the radar will detect and classify passenger sizes to determine which airbags to deploy dynamically, helping to reduce injuries from shorter individuals sitting up front.

Additionally, the radar can differentiate an adult from a child or baby - and automatically and dynamically make the necessary safety adjustments on the fly. Tesla will also be able to detect heart rate and breathing through the radar - and has a series of safety steps it can take from here.

If a child or baby is detected being left behind in the vehicle, the Tesla app will immediately notify you and turn on the HVAC system to ensure their safety. In the case of an emergency, the vehicle will automatically call emergency services and report its location.

As a reminder, while Tesla vehicles outside of the United States support eCall, vehicles within the US cannot call 911 unless a phone is connected to the vehicle via Bluetooth. We hope that Tesla looks to add similar capabilities in North America to improve safety capabilities.

Supported Models

Although the cabin radar has only been activated in Model Ys produced in the last couple of years, Tesla said in their post on X that the radar is also available in recent Model 3s and the Cybertruck.

We did a little digging and confirmed that the part numbers for the cabin radar are the same for the 2024+ Model Y, 2024+ (new) Model 3, and the Cybertruck. So, these vehicles should also receive the latest cabin radar features.

Although the 2023 Model Y features a different part number, 2022 and 2023 Model Ys have also been receiving the front-row cabin sensing feature in Tesla’s 2025.2.6 update, but it is less clear whether they’ll receive the rear seats update later this year. The Model S and Model X also include a cabin radar, but the part number also differs from the cabin radar for the 2024 Model 3 and Model Y.

While the new Model Y isn’t available to check against on Tesla’s Electronic Parts Catalog, it looks like Tesla has been shipping the new 4D cabin radar in at least the 2024+ versions of their Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck.

We expect rear-seat sensing to arrive on vehicles with the latest cabin radar later this year, while it’s unclear whether the other vehicles with the older cabin radar will receive it.

Tesla mentioned that rear-seat support will arrive in Q3 2025 for the refreshed Model Y. Based on the different interior sizes and spaces, sensor calibration and testing for other models may come slightly later.

Hopefully, the upcoming refresh for the Model S and Model X will also be able to receive this update later this year.

Burnt Down Superchargers Repaired by Tesla in Under 48 Hours

March 7, 2025

By Karan Singh

ABC News (WCVB)

After vandals set fire to a Tesla Supercharger site in Massachusetts, Tesla quickly repaired the damage and had the station up and running again in less than 48 hours.

The incident occurred overnight on March 2, 2025, and Tesla was made aware of the situation early the following morning. The company swiftly communicated with customers on X, assuring them that the site would be fully operational again within two days.

No customers were charging at time of the fire. Posts & wire will be replaced in <48hrs. Critical infrastructure for EV drivers. Arson investigation ongoing with @LittletonMAPD.
— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) March 4, 2025

Tesla has also launched an arson investigation in collaboration with the local police department, though no specific suspects have been identified as of now. The company is offering a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to the successful arrest of the perpetrator.

48 Hours

Tesla quickly assessed the damage to the Supercharger site, finding that it was relatively limited. The incident caused some wiring damage and damage to the Supercharger posts, but fortunately, the Supercharger cabinet remained unaffected.

By March 5, 2025, Tesla updated customers on X, stating that the transformers and cabinets had been thoroughly inspected, and the site was re-energized and fully operational. Since this Supercharger site is open to other manufacturers, it affected more than just Tesla customers.

Tesla charging’s teams have been quick to respond to misguided vandalism lately and have also been implementing some anti-theft measures to help ensure Superchargers stay active. Tesla may also soon improve its Sentry Mode, by having it honk when it senses possible vandalism.

It’s important to remember that Tesla Supercharger stations are a public resource. Damaging them doesn’t just affect Tesla owners—it impacts all EV drivers. Many Supercharger sites are open to other electric vehicles and serve as a vital charging option, especially in remote areas where charging options may be limited.

Additionally, some Supercharger stations are partially or fully funded by government grants aimed at expanding EV infrastructure. Acts of vandalism only harm local communities by undermining efforts to build essential public resources.

Posts, fuses & wire replaced. Cabinets inspected. Transformer re-energized. We're back online. pic.twitter.com/Zz9dJIEuCk
— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) March 5, 2025

Tesla Suspends Model S and Model X Orders in Japan – Refresh Coming Soon?

March 7, 2025

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

Tesla Japan has announced on X that it will stop accepting new Model S and Model X orders after March 31, 2025. This follows similar moves in other markets, including the recent halt in the Middle East.

In 2023, Tesla also discontinued Model S and X orders in the UK and Australia due to the lack of a Right-Hand Drive (RHD) variant. While RHD versions were previously available, Tesla eventually phased them out, leading to the suspension of orders in these regions.

Refresh Likely Inbound

Tesla’s VP of Engineering, Lars Moravy, recently confirmed that the company is working on a refresh for the Model S and Model X. This likely explains the upcoming stop-sale in Japan—a key market for these models—as production of the current variants may soon come to an end.

Unlike the Model 3 and Model Y, which are built at multiple facilities, the Model S and Model X are exclusively produced at Tesla’s Fremont factory and shipped overseas. Given the expected scope of the refresh, changes to the production line are likely required.

48V and Steer-By-Wire

One of the biggest innovations expected in the refreshed Model S and Model X is Tesla’s ability to produce both right-hand-drive (RHD) and left-hand-drive (LHD) variants. This will make the vehicles more accessible in global markets where RHD is required.

Key to this flexibility is the introduction of Steer-by-Wire, which eliminates the need for separate mechanical linkages for LHD and RHD models. This dramatically reduces complexity, allowing Tesla to build both variants on a single assembly line. Since Steer-by-Wire essentially relies on a 48V architecture for proper force feedback and backup power, we can also expect Tesla’s flagship models to adopt 48V electrical systems—bringing over key features from the Cybertruck.

Release Date

This sales halt is likely temporary as Tesla prepares for refreshed models with RHD support later this year. While we could have speculated that Tesla may phase out the Model S and Model X, Lars Moravy recently confirmed that these models aren’t going anywhere. They’re also unlikely to become exclusive to North America. The most likely scenario is that Tesla is focused on using the current inventory in North America, where selling these vehicles is more cost-effective, before resuming international sales once the refreshed models are ready.

We may also see similar pauses in other regions as Tesla manages the transition between the end of current production and the launch of the updated models.

This shift is more likely toward the end of the year, as Tesla’s primary focus in Q2 2025 is launching its more affordable vehicle.