The Tesla Model 3 is the third model that Tesla started producing. So far it has had quite a few updates and changes over the years, which you can find here down below in chronological order. This data is provided by https://tesla-info.com/ and is our source for future updates and changes as we add these to the list. This list focuses mostly on hardware changes, but there are some Software updates mentioned in the list as ‘SW’. Detailed software changes you can find here.
Note that the list only lists contains actual changes made and does not include announcements.
List updated on 1st of August 2023.
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| 2017 |
| Model 3 production starts for the US market only. |
| 2018 |
| Wifi changed to also support 5GHz. |
| Tesla introduces Pin to Drive, an optional security feature. |
| Dashcam introduced for those with HW2.5 and above. |
| Suspension spring rates improved, panoramic roof Infra-red coating changed, seat cushions changed. |
| 2019 |
| Model 3 deliveries to Europe start, followed by right hand drive models later in the year. |
| Model 3 SR launched only to be removed from online order soon after. The entry level car is the SR+ other than a limited number of SR ordered in person and some low volume compliance cars in other countries |
| Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) features split, TACC (Traffic Aware Cruise Control) and Lane keep becoming Autopilot and included in the standard car spec and the remaining features moving to Full Self Driving. |
| Tow bar becomes an option on models except the performance. Its suspected its linked to the Performance cars’ 20″ wheels |
| V3 superchargers launched and increases to V2 supercharger speed. |
| Sentry mode introduced for those with HW2.5 and above. |
| Navigate on Autopilot became available. |
| Homelink became a cost option. |
| Pedestrian sound generator added for some markets. |
| Version 10 introduced including, subject to region and hardware, Smart Summon, Karaoke, Music and Podcasts and video streaming to the browser. Scheduled departure also added. |
| 5% Power increase and 1 foot driving for permanent magnet cars only, ie Raven Model 3 and Model X, and Model S. |
| Tesla moves to model years from year of manufacture in VIN, with the Model 3 2020 available from November. Changes seem largely superficial and associated with trunk and frunk carpets and slight changes to reduce noise. |
| Ability to read and respond to text messages on all models. |
| Autopilot enhancements regarding variable speed depending on adjacent lanes and stop sign identification. The ability to use these features typically varies by country. |
| 2020 |
| Track pack comprising special wheels, different brake pads and uprating the brake fluid. |
| Updated the track option on the Model 3 performance to allow the driver to set various options including power distribution and the degree of traction control the car will apply. |
| A new suspected deep sleep mode to preserve battery life when the car is being left. (SW 2020.12.5) |
| Autopilot now stops at red lights (SW 2020.12.6 – country specific). Early reports suggest it stops at red and green lights. |
| Side cameras when in reverse (SW 2020.26). The side cameras now appear beneath the rear camera when selecting reverse. These cameras point backwards and not down so they do not operate as a surround view type camera setup. |
| Wireless phone charger added together with USB C in the rear. |
| Frunk design changed with some expecting this to accommodate a heat pump similar to the Model Y. No confirmation the pump is yet being fitted however. |
| Improved security with the introduction of MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication). |
| Model 3 updates for 2021 model year include a heat pump helping improve range and cold weather performance, powered trunk, wheel design changes, new centre console, headlight changes in some countries, the return of dimming side mirrors and chrome delete. There are also some performance tweaks. |
| Model 3 Performance update for 2021 model year includes a new 82kwh battery (code BT42), up from the previous 75kwh . |
| Boombox feature added (the car needs to have the external speaker) and other tweaks as part of the end of year release. |
| 2021 |
| Made in China Model 3 starts shipping with heated steering wheel. |
| Model 3 door cards have a continuation of the dash trim at the top for approximately half the door. The door cards are now also dark irrespective of the interior trim colour. Both these changes were introduced shortly after the other 2021 spec changes. |
| Tesla changes the Model 3 Long Range to the BT42 battery as used in the Performance models for Fremont production, but use a slightly smaller BT38 battery in the Long Range cars built in China. |
| Tesla fits and starts to use the interior, driver facing camera (the cameras are thought to have been fitted for about a year but previously not used). Possibly also applies to the Model 3, but not the pre 2021 facelift Model S and Model X. |
| Tesla removes the radar from Fremont production built for the North America market from May, claiming they can move to a pure vision based system. Short term, some basic features such as Smart Summon and Emergency Lane Departure warnings may be disabled and some other features may have reduced performance or operating ranges. |
| Subscription version of FSD now announced in the US. Up to date info can be found here. |
| Tesla introduces driver testing before allowing the deployment of the latest version of FSD. |
| Rear lights changed in Europe to include 2 reversing lights, one combined with a fog light. |
| SR+ becomes just the “Model 3” with a slightly longer range but increased 0-100 km/h times. The spec going into 2022 also includes heated rear seats and heated steering wheel. |
| A switch to hairpin windings on the motors. It’s possible that these have lower performance as the SR+ models have a significantly reduced 0-100 km/h time with these motors and the new larger LFP battery. |
| Supercharging network being trialed in some countries with other makes of car. |
| A number of small changes including a new low voltage battery, a yet to be confirmed more laminated rear glass although it’s unclear if this is for sound insulation or safety, and a number of small tweaks to sensors and ancillary devices as a result of the new low voltage battery. |
| MCU3 based on the AMD Ryzen chipset first seen in the 2021 MS and MX have started to appear in cars, initially for the China market but becoming more widespread with 2022 in cars made in Fremont. China production also seems to be appearing with the Ryzen processor. The low voltage battery seems to be rolling out at the same time and may be linked. |
| 2022 |
| A heated area of the windscreen to defrost the wipers. This is similar to the heated areas as part of the cold weather pack on the MS and MX. |
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As part of the increasing use of Tesla Vision, the Model 3 and Model Y cars will not be fitted with Ultrasonic parking sensors from around October 2022 in most markets. The Model S and Model X models will also stop being produced with them in due course. It looks like cars with a 2023 VIN letter (P) signify the change, even when built as early as October 2022. Normally Tesla start building the next years VIN year from mid November. As part of the changes, small tweaks were made to the centre under body, rear under body and horn profile, although these are largely technical changes and do not change the car from an owners perspective. |
| A number of small technical changes including increasing the number of washer nozzles. |
| 2023 |
| Tesla starts to introduce cameras that can be physically wiped clean. The guidance previously was to only spray with water as contact could scratch the glass. We believe this is part of the HW4 update. |
| … |
Abbreviations:
EAP is Enhanced Autopilot
SW is Software (update)
HW is Hardware
TACC is Traffic Aware Cruise Control
MFA is Multi-Factor Authentication
FSD is Full Self Driving
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Lists of the other Models:
Tesla Model S – Changes and updates list
Tesla Model X – Changes and updates list
Tesla Model Y – Changes and updates list
