Photo: Tesla, @Jojje167 via X, Hella
The Model 3 Highland is poised to become Tesla's first model to feature adaptive headlights. Although all Tesla models are fitted with LED matrix headlights, Tesla hasn't activated the enhanced functionality on any of them. A new European certification reveals that the Model 3 Highland will turn adaptive headlight features on with an upcoming software update.
Tesla is far ahead of the automotive industry when it comes to EV development. However, there are areas where Tesla could do more to please its customers, especially as many volume brands offer features that Tesla EVs don't have. Until recently, 360-degree park assist (bird's eye view) was one of these features, although Tesla brought something better with the High Fidelity Park Assist feature in the 2023 Holiday Update.
It's not the only one, though, and some are still to make it to Tesla vehicles. The refreshed Model 3 brought many such features to the Tesla lineup, including blind spot indicators, ventilated seats, ambient lighting, and an active hood to protect vulnerable road users in an accident. Now, Tesla will debut another feature on the Model 3 Highland: adaptive headlights.
Although all Tesla Models have been delivered with LED matrix headlights since 2020, none of them use them. If you're wondering why Tesla hasn't offered this wonderful technology to its customers, blame the US regulations. Although they have been recently modified to allow adaptive headlights in the US, the process is not straightforward, and many carmakers have not offered this feature yet. It's a different story in Europe, where adaptive headlights have been a thing for more than a decade.
LED matrix headlights consist of many LED segments that can be lit and turned off as desired to shape the light into patterns to take into account traffic and road conditions. Adaptive headlights can modulate light to better illuminate the road where it matters, depending on the speed and driving conditions. They also "obscure" oncoming traffic so they don't get blinded by the headlights while still blasting at full power like the high beams usually do.
Thanks to a new document published on Tesla Fahrer & Freunde (TFF) forum in Germany, Tesla recently certified the adaptive headlights in Europe. The advanced functions will be unlocked with an upcoming over-the-air update. Based on the wording in the document (Tesla calls this "Adaptive Main Beam"), I presume the Model 3 Highland will get the most advanced LED Matrix functions on the market, blurring the lines between low beam and high beam.
The intriguing part is that the document also mentions the Model 3 (legacy) and Model Y, but only the Model 3 Highland gets the Adaptive Main Beam feature. This means that, even in Europe, the adaptive headlights will not be activated on all Tesla models, even those coming with LED matrix headlights. This should come at a later time, though, now that Tesla has initiated the process. The next step is certification and deployment in the US, a step that the US owners eagerly await.
It's not the only one, though, and some are still to make it to Tesla vehicles. The refreshed Model 3 brought many such features to the Tesla lineup, including blind spot indicators, ventilated seats, ambient lighting, and an active hood to protect vulnerable road users in an accident. Now, Tesla will debut another feature on the Model 3 Highland: adaptive headlights.
Although all Tesla Models have been delivered with LED matrix headlights since 2020, none of them use them. If you're wondering why Tesla hasn't offered this wonderful technology to its customers, blame the US regulations. Although they have been recently modified to allow adaptive headlights in the US, the process is not straightforward, and many carmakers have not offered this feature yet. It's a different story in Europe, where adaptive headlights have been a thing for more than a decade.
LED matrix headlights consist of many LED segments that can be lit and turned off as desired to shape the light into patterns to take into account traffic and road conditions. Adaptive headlights can modulate light to better illuminate the road where it matters, depending on the speed and driving conditions. They also "obscure" oncoming traffic so they don't get blinded by the headlights while still blasting at full power like the high beams usually do.
Thanks to a new document published on Tesla Fahrer & Freunde (TFF) forum in Germany, Tesla recently certified the adaptive headlights in Europe. The advanced functions will be unlocked with an upcoming over-the-air update. Based on the wording in the document (Tesla calls this "Adaptive Main Beam"), I presume the Model 3 Highland will get the most advanced LED Matrix functions on the market, blurring the lines between low beam and high beam.
The intriguing part is that the document also mentions the Model 3 (legacy) and Model Y, but only the Model 3 Highland gets the Adaptive Main Beam feature. This means that, even in Europe, the adaptive headlights will not be activated on all Tesla models, even those coming with LED matrix headlights. This should come at a later time, though, now that Tesla has initiated the process. The next step is certification and deployment in the US, a step that the US owners eagerly await.
A more detailed analysis of update VC33 can be found here:https://t.co/PVrN79XGgl
— Julien (@eivissacopter) December 19, 2023
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