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Elon Musk’s three prerequisites for a new Tesla Model 3 have been met
Elon Musk listed three prerequisites Tesla would have to accomplish before overhauling the Model 3’s design. They have now been met, and with reports of “Project Highland” funneling through the automaker’s future plans, the stage is set for a refresh of the company’s mass-market sedan.
In early 2021, Musk met with industry veteran and “Teardown Titan” Sandy Munro to discuss anything and everything related to Tesla. The meeting was catalyzed by Tesla’s developments in manufacturing efficiency, which was met with compliments and criticism when Munro, a 40+ year veteran of automotive engineering, tore down the Model Y. Questions regarding the Model 3, an obvious sibling of the Model Y, came to the surface, with Munro wondering when the sedan would receive improvements in its build.
The Model 3 was an elementary example of Tesla’s engineering prowess. The vehicle featured a chassis and frame with many parts, a technique that was improved upon with the Model Y. Tesla switched to a more efficient casting design that increased structural rigidity and safety, while eliminating excess parts and decreasing overall production time.
The Model 3 was always set to get these updates, though Musk walked on eggshells committing to when it would actually happen. As a result, Musk laid down a few ground rules that would need to be met before the Model 3 was overhauled and improved.
Musk said:
At some point, we probably will switch to a single-piece casting, but I think we need to get the Texas factory and the Berlin factory going. We do have an issue. It is hard to change the wheels on the bus when it is going 80 MPH down the highway. So, Model 3 is…well, was most of our volume. Model Y will exceed Model 3, but we just need an opportunity to redo the factory without blowing the cash flow of the company.”
“Project Highland” will reportedly reduce the number of components in the Model 3 while also focusing on improving important technology features, like infotainment.
Tesla developing revamped Model 3 under “Project Highland:” report
Texas and Berlin Factories
Gigafactory Texas and Gigafactory Berlin were in not yet producing or delivering cars when Musk met with Munro. Tesla was still dependent on just Fremont and Gigafactory Shanghai for its global automotive fulfillment, it had not launched in several countries it recently started delivering cars to, and Texas and Berlin had production start dates far from concrete.
Fast forward to late early December 2022, when reports of “Project Highland” first became public. Texas and Berlin are producing Model Ys, and customer deliveries have been going on for months.
Tesla Model Y production at Gigafactory Berlin (Credit: Tesla)
While Berlin has been producing cars for a longer period than Texas, both are ramping adequately, according to Tesla’s delivery figures, which have continued to surge the company toward its first million-unit year.
While the production facilities are not fully ramped and have not yet reached full capacity, Musk didn’t say he needed Tesla’s two newest manufacturing plants to be churning out vehicles to their limit. He said they just needed to get them going, and they undoubtedly fit that description.
Model 3 cannot be a majority of Tesla’s volume
The Model 3 was still Tesla’s best-selling vehicle in January 2021, and this would not change in the United States until June 2021 and in China until October 2021.
While the Model Y was a low-volume vehicle at the time but featured new vehicle technology and manufacturing techniques. The Model 3 was becoming outdated with every Model Y sale, and Musk always said the Y would be Tesla’s best-selling car and perhaps the most popular car on the planet.
It didn’t take long for the Model Y to overtake the Model 3, and now that it has been solidified as Tesla’s global best-selling car, the Model 3 can undergo quite a transformation. Recent images show a Model 3 with various panel covers, hiding what could be anything from new sensor designs, like what was uncovered by Electrek earlier this week, or a new manufacturing design that just isn’t ready to be unveiled quite yet.
It is quite evident the Model 3 is going to face some substantial changes, whether they are cosmetic or not remains to be seen. However, it is no coincidence that Musk’s plan to overhaul the Model 3 has suddenly become a reality as the conditions for a Model 3 overhaul have been met.
Tesla still has not confirmed in any way that it would redesign the vehicle. However, Musk did not deny the Reuters report, as he has publicly done in the past. Earlier this week, we reported Tesla was already preparing Fremont for new Model 3 production lines, and after manufacturer plates were spotted on the partially-hidden Model 3, all indications point toward a newly-realized design heading into 2023.
What do you think Tesla will bring to the table for the Model 3 redesign? If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.
News
Tesla opens first public Tesla Semi Megacharger site in Los Angeles
The development was highlighted in a post on social media platform X by the official Tesla Semi account.
Tesla has opened its first public Tesla Semi Megacharger site in Los Angeles. The station reportedly offers up to 750 kW charging speeds and is open to Tesla Semi customers.
The development was highlighted in a post on social media platform X by the official Tesla Semi account.
Tesla Semi Megachargers
The Los Angeles site seems to be the first public Tesla Semi Megacharger that is not located at a Tesla factory. It is also the third Megacharger site currently visible on Tesla’s map.
The Megacharger system is designed specifically for the Tesla Semi and is capable of delivering extremely high charging speeds to support long-haul trucking operations. Infrastructure such as this will likely play a key role in making the Semi competitive with diesel-powered transport trucks.
Tesla’s progress with the Semi has also drawn attention in recent days after Elon Musk biographer Ashlee Vance shared photos from inside the Tesla Semi factory near Giga Nevada. The images suggested that preparations for higher production volumes may be underway, hinting that a broader ramp of the Tesla Semi’s production indeed be approaching.
New deployment strategies
Tesla has continued expanding its broader charging network through several new strategies aimed at accelerating infrastructure deployment. One of these initiatives is the Supercharger for Business program, which allows third parties to purchase Tesla Supercharger equipment and deploy charging stations while still integrating with Tesla’s network.
The program recently marked a milestone in Alpharetta, Georgia, where the city deployed four 325 kW city-branded Superchargers near the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety on Old Milton Parkway. The chargers support the city’s Tesla Model Y police vehicles while also remaining accessible to the public.
As per a report from EVwire, the project was designed not only to support fleet charging but also to generate economic returns that could offset the city’s investment. Tesla’s Supercharger for Business program has already attracted several participants, including businesses and charging providers such as Suncoast Charging, Pie Safe bakery in Idaho, Francis Energy in Oklahoma, and Wawa convenience stores.
Elon Musk
The Boring Company’s Vegas Loop moves 82k riders during CONEXPO
The Loop’s feat was highlighted by The Boring Company in a post on its official account on social media platform X.
The Boring Company said its Vegas Loop system transported roughly 82,000 passengers during the recent CONEXPO-CON/AGG construction trade show in Las Vegas. The event was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) from March 3-7, 2026.
The Loop’s feat was highlighted by The Boring Company in a post on its official account on social media platform X.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026
CONEXPO-CON/AGG is one of the largest construction trade shows in North America. This year’s event was quite impressive, attracting more than 140,000 construction professionals from 128 countries across the world.
Considering the number of this year’s attendees, the LVCC Loop seemed to have proven itself to be a very useful transportation solution. A video posted by The Boring Company on its official X account featured attendees expressing their enthusiasm for the underground transport system, with some stating that they would like to see similar tunnels across Las Vegas.
The LVCC Loop is only part of the greater Vegas Loop network, which is actively under construction.
New Vegas Loop extensions
One of the newest additions is a station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort on the Strip. The station is located on level V-1 of the resort’s south valet area, according to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. From the Fontainebleau, passengers can travel free of charge to stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations at Encore and Westgate.
The system is also expanding beyond the Strip corridor. In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. These trips include a limited above-ground segment after receiving approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.
The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. The extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station just north of Tropicana Avenue.
News
Tesla preps to build its most massive Supercharger yet: 400+ V4 stalls
The project will be an expansion of the current Eddie World Supercharger in Yermo, California, and will take place in several stages.
Tesla is preparing to build its most massive Supercharger yet, as it recently submitted plans for an over 400-stall Supercharging station in California, which would dwarf its massive 168-stall location in Lost Hills, California.
The project will be an expansion of the current Eddie World Supercharger in Yermo, California, and will take place in several stages.
The expansion, adjacent to the existing Eddie World Supercharger, which is currently comprised of 22 older V2 and V3 stalls limited to 150 kW, unfolds across six phases.
Construction on Phase 1 begins later this year with 72 V4 stalls. Subsequent stages will progressively add hundreds more, culminating in over 400 next-generation chargers. Site plans label expansive parking arrays across Phases 1–5 along Calico Boulevard, with Phase 6 design still to be determined.
Tesla is planning an absolutely massive Supercharger expansion in Yermo, California!!
Over the course of 6 phases, Tesla is set to add over 400 V4 stalls in a commercial development known as Eddie World 2.
The first phase, which should begin construction sometime this year,… pic.twitter.com/ks5Y5dE8lR
— MarcoRP (@MarcoRPi1) March 6, 2026
The project was first flagged by MarcoRP, a notable Tesla Supercharger watcher.
Strategically located midway on I-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the station targets heavy EV traffic on this high-demand corridor.
The surrounding 20-mile stretch already hosts over 200 high-power stalls (including 40 at 250 kW, 120 at 325 kW, and more), plus 96 in nearby Baker—yet bottlenecks persist during peak travel.
In scale, it eclipses all existing Tesla Superchargers. The current record holder, the solar- and Megapack-powered “Project Oasis” in Lost Hills, California, offers 164 stalls. Barstow’s former leader had 120. Eddie World 2 will be more than double that size, cementing Tesla’s dominance in ultra-high-capacity charging.
Tesla finishes its biggest Supercharger ever with 168 stalls
Development blends charging with convenience. Architectural drawings show integrated retail: a 10,100 square foot Cracker Barrel, a 4,300 square foot McDonald’s, a 3,800 square foot convenience store, additional restaurants, drive-thrus, outdoor dining, and lease space.
EV-centric features include pull-through bays for Cybertrucks and trailers, ensuring accessibility for larger vehicles and future Semi trucks.
Tesla opens first public Tesla Semi Megacharger site in Los Angeles
The Boring Company’s Vegas Loop moves 82k riders during CONEXPO
