Tesla Model S
Tesla Cancels Model S Center Console Options
If you’re a Model S owner who has been on the wait list for a Premium Center Console solution from Tesla, raise your hand. Now, if you have a carbon fiber interior trim or obeche wood, keep your hand raised. You, my friend, are part of the group who will not be receiving your long awaited center console because Tesla has just cancelled delivery of it. Owners with the Piano Black trim will still be eligible although I’m not quite sure that’s a good thing (see video at end of post).
Tesla Console Order Issues
Shortly after ordering my Model S on March 10 of 2014, I reserved a Tesla Premium Center Console with the Obeche Wood Matte Décor to match my interior trim. From that point on, the communication from Tesla merchandise, or lack there of, and actual fulfillment of the reservation was shameful.
So, what happened, according to Tesla Motors?
March 10, 2014:
We estimate that the console will be available to those recently added to the list in August.
May 2, 2014:
Consistent with that mission, we have added improved parts to the center console. The updated estimate for resuming the shipping of the consoles is currently slated for early June.
August 1, 2015:
Center consoles in other décor finishes will be available in limited quantities starting early 2015.
January 2, 2015:
We do not anticipate the console with your décor to become available until spring 2015.
May 19, 2015:
We have made the difficult decision to offer only the Piano Black Front Center Consoles on Model S.
After that tremendous wait and poor customer experience, why would anyone actually click that “PURCHASE” link?
While these fulfillment issues were taking place, Tesla meanwhile offered a Premium Rear Console (in all finishes) – something they seem to have delivered on with no quality or availability problems.
>>>> REVIEW: Tesla Model S Premium Rear Console
How is it possible for such an advanced company to screw up such a simple project like a center console?
According to forum chatter, Tesla evidently used one supplier for the front console (perhaps with an exclusivity agreement), but after experiencing quality and fulfillment issues, they switched suppliers for the rear console, but at the expense of may disappointed and frustrated Model S owners.
What is more frightening about this experience as a shareholder, Model S owner and Model X reservation holder, is that interest for the Powerwall and Model X fall into the same category as being “reservations” rather than orders. Granted, Tesla probably isn’t relying on a third party aftermarket supplier to produce the Powerwall and Model X, but it still begs the question,
Can Tesla deliver on other reservation types or will we have another Console-gate on our hands?
I sincerely hope that by sticking to their wheelhouse, Tesla will be able to deliver on other new products that come along. The Model X has had at least 3 major slippages in initial delivery dates since I started tracking it.
Tesla Center Console Quality issues
During my extended wait for the factory Tesla Model S Center Console, I did a bunch of research and reading that ultimately led me to an aftermarket center console insert (CCI) solution from EVannex.
I did, however, really like the design of the cupholders in the factory Tesla center console, and the fact that both can be hidden from view. I didn’t get a chance to “test” the cupholders with my beloved Dunkin’ Donuts cup, but they looked like they would be up for the task.
Also the console seemed to have a lot more storage in the area near the cupholders than the EVannex CCI offering.
That’s where my ‘likes’ come to an abrupt halt. I didn’t particularly like the phone holder area. I’d never use it, favoring the pocket on the front of my driver’s seat over that. The space within the center console is not useful for much else, either open or closed — it has an odd shape, grooves etc. And when closed, you get the full piano black glare:
I had a chance to inspect the quality of the factory Tesla Model S center console solution, installed within the car, and much to my dismay, I found it to be not up to par. Keep in mind that this was a console installed by Tesla Service (the only way one can have a Tesla Console installed).
Below is my video showing the quality of the center console as seen from a Model S on the showroom floor (Paramus, NJ, April 11, 2015):
From the video you can really see the wobbliness of the unit even though I barely applied any force.
Summary
It’s evident that Tesla was not prepared to take on the demand and challenges that came with their Premium Center Console offering. Yes, they ran into delivery and quality problems, but what’s more disappointing is how they handled those issues.
Rather than fixing the issue by working with other third party suppliers, Tesla decided to drop much of the center console offering. This was a bad call in my opinion and sends the wrong type of message to product reservation holders.
Tesla, you can do better.
RELATED: Review of Tesla Model S center console insert (CCI)
Cybertruck
Tesla Mobile App gets a new feature that wrap fans are going to love
Tesla’s Summer Update removes the USB drive step from customizing your car’s digital wrap design.
Tesla’s latest 2026 Summer Update quietly closes out one of the more tedious steps in personalizing a Tesla’s digital appearance. Uploading a custom wrap design used to require a USB drive. Now it doesn’t.
The feature is listed in Tesla’s release notes as “Send Custom Wraps from Mobile App.” The company described it plainly: “Skip the USB drive and upload a custom wrap of your car from the mobile app. Instructions for creating a custom wrap here: github.com/teslamotors/custom-wraps.”
The digital wrap tool has been around since Tesla’s 2024 Holiday Update, when it launched for Cybertruck owners first, as Teslarati reported at the time. Getting a design onto the car meant formatting a USB drive, creating a folder named exactly “Wraps,” dropping in PNG files sized between 512×512 and 1024×1024 pixels and under 1 MB each, then plugging the drive in and applying the wrap through Toybox. Tesla expanded the tool to other models and renamed it from “Colorizer” to “Paint Shop” with the 2025 Holiday Update, while also adding license plate and window tint customization alongside the wraps.
Custom wraps via mobile app https://t.co/5OydZ26g9p pic.twitter.com/uexU0ZePxu
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 22, 2026
The latest Summer Update removes the USB step from that process. Owners will be able to pull a design from wherever they saved it, whether that’s a download from social media or something built from Tesla’s own GitHub templates, and push it to the car directly through the app.
Tesla reveals 2026 Summer Update with crazy fixes to Nav and more
It’s a small fix relative to the rest of this latest release, which also included expanded Grok voice commands, automatic navigation that learns regular routes, and self-driving stats inside the mobile app, all detailed in our rundown of the full Summer Update. The USB requirement was one of the more common complaints about Paint Shop since it launched. Tesla did not say when the wrap upload change would reach individual vehicles, only that the broader update is rolling out now in waves.
A Tesla owner who purchased a Model S Signature Edition, one of the final 250 units of the all-electric flagship vehicle that the company discontinued earlier this year, is attempting to sell the car despite a no-resale clause that prohibits reselling for the first year.
The car is being sold by J&S Autohaus in Ewing, New Jersey, and is priced at $260,490, well above the $159,420 that Tesla sold it for earlier this year.
🚨 The first Tesla Model S Signature Edition is up for sale for $260,490
Tesla placed a no-resale clause on the Model S and X Signature, so it will be interesting to see if the company takes any action. https://t.co/N9rKGHnbD6 pic.twitter.com/6FZhDL1KNR
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 14, 2026
To those who do not know, the Model S Signature was a highly exclusive, limited-run farewell variant of the Model S Plaid that was produced this year to mark the end of production of both the Model S and Model X, Tesla’s two flagship vehicles.
Limited to just 250 units with invite-only sales, it serves as a collector’s item celebrating the legacy of the Model S, which helped pioneer Tesla’s electric vehicle success since its 2012 launch.
It bundles top-tier performance with bespoke cosmetic and luxury upgrades, plus Tesla’s Luxe Package. Here’s what the Model S Signature has over the typical Model S Plaid:
- Exclusive Exterior – Unique Garnet Red Paint, matching door handles, gold Tesla “T” badges upfront, gold Plaid and Signature badging at the rear.
- Premium Interior – White Alcantara upholstery with gold piping/accents, gold Plaid seat badges, Signature-marked door sills, individually numbered dashboard plaque, gold puddle lights, special interior lighting sequence, and a custom Signature key fob.
- Performance Upgrades – Carbon-ceramic brakes with gold calipers
- Bundled Luxe Package – Full Self-Driving (Supervised), four years of Premium Connectivity, free lifetime Supercharging
- Performance Metrics – ~1,020 horsepower, sub-2-second 0-60 MPH, ~390-mile range
Tesla quickly introduced a No Resale Agreement for the Signature Editions of the Model S and Model X, which would penalize the seller for “the amount of $50,000 or the value received as consideration for the sale or transfer, whichever is greater.”
The company continues:
“If you sell or otherwise transfer the ownership of your Model S or Model X, the remainder of the Recommended Maintenance, Wheel and Tire Protection Plan, and Windshield Protection Plan will transfer automatically to the buyer. The Full Self-Driving (Supervised), Free Supercharging and Premium Connectivity will not transfer with the vehicle and will terminate once the ownership of the Model S or Model X is transferred.”
Tesla will likely come after the seller, especially as it has been about two months since Tesla launched deliveries.
Lifestyle
Tesla makes the cut on California’s newest EV Rebate program
California just signed a $270 million EV rebate into law and it starts this summer.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 168 into law on Monday, July 13, 2026, creating a $270 million EV rebate program that delivers money directly at the dealership rather than as a tax credit applied months later. The program, called MyFirstEV, is funded equally by California’s state budget and participating automakers, with each contributing $135.5 million to make the math work.
The timing is directly tied to the loss of federal support when the $7,500 federal EV tax credit ended, removing the most significant consumer incentive that had driven EV adoption in the U.S. California, which accounts for roughly one-third of all EVs sold nationally, moved to fill that gap with a state-level replacement.
The rebate structure is straightforward. First-time EV buyers can receive $3,500 off any new battery-electric vehicle with an MSRP up to $50,000. Used EVs priced at $25,000 or below qualify for a $1,750 rebate. The credit is applied at the point of sale, which removes the friction of the old federal system where buyers had to wait for tax season to see the benefit. The program goes live later this summer, with the California Air Resources Board expected to release full participation details next month.
California hits Tesla Cybercab and Robotaxi driverless cars with new law
For Tesla buyers, the implications are mixed. The Tesla Model 3 RWD at $42,490 and the Model 3 Long Range at $47,490 both fall under the $50,000 cap and would qualify for the full $3,500 rebate for first-time buyers. The Model Y, which starts at $44,990 after Tesla’s recent price adjustment, also qualifies. The Model X, Model S, and Cybertruck all exceed the cap and receive no benefit. As Teslarati has reported, the program also includes a carve-out exempting California-based automakers like Rivian and Lucid from the price cap entirely, a provision that puts Tesla at a disadvantage since it relocated its headquarters to Texas in 2021.
Other qualifying vehicles include the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Volkswagen ID.4.
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Tesla door handle saga gets its latest chapter and a big change is coming
