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Tesla China’s RHD Model 3 with new center console and black trim spotted in Hong Kong

A right-hand-drive Tesla Model 3. (Photo: Mick Paul/Twitter)

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Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai has sent six new Model 3s with updated interior and exterior elements to Hong Kong. Even more notable was the fact that all the refreshed Model 3s spotted in the Southeast Asian country were Right-Hand-Drive (RHD). 

Tesla owner-enthusiast @Ray4Tesla shared pictures of six Model 3 units in Hong Kong. The cars’ VINs started with LRW, indicating that they were made in Gigafactory Shanghai. “All these are RHD or RHW vehicles,” he said. “Based on this info, it may not be long before we see MIC Model 3s in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, etc.” the Tesla owner speculated. 

The cars may be the first sightings of RHD refreshed Model 3s. Given the timing of the photos, Giga Shanghai may start ramping RHD refreshed Model 3s sooner than expected. This could be advantageous for Tesla, as its China-based factory started shipping some of its cars to Europe last month.

Images of the first batch of MIC Model 3s exported to Europe revealed that the vehicles featured some of Tesla’s new interior and exterior components, like double-paned windows and updated headlights. However, some of the vehicles still featured pre-refresh elements such as chrome accents and the old center console.

Based on the pictures shared by @Ray4Tesla, some parts of the Model 3s seen in HK were wrapped in camouflage tape. The camouflage hid the exterior parts of the vehicle that would identify it as Tesla’s refreshed Model 3. It covered the blackout door handles and window trim, as well as the rims and headlights. 

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Since the windows of the all-electric sedans were not covered, the interior of the Model 3s could clearly be observed. The vehicles featured Tesla’s new center console with wireless charging capabilities. More importantly, the steering wheel was fitted on the right-hand-side of the vehicles. 

New Tesla Model 3 with updated interior and exterior starts US deliveries

Considering the number of Model 3s that were spotted in Kong Kong, as well as the fact that some parts of the vehicles were camouflaged, the all-electric sedans spotted in the country were likely meant for testing and validation—for now at least.

Last week, the refreshed Model 3 was featured in Hong Kong-based YouTube channel 駕輛 UpCar. It seemed like the video was taken at a Tesla sales center, hinting that the refreshed Model 3 was already coming in Hong Kong. As of this writing, there have been no reports of customers in Hong Kong receiving the updated Tesla Model 3s. 

In the United States, Tesla has started delivering the new Model 3. One lucky reservation holder in Utah was able to get his refreshed Model 3 within a couple of weeks despite being told to expect delivery by early to mid-December. The vehicle featured all of the updates rolled out by the electric car maker last month, such as new Aero wheels, a new center console, doubled-paned windows, and black trim.

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Maria--aka "M"-- is an experienced writer and book editor. She's written about several topics including health, tech, and politics. As a book editor, she's worked with authors who write Sci-Fi, Romance, and Dark Fantasy. M loves hearing from TESLARATI readers. If you have any tips or article ideas, contact her at maria@teslarati.com or via X, @Writer_01001101.

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Tesla makes a change to its ‘American Heroes’ $500 discount

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla has made a change to its “American Heroes” discount, which takes $500 off the price of a vehicle purchase if you work in a certain field.

Tesla first launched the American Heroes discount earlier this year on May 22, 2025, and it initially started as a $1,000 deduction on the price of any of the company’s vehicles.

It formerly allowed military veterans, retirees, active-duty members, their spouses, first responders, teachers, and students. It utilized ID.me to verify their occupation.

However, Tesla has added a few groups of workers to this discount, according to language on its website:

“Tesla vehicles are perfect for everyday American heroes. Offer available to verified military veterans, retirees, active-duty members, their spouses, surviving spouses, first responders, medical providers, nurses, students and teachers verified through ID.me1. Adjustments applied when you place your order after verification. Eligibility criteria detailed at ID.me.”

The discount applies to all five Tesla vehicles, so it is not restricted to just the S3XY lineup.

The American Heroes discount is one of the several offers and incentives that Tesla offers on its vehicles. Currently, it is one of four offers Tesla has on its vehicles, with the others being:

  • Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Trial: Three-month trial for those who use a referral code to buy a vehicle.
  • Premium Connectivity Trial: One-month free
  • Financing Offers: Tesla has various financing offers, including a 3.99% APR with $5,000 on Model S and Model X orders in the U.S.

These incentives help drive sales, but they also show Tesla’s appreciation for those who work in challenging fields. The discount has no expiration, as of now, but with this recent addition, Tesla likely has no plans to eliminate the program.

Tesla has occasionally launched discounts for military members near the 4th of July as well.

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Tesla might be doing away with a long-included feature with its vehicles

It appears Tesla is mulling the possibility of not including key cards with its vehicles any longer.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla might be doing away with a long-included feature with its vehicles, as it could be looking to phase out something that very few owners utilize.

Tesla Key Cards are included when you purchase your vehicle, and they assist in the initial setup process. However, after that, they are not super useful or relevant to the owner, as many rely on their Phone Key through the Tesla App to access their cars.

As such, it appears Tesla is mulling the possibility of not including key cards with its vehicles any longer. According to some language that has been removed from vehicle Owner’s Manuals that talks about the inclusion of key cards with the car upon delivery:

“Tesla provides you with two Model 3/Y key cards, designed to fit in your wallet.”

That sentence was removed from Owner’s Manuals, according to Not a Tesla App, which first spotted the change.

Tesla Model 3 owner implants RFID key card chip into her arm as ultimate hack to unlock door

Interestingly, the timing of the phrase being removed from Owner’s Manuals comes just after Tesla launched its “affordable” Standard Models, and could be a small money-saving measure for the company.

Key Cards have been utilized by Tesla for its cars since 2017, as they became an included accessory with the vehicle. They still have their place and are useful for other applications, such as Valet service and even to be used by car owners if their phone is dead or if someone else needs to get into the car.

They can also be purchased in the Tesla Shop for $40.

It seems as if Tesla is planning to have owners be completely reliant on the Phone Key, which is more useful and convenient than carrying around the Key Cards.

Although it is minor, it is yet another strategy Tesla is using to trim any sort of costs that can be eliminated and could save money in the long run.

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Elon Musk confirms Tesla FSD V14.2 will see widespread rollout

Musk shared the news in a post on social media platform X.

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Credit: Whole Mars Catalog/X

Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla will be implementing a wide rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) V14 with the system’s V14.2 update. Musk shared the news in a post on social media platform X. 

FSD V14.1.2 earns strong praise from testers

Musk’s comment came as a response to Tesla owner and longtime FSD tester AI DRIVR, who noted that it might be time to release Full Self-Driving to the fleet because V14.1.2 has already become very refined.

“95% of the indecisive lane changes and braking have been fixed in FSD 14.1.2. I haven’t touched my steering wheel in two days. I think it’s time, Tesla AI,” the longtime FSD tester wrote

AI DRIVR’s comment received quite a bit of support from fellow Tesla drivers, some of whom noted that the improvements that were implemented in V14.1.2 are substantial. Others also agreed that it’s time for FSD to see a wide release.

In his reply to the FSD tester, CEO Elon Musk noted that FSD V14’s wide release would happen with V14.2. “14.2 for widespread use,” Musk wrote in his reply

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Mad Max mode makes headlines

One of the key features that was introduced with FSD’s current iteration is Mad Max mode, which allows for higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than the previous “Hurry” mode. Videos and social media posts from FSD testers have shown the system deftly handling complex traffic, merging seamlessly, and maintaining an assertive but safe driving behavior with Mad Max mode engaged.

Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy recently noted in a post on X that Mad Max mode was built to handle congested daytime traffic, making it extremely useful for drivers who tend to find themselves in heavy roads during their daily commutes. With Musk now hinting that FSD V14.2 will go on wide release, it might only be a matter of time before the larger Tesla fleet gets to experience the notable improvements of FSD’s V14 update.

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