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BREAKING: Tesla Model 3 Highland goes live in North America

Credit: Tesla

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Tesla has officially launched the upgraded Model 3, better known in EV circles as the Model 3 Highland, in North America. As of writing, the upgraded Model 3 is now available for order in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. With this change, the previous generation Model 3 has been phased out. 

Tesla promoted the Model 3 Highland’s key upgrades over its predecessor on its official page for the vehicle. These include the vehicle’s range, which reaches up to 341 miles per charge, and an updated exterior that’s optimized for maximum aerodynamics. Tesla also focused on two new colors for the Model 3 Highland — Stealth Gray and Ultra Red — as well as new wheels that are optimized for efficiency. 

The electric vehicle maker also highlighted the Model 3 Highland’s fully updated interior, which features a wraparound styling that includes customizable ambient lighting. The Model 3 Highland interior’s premium materials, its stellar sound system, its 8″ rear display, ventilated seats, and wireless charging pads, were also mentioned by the EV maker. Of course, Tesla also highlighted the Model 3 Highland’s quieter cabin, which has been praised by reviewers since the vehicle was initially launched last year. 

The Tesla Model 3 Highland is currently offered in two variants in North America: the base Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) version and the Long Range Dual Motor All Wheel Drive (AWD) variant, which start at $38,990 and $45,990, respectively. The Model 3 Performance, the top-of-the-line version of the all-electric sedan and arguably Tesla’s most fun vehicle to drive, is currently not listed on the updated vehicle’s order page. 

The base Tesla Model 3 Highland features 272 miles of EPA estimated range, a top speed of 125 mph, and a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. The Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor AWD is listed with an EPA estimated range of 341 miles per charge, a top speed of 125 mph, and a 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds. 

Without options, the Model 3 Highland comes with Stealth Gray paint, 18″ Photon Wheels, and Black interior. Pearl White Multicoat and Blue Multicoat paint costs an extra $1,000, Solid Black paint costs an extra $1,500, and Ultra Red paint is a $2,000 option. The Model 3 Highland’s 19″ Nova wheels also cost $1,500, and the vehicle’s Black and White interior costs $1,000. 

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Similar to other Tesla vehicles, the Model 3 Highland comes with Basic Autopilot as standard. Customers, however, could add on Enhanced Autopilot, which features Navigate on Autopilot, Auto Land Change Autopark, Summon, and Smart Summon, for an extra $6,000. Full Self Driving (FSD) Capability, which features Autosteer on City Streets and Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control, is a $12,000 option. 

As of writing, Tesla Model 3 Highland orders have an estimated delivery date of January to February 2024. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla arson suspect pleads guilty, faces up to 70 years in prison

The update was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.

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Credit: Tesla China

A Las Vegas man has pleaded guilty to federal arson charges tied to a March 2025 attack on a Tesla Collision Center in Nevada.

The update was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.

According to court documents, on March 18, 2025, Paul Hyon Kim spray-painted the word “RESIST” on the front entrance of the Tesla Collision Center before damaging the facility and multiple vehicles.

Federal prosecutors stated that Kim used a PA-15 multi-caliber firearm equipped with a .300 BLACKOUT upper receiver and a 7.62mm silencer to shoot out surveillance cameras. He then fired multiple rounds into Tesla vehicles on the property.

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Authorities stated that Kim later threw three Molotov cocktails into three separate Tesla vehicles. Two of the devices exploded and ignited the vehicles, while a third did not detonate. In total, five Tesla vehicles were damaged in the incident.

Kim pleaded guilty to two counts of arson of property used in interstate commerce, one count of attempted arson of property used in interstate commerce, and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm classified as a destructive device.

The mandatory minimum sentence for the charges is five years in federal prison, though the total maximum statutory penalty is 70 years, as per a release from the United States Attorney’s Office of the District of Nevada. 

Sentencing is scheduled for May 27, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. A federal judge will determine the final sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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The case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Clark County Fire Department.

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SpaceX pursues 5G-level connectivity with Starlink Mobile V2 expansion

SpaceX noted that the upcoming Starlink V2 satellites will deliver up to 100 times the data density of the current first-generation system.

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Credit: SpaceX

SpaceX has previewed a major upgrade to Starlink Mobile, outlining next-generation satellites that aim to deliver significantly higher capacity and full 5G-level connectivity directly to mobile phones.

The update comes as Starlink rebrands its Direct-to-Cell service to Starlink Mobile, positioning the platform as a scalable satellite-to-mobile solution that’s integrated with global telecom partners.

SpaceX noted that the upcoming Starlink V2 satellites will deliver up to 100 times the data density of the current first-generation system. The company also noted that the new V2 satellites are designed to provide significantly higher throughput capability compared to its current iteration.

“The next generation of Starlink Mobile satellites – V2 – will deliver full cellular coverage to places never thought possible via the highest performing satellite-to-mobile network ever built. 

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“Driven by custom SpaceX-designed silicon and phased array antennas, the satellites will support thousands of spatial beams and higher bandwidth capability, enabling around 20x the throughput capability as compared to a first-generation satellite,” SpaceX wrote in its official Starlink Mobile page. 

Thanks to the higher bandwidth of Starlink Mobile, users should be able to stream, browse the internet, use high-speed apps, and enjoy voice services comparable to terrestrial cellular networks. 

In most environments, Starlink says the upgraded system will enable full 5G cellular connectivity with a user experience similar to existing ground-based networks.

The satellites function as “cell towers in space,” using advanced phased-array antennas and laser interlinks to integrate with terrestrial infrastructure in a roaming-like architecture. 

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“Starlink Mobile works with existing LTE phones wherever you can see the sky. The satellites have an antenna that acts like a cellphone tower in space, the most advanced phased array antennas in the world that connect seamlessly over lasers to any point in the globe, allowing network integration similar to a standard roaming partner,” SpaceX wrote.

Starlink Mobile currently operates with approximately 650 satellites in low-Earth orbit and is active across more than 32 countries, representing over 1.7 billion people through partnerships with mobile network operators. Starlink Mobile’s current partnerships span North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, allowing reciprocal access across participating nations.

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Tesla FSD (Supervised) fleet passes 8.4 billion cumulative miles

The figure appears on Tesla’s official safety page, which tracks performance data for FSD (Supervised) and other safety technologies.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system has now surpassed 8.4 billion cumulative miles.

The figure appears on Tesla’s official safety page, which tracks performance data for FSD (Supervised) and other safety technologies.

Tesla has long emphasized that large-scale real-world data is central to improving its neural network-based approach to autonomy. Each mile driven with FSD (Supervised) engaged contributes additional edge cases and scenario training for the system.

Credit: Tesla

The milestone also brings Tesla closer to a benchmark previously outlined by CEO Elon Musk. Musk has stated that roughly 10 billion miles of training data may be needed to achieve safe unsupervised self-driving at scale, citing the “long tail” of rare but complex driving situations that must be learned through experience.

The growth curve of FSD Supervised’s cumulative miles over the past five years has been notable. 

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As noted in data shared by Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt, annual FSD (Supervised) miles have increased from roughly 6 million in 2021 to 80 million in 2022, 670 million in 2023, 2.25 billion in 2024, and 4.25 billion in 2025. In just the first 50 days of 2026, Tesla owners logged another 1 billion miles.

At the current pace, the fleet is trending towards hitting about 10 billion FSD Supervised miles this year. The increase has been driven by Tesla’s growing vehicle fleet, periodic free trials, and expanding Robotaxi operations, among others.

With the fleet now past 8.4 billion cumulative miles, Tesla’s supervised system is approaching that threshold, even as regulatory approval for fully unsupervised deployment remains subject to further validation and oversight.

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