It appears that Tesla’s fourth-quarter delivery numbers would be bolstered pretty well by the updated Model 3, better known in EV circles as Project Highland. Based on social media posts from electric vehicle enthusiasts, it appears that a Model 3 Highland tsunami is starting in Europe.
The new Tesla Model 3 is so far only being produced in Gigafactory Shanghai, the company’s primary vehicle export hub. Fortunately, the facility is also Tesla’s largest factory by output, with the EV maker listing the site with an estimated annual output of over 950,000 vehicles in its Q3 2023 Update Letter. It was then no surprise to see Giga Shanghai exporting batches of new Model 3 over the past weeks.
Some of these vehicles have arrived in Europe, at least based on reports from Tesla watchers and EV enthusiasts. Over the past days, numerous photos and videos of the new Model 3 across Europe were shared online, from first deliveries in Germany to car carrier trucks filled with the updated Model 3 units in Paris, France.
Following are some of the posts from European EV fans featuring the upgraded Tesla Model 3.
1st Refreshed Model 3 (Highland) delivered in Europe?? (Bielefeld, Germany)
Looks damn good ?
source: D0Dave on TFF via @Berlinergy pic.twitter.com/998mhlJdJw— Morten Grove – Captain of all Tesla-Ships ? (@mortenlund89) October 21, 2023
.@mortenlund89 Refreshed Model 3 arrived at Tesla Poland Warsaw ?https://t.co/q6LdS26yrw pic.twitter.com/kExjeeIsII— kaskada99 | Michał Krzemiński ?? (@kaskada99) October 25, 2023
Upgraded @tesla mode 3 seen at the Tesla center in Purmerend, The Netherlands this morning.??
Ultra Red and blue. More color is very nice don’t you think?
Many more deliveries will take place today!@teslaeurope #TeslaEurope #TeslaTheNetherlands @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/PT7s3lci4N— Esther Kokkelmans (@EstherKokkelman) October 25, 2023
What a start of the week ! ♥️
Ready to travel in Europe ! ??
With this beauties rainy ?️ days
are always sunny ☀️?#UpgradedModel3 #TeslaTransport @TeslaEurope #TeslaEurope
? : Toni Mustienes Ferrer / Linkedin pic.twitter.com/u991ed9KHg— Ξ LUC ШΛТΞRLOT Ξ ?? (@LucWaterlot) October 24, 2023
Beautiful upgraded @tesla model 3 seen in Paris, France!??
Going to happy new owners in France.
Check out the beautiful Stealth Grey color❤️@teslaeurope @TeslaClubFrance #TeslaEurope @ClemBrst @elonmusk
?Claude Namer pic.twitter.com/J9GP73AAn4— Esther Kokkelmans (@EstherKokkelman) October 25, 2023
Many more trucks loaded with upgraded @tesla model 3 on their way to their new owners somewhere in Europe.
These have been seen in Germany.??@teslaeurope @TeslaGermany_ #TeslaEurope pic.twitter.com/5GBti4eQjN— Esther Kokkelmans (@EstherKokkelman) October 25, 2023
Tesla delivered a total of 435,059 vehicles in the third quarter, which was 6% less than the 466,140 that the company delivered in Q2 2023. Part of this decline was due to the new Model 3, which was not delivered during the third quarter. Considering that the updated Model 3 is now seeing its deliveries in Europe, Tesla may indeed have a solid shot at meeting its ambitious target of delivering around 1.8 million vehicles this 2023.
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News
Ford is charging for a basic EV feature on the Mustang Mach-E
When ordering a new Ford Mustang Mach-E, you’ll now be hit with an additional fee for one basic EV feature: the frunk.
Ford is charging an additional fee for a basic EV feature on its Mustang Mach-E, its most popular electric vehicle offering.
Ford has shuttered its initial Model e program, but is venturing into a more controlled and refined effort, and it is abandoning the F-150 Lightning in favor of a new pickup that is currently under design, but appears to have some favorable features.
However, ordering a new Mustang Mach-E now comes with an additional fee for one basic EV feature: the frunk.
The frunk is the front trunk, and due to the lack of a large engine in the front of an electric vehicle, OEMs are able to offer additional storage space under the hood. There’s one problem, though, and that is that companies appear to be recognizing that they can remove it for free while offering the function for a fee.
Ford is now charging $495 on the Mustang Mach-E frunk (front trunk). What are your thoughts on that? pic.twitter.com/EOzZe3z9ZQ
— Alan of TesCalendar 📆⚡️ (@TesCalendar1) February 24, 2026
Ford is charging $495 for the frunk.
Interestingly, the frunk size varies by vehicle, but the Mustang Mach-E features a 4.7 to 4.8 cubic-foot-sized frunk, which measures approximately 9 inches deep, 26 inches wide, and 14 inches high.
When the vehicle was first released, Ford marketed the frunk as the ultimate tailgating feature, showing it off as a perfect place to store and serve cold shrimp cocktail.
Ford Mach-E frunk is perfect for chowders and chicken wings, and we’re not even joking
It appears the decision to charge for what is a simple advantage of an EV is not going over well, as even Ford loyal customers say the frunk is a “basic expectation” of an EV. Without it, it seems as if fans feel the company is nickel-and-diming its customers.
It will be pretty interesting to see the Mach-E without a frunk, and while it should not be enough to turn people away from potentially buying the vehicle, it seems the decision to add an additional charge to include one will definitely annoy some customers.
News
Tesla to improve one of its best features, coding shows
According to the update, Tesla will work on improving the headlights when coming into contact with highly reflective objects, including road signs, traffic signs, and street lights. Additionally, pixel-level dimming will happen in two stages, whereas it currently performs with just one, meaning on or off.
Tesla is looking to upgrade its Matrix Headlights, a unique and high-tech feature that is available on several of its vehicles. The headlights aim to maximize visibility for Tesla drivers while being considerate of oncoming traffic.
The Matrix Headlights Tesla offers utilize dimming of individual light pixels to ensure that visibility stays high for those behind the wheel, while also being considerate of other cars by decreasing the brightness in areas where other cars are traveling.
Here’s what they look like in action:
- Credit: u/ObjectiveScratch | Reddit
- Credit: u/ObjectiveScratch | Reddit
As you can see, the Matrix headlight system intentionally dims the area where oncoming cars would be impacted by high beams. This keeps visibility at a maximum for everyone on the road, including those who could be hit with bright lights in their eyes.
There are still a handful of complaints from owners, however, but Tesla appears to be looking to resolve these with the coming updates in a Software Version that is currently labeled 2026.2.xxx. The coding was spotted by X user BERKANT:
🚨 Tesla is quietly upgrading Matrix headlights.
Software https://t.co/pXEklQiXSq reveals a hidden feature:
matrix_two_stage_reflection_dip
This is a major step beyond current adaptive high beams.
What it means:
• The car detects highly reflective objects
Road signs,… pic.twitter.com/m5UpQJFA2n— BERKANT (@Tesla_NL_TR) February 24, 2026
According to the update, Tesla will work on improving the headlights when coming into contact with highly reflective objects, including road signs, traffic signs, and street lights. Additionally, pixel-level dimming will happen in two stages, whereas it currently performs with just one, meaning on or off.
Finally, the new system will prevent the high beams from glaring back at the driver. The system is made to dim when it recognizes oncoming cars, but not necessarily objects that could produce glaring issues back at the driver.
Tesla’s revolutionary Matrix headlights are coming to the U.S.
This upgrade is software-focused, so there will not need to be any physical changes or upgrades made to Tesla vehicles that utilize the Matrix headlights currently.
Elon Musk
xAI’s Grok approved for Pentagon classified systems: report
Under the agreement, Grok can be deployed in systems handling classified intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield operations.
Elon Musk’s xAI has signed an agreement with the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to allow Grok to be used in classified military systems.
Previously, Anthropic’s Claude had been the only AI system approved for the most sensitive military work, but a dispute over usage safeguards has reportedly prompted the Pentagon to broaden its options, as noted in a report from Axios.
Under the agreement, Grok can be deployed in systems handling classified intelligence analysis, weapons development, and battlefield operations.
The publication reported that xAI agreed to the Pentagon’s requirement that its technology be usable for “all lawful purposes,” a standard Anthropic has reportedly resisted due to alleged ethical restrictions tied to mass surveillance and autonomous weapons use.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to meet with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in what sources expect to be a tense meeting, with the publication hinting that the Pentagon could designate Anthropic a “supply chain risk” if the company does not lift its safeguards.
Axios stated that replacing Claude fully might be technically challenging even if xAI or other alternative AI systems take its place. That being said, other AI systems are already in use by the DoD.
Grok already operates in the Pentagon’s unclassified systems alongside Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Google is reportedly close to an agreement that will result in Gemini being used for classified use, while OpenAI’s progress toward classified deployment is described as slower but still feasible.
The publication noted that the Pentagon continues talks with several AI companies as it prepares for potential changes in classified AI sourcing.

