Connect with us

News

Tesla Model 3 interior photos: Autopilot stalk, steering wheel and touchscreen controls

Published

on

Consumers curious about what the interior of the Tesla Model 3 were just dealt the motherlode of all sneak peeks.

Imgur exploded with pictures of the Model 3 steering wheel, center touchscreen and accompanying software, giving fans the most in-depth look at the interior to date. We’re also seeing for the first time Tesla’s plan to integrate Autopilot controls directly into the driving stalk.

Gone is the cruise control stalk found on the left hand side of the steering of Model S and Model X vehicles, which also served as the hardware used for engaging Autopilot. Tesla Model 3 drivers will enable Autopilot utilizing the main control stalk that allows drivers to place the vehicle into (R)everse, (N)eutral, (D)rive, and (P)ark.  The ubiquitous Autopilot icon now located on the main driving stalk on Model 3 signals drivers that pulling the stalk past (D)rive will activate Tesla’s driving-assist and eventual fully autonomous Full Self-Driving capability.

Photo source: Imgur

Advertisement

The merged stalks have exciting implications for what’s to come and validates Tesla’s plan to create a fully autonomous fleet. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated on many accounts that Tesla will demonstrate its Full Self-Driving capabilities at the end of 2017 by piloting a car from California to New York completely on its own.

“November or December of this year, we should be able to go all the way from a parking lot in California to a parking lot in New York with no controls touched in the entire journey,” Musk said during a TED Talk.

 

The in-depth Model 3 interior photos posted on Imgur also provides us with a rare first glimpse of the software controls on Model 3’s center touchscreen. We can see that the section closest to the driver will have an “app” that highlights the vehicle’s “Car Status”. A similar app on existing Model S and Model X vehicles allows a driver to view tire pressure reading at each corner along with other visual indicators.

Advertisement

The Model 3 speedometer will also be presented on the main center touchscreen. After all, there’s no point having a traditional instrument cluster anymore according to Musk because you simply “won’t care”.

Advertisement

Interim East Coast Editor for Teslarati, contributor for NextMobility. Share tips at mdolzer@teslarati.com

Advertisement
Comments

News

Tesla pushes Full Self-Driving outright purchasing option back in one market

Tesla announced last month that it would eliminate the ability to purchase the Full Self-Driving software outright, instead opting for a subscription-only program, which will require users to pay monthly.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla has pushed the opportunity to purchase the Full Self-Driving suite outright in one market: Australia.

The date remains February 14 in North America, but Tesla has pushed the date back to March 31, 2026, in Australia.

Tesla announced last month that it would eliminate the ability to purchase the Full Self-Driving software outright, instead opting for a subscription-only program, which will require users to pay monthly.

If you have already purchased the suite outright, you will not be required to subscribe once again, but once the outright purchase option is gone, drivers will be required to pay the monthly fee.

The reason for the adjustment is likely due to the short period of time the Full Self-Driving suite has been available in the country. In North America, it has been available for years.

Advertisement

Tesla hits major milestone with Full Self-Driving subscriptions

However, Tesla just launched it just last year in Australia.

Full Self-Driving is currently available in seven countries: the United States, Canada, China, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.

The company has worked extensively for the past few years to launch the suite in Europe. It has not made it quite yet, but Tesla hopes to get it launched by the end of this year.

Advertisement

In North America, Tesla is only giving customers one more day to buy the suite outright before they will be committed to the subscription-based option for good.

The price is expected to go up as the capabilities improve, but there are no indications as to when Tesla will be doing that, nor what type of offering it plans to roll out for owners.

Continue Reading

Elon Musk

Starlink terminals smuggled into Iran amid protest crackdown: report

Roughly 6,000 units were delivered following January’s unrest.

Published

on

Credit: Starlink/X

The United States quietly moved thousands of Starlink terminals into Iran after authorities imposed internet shutdowns as part of its crackdown on protests, as per information shared by U.S. officials to The Wall Street Journal

Roughly 6,000 units were delivered following January’s unrest, marking the first known instance of Washington directly supplying the satellite systems inside the country.

Iran’s government significantly restricted online access as demonstrations spread across the country earlier this year. In response, the U.S. purchased nearly 7,000 Starlink terminals in recent months, with most acquisitions occurring in January. Officials stated that funding was reallocated from other internet access initiatives to support the satellite deployment.

President Donald Trump was aware of the effort, though it remains unclear whether he personally authorized it. The White House has not issued a comment about the matter publicly.

Possession of a Starlink terminal is illegal under Iranian law and can result in significant prison time. Despite this, the WSJ estimated that tens of thousands of residents still rely on the satellite service to bypass state controls. Authorities have reportedly conducted inspections of private homes and rooftops to locate unauthorized equipment.

Advertisement

Earlier this year, Trump and Elon Musk discussed maintaining Starlink access for Iranians during the unrest. Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington of encouraging dissent, though U.S. officials have mostly denied the allegations.

The decision to prioritize Starlink sparked internal debate within U.S. agencies. Some officials argued that shifting resources away from Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) could weaken broader internet access efforts. VPNs had previously played a major role in keeping Iranians connected during earlier protest waves, though VPNs are not effective when the actual internet gets cut.

According to State Department figures, about 30 million Iranians used U.S.-funded VPN services during demonstrations in 2022. During a near-total blackout in June 2025, roughly one-fifth of users were still able to access limited connectivity through VPN tools.

Critics have argued that satellite access without VPN protection may expose users to geolocation risks. After funds were redirected to acquire Starlink equipment, support reportedly lapsed for two of five VPN providers operating in Iran.

Advertisement

A State Department official has stated that the U.S. continues to back multiple technologies,  including VPNs alongside Starlink, to sustain people’s internet access amidst the government’s shutdowns.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla ramps up Sweden price war with cheaper Model Y offer

The incentive effectively acts as a manufacturer-funded EV bonus and makes the entry-level Model Y more affordable.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla has introduced a new 40,000 SEK incentive in Sweden, lowering the price of its most affordable Model Y to a record low. The incentive effectively acts as a manufacturer-funded EV bonus and makes the entry-level Model Y more affordable.

As per a report from Swedish auto outlet Allt om Elbil, Tesla Sweden is offering a 40,000 SEK electric car bonus on the entry-level Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive variant. The incentive lowers the purchase price of the base all-electric crossover to 459,900–459,990 SEK, depending on listing.

The bonus applies to orders and deliveries completed by March 31, 2026. Tesla Sweden is also offering zero-interest financing as part of the campaign.

Last fall, Tesla launched a new base version of the Model Y starting at 499,990 SEK. The variant features a refreshed design and simplified equipment compared to the Premium and Performance variants. The new 40,000 SEK incentive now pushes the entry model well below the 460,000 SEK mark.

Advertisement

So far this year, the Model Y remains the most registered electric vehicle in Sweden and the third most registered new car overall. However, most registrations have been for higher Premium-spec versions. The new incentive could then be Tesla’s way to push sales of its most affordable Model Y variant in the country. 

Tesla is also promoting private leasing options for the entry-level Model Y at 4,995 SEK per month. Swedish automotive observers have noted that leasing may remain the more cost-effective option compared to purchasing outright, even after the new discount.

The base Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive offers a WLTP range of 534 kilometers, a top speed of 201 km/h, and a 0–100 km/h time of 7.2 seconds. Tesla lists energy consumption at 13.1 kWh per 100 kilometers, making it the most efficient version of the vehicle in the lineup and potentially lowering overall ownership costs. 

Continue Reading