Tesla Could Be Preparing to Charge for Heated Front Seats

Tesla might quickly start charging new Mannequin 3 homeowners for heated entrance seats and heated windshield wipers, in response to findings uncovered within the automaker’s latest 2023.38.8 automobile software program replace.

Well-known Tesla hacker GreenTheOnly uncovered the potential for these upcoming adjustments after digging into the all-electric automaker’s newest software program replace. Inexperienced has beforehand used this tactic to unwrap hidden future options which are pre-baked into the software program forward of a product launch of characteristic activation, although this latest discovery may upset future homeowners not anticipating to pay further for these chilly climate options – if, Tesla follows via with charging for them, in fact.

Tesla isn’t any stranger to software-locking factory-installed {hardware} behind a paywall, such because the footwell lights within the Mannequin 3, or additional battery capacity in older Tesla Model S and X vehicles. Prior to now, it has even charged for heated seats –particularly, rear seats in lowered-trimmed Customary Vary Mannequin 3 variants. Nonetheless, Tesla stopped charging for heated rear seats in 2022.

It isn’t assured that Tesla will cost for these options, nevertheless, Inexperienced’s findings point out that the logic is already embedded within the software program replace, so the thought has crossed the automaker’s thoughts. And if applied, it might mark the primary time that Tesla prices for heated entrance seats (or wipers, for that matter).

Probably, Tesla could also be contemplating dropping these options to decrease the bottom value of its Mannequin 3 even additional whereas nonetheless permitting for the potential for further income after the automobile is bought. Comfort options like heated seats, inside lighting, and sound programs have traditionally been Tesla’s go-to cost-cutting measure prior to now.

One other stunning discovery within the software program replace was that the Mannequin Y seems to have a software-locked battery capability for its Customary Vary trim. As we talked about, Tesla has taken this strategy prior to now. This explicit choice could possibly be a results of scaling out the Model Y’s not-so-serviceable structural battery pack, that means it could possibly be cheaper for Tesla to stay constant in its manufacturing strategies throughout trims and software-lock the pack moderately than modify manufacturing for various trims and ranges.

There’s at present no point out of how a lot this characteristic may cost, if it may apply to used automobiles in Tesla’s stock, or how quickly it could possibly be applied.

As we talked about, Inexperienced’s discovery is not gospel that Tesla will make the swap to the paid mannequin for heated seats and heated wipers, although it’s a good indication that it may occur. And in typical Tesla trend, if the automaker chooses to cost for these options, there is not any assure that it will not find yourself being a no-cost characteristic afterward—similar to what occurred with heated rear seats.