Last updated 11-Feb-2024
Over the years Tesla have made numerous changes to the car design and model line-up. We've tried to capture the history of each of the key hardware changes and model updates and in which year they occurred. The exact date is of little benefit as the transition is often blurred with cars appearing in different parts of the world with different specifications, for instance the 82kwh Long Range battery fitted to the Model 3 has varied by factory and country the cars have been delivered to.
The following is a list of the main changes we can find. We are sure there are some changes we may have missed, either due to small production numbers or country specific (Canada for instance had a compliance version of the Model 3) but feel free to email us with any significant errors and we'll happily take a look and see if we agree. We're also only recording the history of when features actually arrive, not when they are announced or promised.
We also have a list of the Tesla software release notes over the last few years, with the ability to filter by subject area to see how it has evolved.
2024 M3
The headlights in the new model have adaptive function enabled in some countries.
2024 MS MX M3 MY
Tesla introduce adaptive headlight capability on cars with matrix lights. Initially the ‘highland’ M3 but also on other cars with suitable hardware (country specific)
2024 M3
Performance model launched with new sports seats and a few cosmetic tweaks. The rear motor is also new
2024 MS MX M3 MY CT
Tesla rename Autopilot HW4, AI4. Same thing, trendier name.
2024 M3 MY
Tesla start to drop the LFP batteries in a number of regions with a move to Long Range RWD models
2023 MS MX M3 MY
Tesla starts to introduce cameras that can be physically wiped clean. The guidance previously was to only spray with water as contact could scratch the glass. We believe this is part of the HW4 update
2023 M3
Highland is announced in Sept 2023 with the rollout starting later that year and continuing into 2024. Significant changes including interior and exterior changes, removal of indicator stalks, improvements to suspension and sound insulation and while no motor or battery changes, improvements to efficiency, but with a loss of top speed. There was no Performance version announced at launch, just the RWD and LR AWD models.
2022 M3 MY
A heated area of the windscreen to defrost the wipers. This is similar to the heated areas as part of the cold weather pack on the Model S and Model X.
2022 M3 MY
As part of the increasing use of Tesla Vision, Model 3 and Model Y cars will not be fitted with Ultrasonic parking sensors from around October 2022 in most markets. The Model S and Model X models will also stop being produced with them in due course. It looks like cars with a 2023 VIN letter (P) signify the change, even when built as early as October 2022. Normally Tesla start building the next years VIN year from mid November.
As part of the changes, small tweaks were made to the centre under body, rear under body and horn profile, althought these are largely technical changes and do not change the car from an owners perspective.
2022 M3
A number of small technical changes including increasing the number of washer nozzles
2021 M3
Model 3 start shipping with heated steering wheel. Activated on LR and above. The first batch of 2021 model year cars did not have it.
2021 M3
Model 3 door cards have a continuation of the dash trim at the top for approx. half the door. The door cards are now also dark irrespective of the interior trim colour. Both these changes were introduced shortly after the other 2021 spec changes.
2021 M3
Tesla change the Model 3 Long Range to the BT42 battery (E3LD, 82.1kWh made by Panasonica) used in the Performance models for Fremont production, but use a slightly smaller BT38 battery in the Long Range cars built in China. The EU spec cars are for the BT42 battery but most of the deliveries use the BT38 battery.
2021 M3 MY
Tesla remove the radar from Fremont production built for the North America market from May claiming they can move to a pure vision based system. Short term, some basic features such as Smart Summon and Emergency Lane Departure warnings may be disabled and some other features may have reduced performance or operating ranges.
2021 MS MX M3 MY
Subscription version of FSD now announced in the US. Up to date information can be found on our FSD FAQ
2021 MS MX M3 MY
Tesla introduce driver testing before allowing the deployment of the latest version of City Streets FSD beta. This is for US and Canada only
2021 M3
SR+ becomes just the "Model 3" or "Model 3 RWD" with a slightly longer range but increased 0-60 times. The spec going into 2022 also includes heated rear seats and heated steering wheel.
2021 M3 MY
A switch to hairpin windings on the motors. There is no clear cut over as deliveries in Q4 have a mixture of old and new motors. A new performance motor is also being introduced although probably not until 2022.
2021 MS MX M3 MY
Supercharging network being trialled in some countries with other makes of car, this is limited to the countries whree CSS is the charging standard. The main issue seen so far is where cars have the charge port on the opposite side resulting in 2 charging bays being required to charge.
2021 M3 MY
A number of small changes including a new low voltage battery, more laminated rear glass although it's unclear if this is for sound insulation or safety, and a number of small tweaks to sensors and ancilliary devices as a result of the new low voltage battery. One speaker was also removed as part of the updates
2021 M3 MY
MCU3 based on the AMD Ryzen chipset first seen in the 2021 MS and MX have started to be appear in cars, initially for the China market but becoming more widespread with 2022 vin cars made in Fremont. China production also seem to be appearing with the Ryzen processor. The low voltage battery seems to be rolling out at the same time and may be linked.
2021 M3
Late 2021 Tesla change the Model 3 Long Range to the BT43 battery (E5LD, 78.8kWh made by LG) in China, the same battery as used in the MY LR.
2021 M3 MY
Lumbar adjustment removed from passengers seat
2020 M3
Track pack comprising special wheels, different brake pads and uprating the brake fluid.
2020 M3
Updated the track option on the M3 performance to allow the driver to set various options including power distribution and the degree of traction control the cars will apply.
2020 MS MX M3 MY
A new suspected deep sleep mode to preserve battery life when the car is being left (SW 2020.12.5)
2020 MS MX M3 MY
Side cameras when in reverse (SW 2020.26). The side cameras now appear beneath the rear camera when selecting reverse. These cameras point backwards and not down so they do not operate as a surround view type camera setup.
2020 M3 MY
Wireless phone charger added together with USB C in the rear.
2020 M3
Frunk design changed with some expecting this to accommodate a heat pump similar to the MY. No confirmation the pump is yet being fitted however.
2020 MS MX M3 MY
Improved security with the introduction of optional multi factor authentication to the Tesla login. This does not however prevent issues with API tokens.
2020 M3
Model 3 updates for 2021 model year include a heat pump helping improve range and cold weather performance, powered trunk, wheel design changes, new centre console, headlight changes in some countries, the return of dimming side mirrors and chrome delete. There are also some performance tweaks.
2020 M3
Model 3 Performance update for 2021 model year includes a new 82kwh battery (code BT42), up from the previous 75kwh .
2020 M3
Model 3 tyre pressure monitors (TPMS) changed to bluetooth to match the Model Y pressure sensors
2020 MS MX M3 MY
Boombox feature added (the car needs to have the external speaker) and other tweaks as part of the end of year release.
2019 M3
M3 deliveries to Europe start, followed by right hand drive models later in the year.
2019 M3
M3 SR launched only to be removed from online order soon after. The entry level car is the SR+ other than a limited number of SR ordered in person and some low volume compliance cars in other countries
2019 MS MX M3
Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) features split, TACC and Lane keep becoming Autopilot and included in the standard car spec and the remaining features moving to Full Self Driving.
2019 M3
Tow bar becomes an option on models except the performance. Its suspected its linked to the Performance cars 20" wheels
2019 MS MX M3
V3 superchargers launched and increases to V2 supercharger speed.
2019 MS MX M3
Sentry mode introduced for those with HW2.5 and above.
2019 MS MX M3
Navigate on Autopilot became available
2019 M3
Homelink became a cost option
2019 MS MX M3
Pedestrian sound generator added for some markets
2019 MS MX M3
Version 10 introduced including, subject to region and hardware, Smart Summon, Karaoke, Music and Podcasts and video streaming to the browser. Scheduled departure also added.
2019 MS MX M3
5% Power increase and 1 foot driving (Permanent magnet cars only, ie Raven MS and MX, and M3)
2019 M3
Tesla move to model years from year of manufacture in VIN, with the M3 2020 available from Nov. Changes seem largely superficial and associated with trunk and frunk carpets and slight changes to reduce noise.
2019 MS MX M3
Ability to read and respond to text messages on all models
2019 MS MX M3
Autopilot enhancements regarding variable speed depending on adjacent lanes and stop sign identification. The ability to use these features typically varies by country.
2018 MS MX M3
Wifi changed to also support 5GHz.
2018 MS MX M3
Tesla introduce Pin to Drive, an optional security feature.
2018 MS MX M3
Dashcam introduced for those with HW2.5 and above.
2018 M3
Suspension spring rates improved, panoramic roof Infra-red coating changed, seat cushions changed
2017 M3
Model 3 production starts for the US market only.
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