Tesla Update 2024.2 Enables Adaptive Headlights in New Model 3 [Update: Video]

Tesla has enabled adaptive headlights for the new Model 3

m.jr.88

Tesla has introduced adaptive headlights to its new Model 3. This feature is part of the latest software update, version 2024.2, which has been released to Tesla employees.

Update: We now have our first video of the new adaptive high beams in action. X user m.jr.88 posted a video (below) of his new Model 3 with update 2024.2 that enables the new adaptive high beams feature. If you pay close attention to the video, you can see the high beams dim and brighten in certain areas.

Adaptive Headlights vs Matrix Headlights

A recent leak of European documents revealed that Tesla was getting ready to enable the adaptive headlights in the new Model 3. Matrix headlights, which feature many LEDs that can be turned on and off individually, let the vehicle manufacturers light or dim certain portions of the road, resulting in high beams being on longer and leading to better visibility. However, the new Model 3 appears to have a slightly different implementation than Tesla’s previous matrix headlights, although it’s not immediately clear how or why. Tesla is using the term adaptive headlights in the new Model 3 instead of matrix headlights.

Tesla’s previous matrix headlights could feature more LEDs, as evidenced by their special effects like projecting the Tesla logo during light shows (video below). The new adaptive headlights could have fewer pixels to turn on and off, which may lead to an easier implementation.

Software Update 2024.2

Tesla’s 2024.2 update enables the adaptive headlights on the new Model 3 according to German user dracon on the TFF Forum. At this point though, it’s not clear which regions will receive the new adaptive headlights support. Tesla will sometimes only enable bigger changes in specific regions before making them available world wide. Due to the amount of regulations around headlights, there could restrictions on where Tesla can enable their implementation of adaptive headlights.

The release notes (translated from German), state that “The high beams now adjust to reduce glare for other drivers and cyclists.”

“By detecting other road users and selectively dimming individual pixels of the headlights, the high beams can remain on longer, enabling better visibility at night.”

“To turn it on, go to Lighting > Adaptive High Beam in your vehicle settings.”

The 2024.2 also adds security improvements according to the release notes.

No Matrix Headlight Support Yet

In December 2023, Tesla received approval from European authorities to utilize adaptive headlights on the new Model 3. It appears that this will be exclusive for the new Model 3 for now. We confirmed that this update, was has been released in various regions, has not enabled matrix headlight support on a vehicle that includes them.

Tesla started added matrix headlights to some of their vehicles in 2021, but the functionality has yet to be enabled. In May 2023, Tesla added matrix headlights to the Model X, so it appears that they still plan to enable support for this headlights at some point in the future, at least as of mid-2023.

As the first deliveries of the Highland Model 3 are expected in North America this month, whether the adaptive headlights will be included in these vehicles remains to be seen.

Here is the kicker:
I thought highland does NOT have Matrix LED lights. From the images I can see I do not see a projector lens. Might be a reflector-projector combination with a hidden lens to have a smaller appearance.

Hopefully this will come to Y & 3 which do have them (too) pic.twitter.com/oSzOKlRsw2

— Dennis Raßmann (@showp1984) January 18, 2024

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Tesla Vehicles Spotted With LiDAR: What Do They Use It For?

Not a Tesla App

Tesla recently hit the news for purchasing approximately $2M in LiDAR sensors from Luminar, one of Tesla’s long-term suppliers. You’ve probably seen photos of Tesla’s Semi and various Tesla models, including the Model 3 and Model Y sporting LIDAR equipment on the roof. These cars drive around with manufacturer plates scanning streets and highways.

However, many people confuse Tesla’s purpose in purchasing LiDAR equipment with using it for FSD versus testing. So, let’s look at what LiDAR is, and why Tesla uses it on its Fleet Validation Vehicles.

What is LiDAR?

LiDAR stands for Light Detecting and Ranging – essentially using lasers to measure distances. A laser pulse is sent out, and the time it takes to return is measured – providing extremely accurate distance measurements.

Some companies working on self-driving vehicles, including Waymo and BYD, use LiDAR as part of their self-driving suites, but Tesla is one of the few stand-outs that does not. Even Rimac’s “Verne” Robotaxi – which uses self-driving technology from Mobileye, also uses LiDAR.

While LiDAR can produce extremely accurate and high-quality 3D environments, it comes with its downsides as well. Not only is LiDAR costly and requires large gear strapped to a vehicle, but it also can not be used in bad weather and can have interference issues if there are other strong light sources present.

Why Does Tesla Use LiDAR?

A LiDAR rig mounted on a Tesla Semi for testing FSD.

Not a Tesla App

At Autonomy Day in 2019, Elon Musk mentioned that LiDAR isn’t the solution for self-driving cars – it's just a crutch. Thus, Tesla hasn’t used LiDAR for any production self-driving software.

Instead, Tesla uses it exactly how it's described – they use it to gather ground-truth data. This data is then used to feed Tesla’s Full Self Driving system – which helps validate its vision-only system's accuracy. LiDAR provides very accurate measurements to help ensure that FSD’s perception of space is accurate – and is only used by Tesla to ensure that its AI technology which is the brains of FSD is capable of accurately interpreting depth from just visual data.

Tesla’s vision-only system has been seen to be extremely accurate, with Vision-only Autopark being able to park in even narrower and tighter spaces faster than the previous version that relied on ultrasonic sensors.

We’ll likely continue to see Tesla purchase LiDAR systems, as well as use them for validation well into the future.

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Tesla's Upcoming Robotaxi Event in August Delayed, According to Bloomberg

Sugar Design

In a report from Bloomberg, it is claimed that Tesla will be delaying its much-anticipated 8/8 Robotaxi event by two months to October 2024.

While sources other than Bloomberg haven't confirmed this report, Bloomberg has a positive track record of reporting on financial decisions. We’ll be sure to update the article if there is confirmation on X from Elon Musk or another Tesla senior official.

Tesla’s stock has dropped nearly 8.5% over the day, ending back-to-back gains over the last two weeks. It closed yesterday at $ 241 after hitting a peak of $270 earlier in the day before the news broke.

Why the Delay?

The delay – of approximately two months – has been communicated internally, but not publicly announced just yet. Bloomberg goes on to mention that the design team was told to rework certain elements of the Cybercab, necessitating the delay.

If Bloomberg’s report is correct, it sounds like Tesla’s unveil event will be largely focused on showing off the vehicle, instead of demoing how it will work. Of course, it could still be both, but given past events, Tesla has always shown off the vehicle years before it hits production.

Rimac recently showed off their version of robotaxi vehicle named Verne, and surprisingly, it could almost pass for Tesla’s own robotaxi. A lot of design cues in Rimac’s version are elements we have already seen or expect to see in Tesla’s autonomous taxi.

A recent Tesla patent revealed that Tesla is incorporating a sanitation system into their robotaxi that will be responsible for analyzing and cleaning the vehicle’s interior, although the delay itself is likely tied more to a physical feature rather than software.

Another element we know almost nothing about is how Tesla plans to charge these robotic taxis. Will they rely on the existing charge port and adapt a solution like the robotic charging arm (video below) we saw almost eight years ago, or will wireless charging or a dock finally become realized?

While the delay for Tesla’s event appears to be related to the vehicle’s design itself and not further development of FSD, Tesla is wasting no time in getting FSD working for the upcoming vehicle. Model 3 vehicles have already been spotted with camera locations that resemble a robotaxi.

Is the Delay Accurate?

We expect that this delay might actually be true – Elon Musk usually takes to X within hours of such news breaking if it's false to refute it and hasn’t done so yet.

Tesla has delayed several of their events in the past, and a delay of a couple of months seems plausible. We should hear from Musk himself soon on whether this report is accurate.

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