Recent Tesla Model S and Model X come with updated cameras

23 February 2023

Tesla is bringing the updated Model X and Model S to the market and the update seems to be much bigger than originally thought. It all began with the yoke no longer being the sole option and customers being offered now the standard, round steering wheel, albeit the indicator stalks are still missing.

While the steering yoke grabbed the public’s attention, Tesla sneaked up another upgrade to its flagship models. The recently spotted vehicles by Twitter user The Kilowatts featured an upgraded set of cameras.

Why is that a big deal? Tesla has been planning for a while now to release the full suite of upgraded components under the Hardware 4 moniker. The issue here is that the Hardware 4 was meant to be introduced together with the Cybertruck but with the constant delays, it has been sitting on the shelf.

Various sources claim that the Hardware 4 will come with 11 cameras positioned all over the vehicle. Although Tesla has been quiet about the rollout, fans and owners have been scouring the latest Model X and Model S vehicles for signs of the upgraded equipment. It was The Kilowatts again who spotted a Model S with a set of never seen before cameras and its ultrasonic sensors nowhere to be seen.

The cameras are clearly different from the existing ones plus some of them are in completely new locations. One of the Model X was photographed with its delivery code clearly showing it is part of the Hardware 4 rollout - what is happening? Why is Tesla keeping this one quiet?

It’s not a new thing for Tesla to upgrade the hardware on its electric cars and leave it dormant for future upgrades, in fact more and more manufacturers are taking that approach. The rumors are swirling that this suggests another delay to Cybertruck and Tesla being forced to go ahead with the HW4 upgrade on Model S and Model X.

As the manufacturing goes, Tesla ordered the upgraded components a long time ago, and while it planned for Cybertruck to be already in production, the new cameras would have been going in as planned. Since the Cybertruck is still in the weeds, the old components are no longer in production and the new ones are already here.

That’s why it makes sense for the company to quietly begin the HW4 upgrade. Providing Cybertruck debuts eventually within a half-decent time frame, the Hardware 4 will debut with it and Tesla will just push the OTA update to all cars with the HW4 already out there. If the Cybertruck is delayed for even longer, the company will simply announce the official rollout with Model S and Model X.

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