Tesla has a new self-driving computer retrofit, but it’s not even for HW3 cars
According to a well-known Tesla hacker, Tesla has designed a new self-driving computer retrofit, but it’s not even for HW3 cars.
Teska has two primary computational hardware generations for its self-driving program: HW3 cars (up until 2023) and HW4 cars (since 2023), sometimes called AI4.
The computer in the HW4 suite has much more computing power and uses different cameras.
Since Tesla had promised to deliver “unsupervised self-driving” on both hardware, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that software development on the older HW3 cars that have been waiting longer would lead about 6 months ahead of newer HW4 cars.
Tesla gave up on the strategy last year and now releases all new software on HW4 vehicles first, and HW3 owners are stuck with much older and less-performing versions of Tesla’s (Supervised) Full Self-Driving package.
As we have previously reported, most people following the program agree that it is impossible for Tesla to deliver on its unsupervised self-driving promises on HW3 cars – something that Tesla finally started to hint at late last year.
Tesla would have to offer a new computer retrofit to HW3 car owners and even then, many doubts that this would lead to Tesla delivering on its self-driving promises.
Now, with this context, we are encouraged to see Green, a well-known Tesla hacker who often finds new features in software and Tesla computers, discovering a new Tesla self-driving computer that appears to be meant as a retrofit:
I just came across a Model Y HW4 car computer that’s not unlike any other I’ve seen. It has the front bumper cam connector populated. Before you say it’s just a Model Y Juniper refresh car computer, it’s not because it does not actually have a second screen connector.
Here are a few pictures of the new Tesla computer:
Greem believes that this computer is going to be a retrofit for existing HW4 vehicles:
This car computer is also labelled “MY Reloaded” (where as previously it was just “MY” ) and according to the other markings it’s a service replacement unit. Overall it almost looks like Tesla is gearing to replace old hw4 with new ones and add a bumper cam while they are at it?
It can’t replace HW3 computers since it doesn’t have the same connectors for cameras.
We previously reported that Tesla had launched a new computer internally called “AI4.1”. It’s not clear if this is related to this new “MY Reloaded” computer.
Since this is now the only HW4 Model Y hardware in Tesla’s part catalog, it’s likely the new updated computer that we previously reported and that the automaker is having issues with.
The new information that is interesting is that it is apparently retrofittable to existing HW4 Tesla vehicles.
Electrek’s Take
For a second, I thought Tesla was doing the right thing and upgrading HW3 computers, but no.
The bumper cam is something that we are also seeing on the new Model Y and Tesla likely is starting to see that this is needed to achieve higher levels of autonomy.
I doubt that you will be able to retrofit that unless you already have wiring harnesses for it, but it doesn’t matter much anyway.
I, like many, have serious doubt that Tesla will even deliver unsupervised self-driving on HW4 cars. HW3 cars, you can forget it.
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Slate Auto, a new EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has poached a key Tesla manufacturing leader to build its electric pickup truck factory in Indiana.
Napoleon Reyes is a US Marine from Indiana who got a degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue after leaving the force.
He then worked a few years at Subaru and Wabash before joining Tesla’s manufacturing team at the Fremont Factory in 2020.
There, he became part of the Model Y production ramp and was quickly promoted to lead the Model Y General Assembly in Fremont in 2022.
Reyes led Model Y GA, one of the most critical parts of vehicle manufacturing, for more than a year before being promoted again to lead new pilot processes at the factory.
Most recently, he led the launch of the general assembly line for the Model Y refresh.
The new engineering manager announced this week that he is leaving Tesla to join Slate:
A bit late on the post but after nearly 5 years working at Tesla in Fremont, I made the difficult decision to leave the Company and move closer to home with my family. It was an incredible experience being part of multiple line expansions and multiple Model Y program launches. Leading and managing the Model Y Refresh launch for GA in Fremont this year tested me professionally however we ultimately succeeded due to our amazing cross functional team collaboration. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with such great people, and I will forever be proud and thankful for everything we accomplished together.
I will be taking on a new role as Senior Manager, Plant Vehicle Engineering at Slate Auto in Warsaw, In.
Slate emerged from stealth mode earlier this year to unveil a new type of electric pickup truck featuring modular customization and an affordable price.
The company raised over $700 million through two rounds of investments from several different investors, including Jeff Bezos. It is currently raising more, which basically guarantees that it will be able to reach production.
The startup acquired a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana. It is currently converting to manufacture its electric pickup with a team from legacy automakers and also several former engineers and leaders from Tesla.
Rich Schmidt, an early Tesla manufacturing director, is the head of manufacturing.
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Genesis is preparing to shake things up with its most luxurious SUV yet, the GV90. Thanks to a new patent filing, we are getting a detailed look at how its Rolls-Royce-style coach doors will work.
New patent reveals Genesis GV90 coach door system
When Genesis first unveiled the full-size SUV at the NY Auto Show last March, it wasn’t the stunning design or advanced tech that caught everyone’s attention. It was the coach doors.
Although we were worried it wouldn’t make it to the production model, like many concepts, the Genesis GV90 will be offered with coach doors.
The ultra-luxe electric SUV was first caught with coach doors earlier this year on a car carrier in South Korea. Just last month, the GV90 was spotted in California with a hinge at the rear to open the coach doors.
After several new patents were filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for new door latching devices, we are getting a sneak peek at how they are expected to work.
The patents, titled “Cinching Device For Door Latches in Vehicle,” and “Door Latch Device for Vehicles,” give a pretty detailed explanation of how the Genesis GV90’s coach doors will operate. The “Door Latch Device” uses a door striker on the lower side of the door, which is opened or closed by a hinge unit.
Unlike traditional doors, which use the B-pillar for support, the device is attached directly to the door itself, allowing for hinge-like movement.
The cinching device works in a similar way. It’s also attached to the door and part of the vehicle. However, unlike most of its kind, Genesis found a way to use a single cinching device to control multiple units. Again, the device is used for B-pillarless doors that swing open.
Genesis already said that B-pillarless coach doors are now feasible in production vehicles. The patent reveals a glimpse into how the luxury automaker could make it a reality.
Although the Genesis GV90 is expected to be offered with coach doors, they will likely not be standard. Other variants, with traditional door handles, have also been spotted testing in the US and South Korea.
Genesis is expected to launch the GV90 in mid-2026. It will be built at Hyundai’s Ulsan plant in South Korea. The flagship Genesis SUV is scheduled to debut on Hyundai’s new eM platform, which the company said will “provide 50% improvement in driving range.” It will also be loaded with the latest technology, software, connectivity, and Level 3 or higher autonomous driving capabilities.
Source: USPTO
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Environment
Podcast: Tesla Model YL, more Tesla probes and lawsuits, new Nissan Leaf pricing, and more
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the launch of the Tesla Model YL, more Tesla probes and lawsuits, new Nissan Leaf pricing, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
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