Tesla’s new self-driving (HW4) computer leaks: Here’s a teardown
Tesla’s new self-driving computer, Hardware 4.0 (HW4), has leaked as the automaker appears to be already building some cars with the upgraded system.
Here’s a first teardown.
We have known that Tesla has been preparing an upgrade to its Autopilot/self-driving hardware for a bit now.
Most notably, Tesla filed with the FCC to add a new radar on its vehicles and said that it planned to start marketing it in January. A new radar would mean that Tesla plans to update its sensor suite for Autopilot and self-driving.
We have also heard that the automaker is changing its cameras, according to a filing with Chinese regulators.
Finally, Tesla is expected to produce a new self-driving computer to merge all those new sensors into a more powerful computing platform.
All these hardware changes have been stressful for Tesla owners since the automaker has been promising that all its vehicles built since 2016 have all the hardware necessary to achieve self-driving through software updates.
It turned out not to be true as Tesla needed a more powerful computer (HW3), but it did supply the retrofit to existing owners for free.
Now CEO Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla will not provide retrofit to HW4, but he said that the automaker still plans to deliver on its self-driving promises with HW3 and that HW4 will only push the performance higher.
Tesla Autopilot/Self-Driving Hardware 4.0
The teardown comes courtesy of Green The Only, a well-known Tesla hacker and tinkerer who has consistently revealed a lot of new information about Tesla vehicles by hacking the automaker’s software and tearing down its hardware.
In this case, he managed to get his hands on a new HW4 computer from a new Model X vehicle. We won’t go into details about how.
There are some indications that Tesla is implementing the new hardware suite in the Model X first with the automaker having just put up for sale its display and test drive fleet, which Tesla generally does later in a quarter. It could mean that Tesla is liquidating its Model X units in preparation for the new hardware.
Green started the teardown by confirming what Musk recently said: Don’t expect a retrofit.
Tesla’s self-driving computer is combined with its infotainment computer, which has also been updated with this HW4 upgrade.
Green said about the change:
Infotainment was reworked compared to current units. The GPU is now on the same board, so no more GPU daughterboard. This makes the whole unit thinner, otherwise no changes there – same 256G NVMe and 16G RAM, same AMD CPU and GPU.
As for Tesla’s actual HW4 computer, Green sees less improvement than what was hoped:
He did note that there are some improvements in security. Musk mentioned hackability of self-driving vehicles was a top concern at Tesla.
On the downside, the hacker’s own measurement shows that the new board has a higher power consumption than HW3 when idle.
Green noted that Tesla has also made improvements to the redundancy of the system, which is obviously important in a self-driving vehicle:
Redundancy is the name of the game this time? The board is mostly symmetric, with identical power connections on each side. There are even two network links to infotainment. Yet… if you unpower the A side, that kills the network switch and the link is lost. Still the improvements are there.
Now for what people have all been waiting for – the sensors.
Obviously, this is the computer and not the sensors, but the connectors can give us more information about the new sensors in HW4.
Now Tesla has been moving to a vision-based (cameras) approach and it has made a big deal of removing its radar and ultrasonic sensors.
There’s good news with HW4. Tesla appears to be including more cameras. There are currently 8 cameras in Tesla’s hardware suite, but now the new computer has connectors for 12 cameras, although one connector is marked as “spare.”
So we are talking about likely 11 cameras. Now as for the camera placement, it looks like all the current cameras remain other than a two camera setup in the windshield rather than the current three-front-facing camera setup.
While the information is hard to decrypt, Green sees indications that Tesla might have added cameras in the bumpers:
What’s SVC you might wonder? According to Tesla EPC, SVC is a bumper cover. So I’d guess these are bumper cameras. There’s a huge blindspot upfront on legacy cars up front (welcome to the legacy camp, Plaid owners!), so front bumper camera and two in the (rear?) bumper corners for cross traffic alerts (esp. with pillar moved forward)?
Green also found a connection for a new GPS module with a triband antenna:
The hacker noted about the new GPS unit:
The unit itself is big and unmarked, so who makes it is unknown, I would not be surprised if it’s somewhat custom Tesla thing. They carry a bootloader for it in firmware.
Finally, Green also found evidence of Tesla’s integrating a radar back into its sensor suite:
Musk told Electrek in June of last year after Tesla stopped using its radar:
The probability of safety will be higher with pure vision than vision+radar, not lower. Vision has become so good that radar actually reduces signal/noise.
However, the CEO also added that Tesla might still use radar if it had a “very high-resolution radar”:
A very high resolution radar would be better than pure vision, but such a radar does not exist. I mean vision with high res radar would be better than pure vision.
We saw some indications of Tesla working on that. We previously reported on Tesla looking to add a new “4D” imaging radar with twice the range of its previous radar.
That high-resolution radar was codenamed “phoenix,” so it might be the very radar that makes it to the new hardware suite.
It’s not clear when Tesla plans to make the new HW4 official, but the timing of the March 1 Investor Day makes it a likely contender for an official announcement.
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Stellantis is recalling over 375,000 Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrids, telling owners to avoid charging and park away from any buildings due to a potential fire risk.
Stellantis recalls Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee PHEVs
After an internal investigation found 19 reports of fires, Stellantis said it was recalling about 320,065 Jeep plug-in hybrid SUVs in the US.
The recall affects certain model-year 2020-2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe and 2022-2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe models.
Stellantis is recalling another 20,753 Jeep PHEVs in Canada, 2,653 in Mexico, and 32,238 in markets outside of North America.
Until the remedy is available, the company is urging owners to refrain from charging and to park away from buildings or other vehicles. The risk of a fire is less when the battery is drained, the company said.
The batteries were produced by Samsung SDI, the same defect that led to the recall of 154,000 Jeep plug-in hybrids in 2024. Vehicles included in that recall will still need the new remedy.
According to Stellantis, nine of the reported fires were from Jeep Wranglers and Grand Cherokees included in the 2024 recall.
Stellantis said a remedy “is imminent,” and affected drivers will be notified when they can schedule a service appointment.
Until then, owners can call customer care at 1-800-853-1403 with questions or concerns. You can also visit recalls.mopar.com for more information.
The recall comes after Stellantis issued one for nearly 25,000 Jeep Wrangler PHEVs less than two weeks ago due to a software glitch that left drivers stranded with bricked vehicles. Some had to be towed to dealers.
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Zero Motorcycles, long known for its powerful electric motorcycles, is diving deeper into the world of urban mobility with the launch of the all-new LS1 electric scooter. Unveiled today at EICMA 2025 in Milan, the LS1 is designed to expand Zero’s reach beyond motorcycles and into the increasingly important city commuter segment.
The LS1 marks a key milestone in Zero’s “All-Access” initiative, aimed at making electric two-wheelers available to a broader range of riders. Compact, lightweight, and built for life in dense city environments, the LS1 brings Zero’s signature electric performance into a much more approachable and user-friendly package.
Powered by a mid-mounted motor and fueled by two swappable floorboard-mounted batteries, the LS1 offers up to 115 km (71 miles) of range in standard configuration. Riders looking to go further can add an optional third battery, stored under the seat, to extend range to 170 km (106 miles).
With a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), ABS, traction control, and a low seat height, the LS1 seems to offer the kind of versatility and rider confidence needed for navigating tight European streets.
For charging, the removable batteries can be topped up indoors using the included 800W charger (0–95% in 4.5 hours or 20–80% in 3 hours), or more quickly with an optional 1,500W fast charger that cuts those times nearly in half. That ease of off-board charging, combined with under-seat storage big enough for a helmet or groceries, seeks to make the LS1 a practical daily driver for urban riders and apartment dwellers.
Built as part of Zero’s expanding partnership with Zongshen, which also saw Zero roll out two trail-oriented e-motos, the LS1 seems to offer a nice balance between Zero’s design and more affordable Chinese production. And with a projected price of roughly €5,200 depending on the country/market, it seems reasonably priced to sell.
“The LS1 is designed for the people we see every day in cities like Paris, Milan, or Barcelona,” said Zero CEO Pierre-Martin Bos. “It’s simple, stylish, and makes electric riding accessible to a whole new group of riders.”
Bos recently replaced Sam Paschal as Zero’s new CEO, part of significant shifts lately at Zero that saw the company move its base of operations out of the US and reduce its workforce. A representative of Zero at the EICMA booth also explained that Zero’s former CTO Abe Askenazi is also no longer with the company.
Electrek’s Take
This is an interesting move by Zero, and probably a smart one. Flagship electric motorcycles may feature impressive performance, but they aren’t bringing in big profits right now. Smaller, modest e-motos that fit into more lifestyles are where the volume is at right now.
The LS1 brings the brand’s premium engineering and EV know-how to a format that more riders actually want, and can use every day. It’s lightweight, nimble, and doesn’t try to be a motorcycle in disguise. For city riders who’ve wanted a legit, high-quality electric scooter from a trusted brand, this could be an answer.
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After teasing another new vehicle, Toyota said “a major unveiling” is set for next week. Is this Toyota’s electric truck?
What new vehicle is Toyota teasing now?
After stealing the spotlight at the Japan Mobility Show last week with the Corolla Concept, Land Cruiser FJ, and ultra-luxe Century brand, Toyota is at it again.
Toyota is teasing another new vehicle ahead of what it’s calling a “major unveiling” set for next week. “Get ready to embark on a new journey together,” the company said.
The image appears to be of the new Hilux, Toyota’s compact midsize Hilux pickup truck. The Hilux is the best-selling pickup outside of North America, going head-to-head with the Ford Ranger and other smaller trucks. It’s even Toyota’s most popular vehicle in some markets across Southeast Asia and Africa.
Currently in its eighth generation, Toyota’s pickup is due for an overhaul. Toyota teased the new vehicle, revealing slim LED headlights and a rugged front-end design.
A video from Toyota Thailand offers a better look at the pickup from the back and side. The rear features redesigned taillights similar to those on the front end. You can also see it’s a four-door pickup, or Double Cab.
Toyota said the major unveiling is set for November 10. We have yet to learn the prices or any powertrain specs (or even officially what vehicle it is), but it could arrive with a battery-electric (BEV) powertrain.
According to Drive, Toyota’s plans to release an electric Hilux pickup leaked during the Tokyo Motor Show. A slide shown to Malaysian media was leaked on Instagram, revealing two pickups, one clearly marked as a BEV. The other vehicles included the new bZ4X, Land Cruiser FJ, and Yaris Ativ.
The leaked image comes after Toyota Thailand president Noriaki Kamashita told reporters during last year’s Bangkok International Motor Show that the Hilux EV would launch by the end of 2025.
Although an electric variant is a possibility, the Hilux is expected to continue to be offered with its current mild-hybrid 2.8-liter turbo diesel engine.
We will learn more next week. Check back on November 10 for the full details.
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