Ever envious of Tesla’s slick new cars with their fancy Matrix LED headlights? Well, if you drive an older model that happens to have the right hardware onboard, you might just get a slice of that high-tech illumination pie after all.
According to Tesla’s ever-candid president for vehicle software, Lars Moravy (you know, that Lars), the latest 2024.8 software update is bringing Matrix LED functionality to qualifying Model 3, Model Y, Model S, and Model X vehicles in Europe that were built in 2021 or later.
For the uninitiated, Matrix LEDs are the next level of automotive lighting, using an array of individual LED bulbs that can selectively deactivate to create shadows around other cars and pedestrians. It’s like your high beams, but without blinding everyone in the process. Nifty!
While Tesla’s newer cars ship with Matrix LED headlights already enabled, plenty of vehicles from the 2021 model year and beyond were outfitted with the requisite hardware. Until now, though, that hardware has been dormant—a victim of outdated software and regulatory hurdles.
But no more, at least for Tesla’s European customers. As Moravy suggests, it was a “great work by the teams” to finally secure approval and get the Matrix LED goods rolling out over-the-air.
If you’re lucky enough to have a compatible older Tesla sitting in your driveway, keep an eye out for the 2024.8 update. Your high-beams are about to enter the 21st century in style. As for when North American and other regions can expect the same Matrix LED treatment, Lars is keeping that one close to the vest for now.