In another unexplained move, Tesla has seemingly removed the menu option to change the level of regenerative braking in newly built vehicles.
If you’re unfamiliar with regenerative braking, it is a feature unique to electric vehicles (EVs) that slows the car when you take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Tesla provided two options for the comfort feature. Drivers could select either “Low” or “Standard”, with the former setting giving drivers the ability to take advantage of one-pedal driving and almost never have to use the brake pedal.
It appears as though Tesla is no longer giving drivers the option to change the setting, instead defaulting newly built vehicles to the more aggressive “Standard” setting.
According to multiple reports on both Reddit and the TMC forums, the option no longer appears in Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles built since about June 2020.
While it might not appear like a big issue, it could be for many drivers in Canada and other areas with cold weather climates. When driving in snowy or icey conditions, having your regen braking set to standard can be too strong and can cause the car to easily slip when coming to a stop.
In our winter driving tips, we recommend setting up a winter driver profile, which includes changing the setting to the lowest setting.
Tesla has in the past not included certain features in newly built cars. When the Model Y was first released in March, the option to split the HVAC into dual climate zones for the driver and passenger was absent, but later added in a software update.
It could be that Tesla will bring the option back with a future software update. However, since Model Y’s built prior to June 2020 have the regen braking option, it doesn’t appear as though that will be the case here.
Update: According to information sent to us by a Drive Tesla reader, the option also disappeared on made-in-China Model 3’s last month. When a Tesla China sales advisor was asked about the change, they said it is now standard to improve the driving experience and maximize efficiency.
Let us know in the comments below if your recently built Model 3 is also missing the feature.
