A Tesla Model 3 with manufacturers plate has been spotted with a unique setup. The electric sedan had no side mirrors, several of the existing cameras removed, and new cameras put in new positions, leading to speculation about its purpose.
The Model 3 was spotted this week by X user @MrSaltyP in Palo Alto, California, home to Tesla’s new global engineering headquarters, and formerly home to the company’s official headquarters.
As can be seen in the photos below, the new Model 3 had the side mirrors and the b-pillar (between the front and rear windows) cameras removed. Additionally, the side repeater camera had been removed, and it appears as though a new camera was put in its place in a different orientation.
While the rear camera was still in place, a new rear camera had also been added in a higher position on the trunk lid.
But perhaps most interesting of all was a new camera that had been placed inside the rear passenger window, seemingly replacing the now-removed b-pillar camera, although the camera appears to be pointing in more of a forward direction.
Tesla is of course no stranger to testing out out in the wild, but this is the first time we have seen something so radically different from any of its existing vehicles. This led to speculation that this could be the camera placement for the upcoming Robotaxi.
Elon Musk said the company will unveil its Robotaxi design on August 8, 2024, and based on some early sketches seen in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, the locations of those cameras do appear to be close to where the potential locations on the vehicle, which Musk dubbed as the ‘Cybercab’ during the company’s recent earnings call.
What do you think Tesla is testing with this new camera setup? Let us know in the comments below.
This is VERY interesting.
— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) May 15, 2024
A refresh Model 3 was spotted without any side mirrors, and testing all new camera locations. (Rear window, trunk, side repeaters)
The car was seen in Palo Alto.
What do we think?
Thanks for the pics! @MrSaltyP pic.twitter.com/fOC838T3qn
