March 1, 2026
By Nehal Malik
Tesla’s limited-time offer on its most affordable pickup has officially come to an end. After less than 10 days on the market at its introductory price, Tesla has raised the cost of the Cybertruck Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive (AWD) from $59,990 to $69,990.
The change was spotted on Tesla’s online configurator, confirming what CEO Elon Musk had previously teased — that the sub-$60k launch price was a temporary incentive. While the new $69,990 sticker price exactly matches that of the short-lived Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) Cybertruck launched and discontinued last year, this Dual Motor version remains a significantly more capable machine for the money.
The “Ultimate Contractor” Pickup
Even with the $10,000 price hike, this AWD trim is a massive upgrade over the poorly received RWD model it replaced. By focusing on utility over luxury, Tesla created a vehicle that is tough as nails and actually ready for a job site. It maintains the powertrain specs that matter, utilizing the same mechanical front and rear locking differentials found in the $79,990 Premium AWD trim.
Owners still get a brisk 4.1-second 0–60 mph time and an EPA-estimated 325 miles of range. The core utility features remain intact, including the powered tonneau cover, the powered frunk, and the massive 6’ x 4’ composite bed. Most importantly, it retains full Powershare capability with 120V and 240V outlets in the bed to run heavy-duty power tools.
To hit a lower price point, Tesla did make some hardware cuts. The expensive adaptive air suspension was replaced by coil springs with adaptive damping, meaning users lose adjustable ride height. Inside, the cabin features an easy-to-clean “tactical grey” textile interior rather than vegan leather. Other missing luxury touches include ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, the 9.4-inch rear entertainment display, and the 15-speaker premium audio system, which has been downgraded to 7 speakers.
Estimated Deliveries Slip Into 2027
The demand for a more affordable Cybertruck appears to have been overwhelming. When the $59,990 price was first introduced, estimated delivery dates were sitting in May–June 2026. However, the configurator now shows that new orders have slipped deep into 2027.
Thousands of buyers likely rushed to place their $250 non-refundable orders last week to lock in the lower price before the February 28 deadline. This massive surge in reservations effectively puts to rest any speculation that Tesla might discontinue the entry-level trim due to a lack of interest.
Future Pricing and Potential RWD Trims
With the base AWD model now starting at $69,990 and the Premium AWD at $79,990, Tesla’s truck lineup is becoming more standardized. However, the move back to $70,000 leaves a gap at the bottom of the market, and one that buyers have already gotten a taste of at that. It is possible that Tesla plans to eventually launch an even cheaper, cut-down RWD variant at the sub-$60k price point once production at Giga Texas fully ramps up and the current backlog is cleared.
Whether you managed to snag the “early bird” special or are just now looking at the $70k entry point, the Dual Motor AWD is the variant reinvigorating Tesla’s Cybertruck order book right now.
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February 28, 2026
By Nehal Malik
Tesla is officially distancing itself from one of its most famous (and controversial) brand names. With the release of software update 2026.2.9 earlier today, the company has begun renaming several core features of its driver-assistance suite.
Update 2026.2.9
FSD Supervised 14.2.2.5
Installed on 0.2% of fleet
Last updated: Mar 1, 12:20 pm UTC
According to the official release notes, the “Autopilot Naming Update” is primarily a text change. Tesla clarified that “This change only updates the name of certain features and text in your vehicle, and does not change the way your features behave”. Specifically, the long-standing “Navigate on Autopilot” feature has been renamed to “Navigate on Autosteer,” and the hardware itself, formerly known as the “FSD Computer,” is now officially called the “AI Computer”.
A History of Regulatory Hot Water
This branding pivot isn’t happening in a vacuum. Tesla has a storied history of clashing with regulators who argue that names like “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” are misleading to consumers. The most recent pressure came from the California DMV, which accused Tesla of false advertising. To avoid a potential 60-day sales ban in its home state, Tesla capitulated by removing Autopilot from new vehicle sales and shifting its marketing toward “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)”.
Tesla is currently suing the California DMV to reverse that false advertising label, but the changes in the car’s software show the company is playing it safe for now. This isn’t just a U.S. issue, either; Tesla faced a similar legal battle in Germany back in 2023, and that’s just one of many examples. Last month, the company even discontinued Autopilot for new orders in the U.S. and Canada altogether, with new cars now shipping only with Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC).
Undocumented FSD Changes
Beyond the name changes, there are a couple changes for FSD users. Most notably, users currently on FSD v14 are now receiving the 2026.2 software branch for the first time.
It appears that FSD v14 is now becoming the “standard” version of the software that everyone receives when they subscribe to the service. This move helps unify the fleet, ensuring that more drivers are on the same version of the neural network as Tesla works toward a version of the software that won’t require driver supervision. The branding shift also follows the retirement of the iconic Autopilot symbol from the UI last fall.
The Path to Autonomy
While the “Autopilot” name is slowly fading away, Tesla’s ultimate goal of an unsupervised system hasn’t changed. By renaming the hardware to the “AI Computer,” the company is emphasizing that the vehicle is essentially a robot on wheels, powered by artificial intelligence rather than a simple set of programmed rules.
As Tesla shifts its focus away from being a car company and toward a future centered on AI and robotics, these “semantic” changes are likely just the beginning of a larger image rebrand.
February 28, 2026
By Nehal Malik
Tesla is finally bringing some of its most anticipated interior upgrades to the Great White North. According to Drive Tesla Canada, the automaker has officially updated its Canadian configurator, confirming that new Model Y orders will now feature a darker headliner and a significantly improved central display.
The update brings Canadian builds in line with recent changes seen in other global markets. Whether these features would make it to Canada had been a major question mark for buyers, especially with new shipments arriving from Gigafactory Berlin to help skirt heavy tariffs on Chinese and U.S. imports.
Luxury Interior Upgrades
Tesla first introduced these specific Model Y upgrades in China last month as an effort to unify the interior experience across the entire fleet. By trickling these features down to cheaper variants, Tesla effectively reinforces a premium feel regardless of which trim you pick.
The most noticeable visual change is the replacement of the old light grey headliner with a black Alcantara-style fabric. For years, owners cited the grey fabric as a feature that made the cabin feel less premium. While the new Model Y Standard — Tesla’s cheapest Model Y to date — continues to list the grey headliner for now, the black finish is now standard on Premium and Performance trims in Canada.
The center display is also getting a massive boost. All Canadian Model Y trims, including the entry-level Standard variant, now come with a larger 16-inch QHD display, replacing the previous 15.4-inch unit. While an extra 0.6 inches sounds minor, the upgrade adds 3 square inches of screen real estate and also features thinner bezels, higher contrast, and a much higher resolution of 2560×1440. This hardware shift isn’t just for the Model Y, either; recently discovered references in Tesla’s website code suggest these same upgrades are headed to the 2026 Model 3 lineup soon.
What This Means for New Orders
If you place an order today, Tesla’s configurator confirms you can expect these updated interior features. However, there is a catch for those with pending deliveries. Early batches of Model Y vehicles exported to Canada from Giga Berlin may not include the new screen or headliner because they were built before the production changeover.
This news follows another consumer-friendly move where Tesla recently enabled lease buyouts for all models in Canada, giving drivers more flexibility at the end of their terms.
A More Refined Future
Tesla’s relentless focus on supply chain efficiency means that once a newer part becomes the standard in one factory, it eventually rolls out everywhere to maximize volume pricing. With Giga Berlin now pumping out these updated interiors for the Canadian market, the Model Y feels more modern than ever.
As Tesla continues to blur the lines between its “economy” and “premium” tiers, the Model Y remains the benchmark for what a modern electric SUV should look and feel like.
