Key Takeaways
1. The new Tesla Model Y Juniper refresh will feature matrix headlights with adaptive high beams that adjust to prevent dazzling other drivers.
2. Adaptive headlights for the Model Y in the US are expected to be activated within a couple of months, with a software update for existing models and included in the 2026 refresh.
3. There is uncertainty about whether the adaptive high beam feature will be available at the Model Y’s launch in March.
4. The adaptive headlights will automatically adjust the beam for better visibility, dimming specific pixels when other vehicles are nearby.
5. Tesla has faced regulatory challenges in the US, but it is anticipated that the adaptive high beams will be activated soon.
The new Tesla Model Y Juniper refresh is set to feature matrix headlights and will include adaptive high beams that automatically turn off certain pixel patterns to prevent dazzling other drivers.
Adaptive High Beams Coming Soon
European versions of Teslas, like the Model 3 Highland refresh, have had the adaptive high beams for some time now. However, the US regulations are lagging a bit behind.
Lars Moravy, Tesla’s chief engineer, mentioned that the adaptive headlights feature for the Model Y in the US will be activated “in a couple of months.” Existing Model Y vehicles with matrix headlights will receive this update through software, while the 2026 Model Y Juniper refresh will come equipped with the adaptive headlights software right from the start.
Release Date Uncertainty
It’s still unclear whether the new Model Y facelift will have the adaptive high beam feature available when it launches in March, or if the “couple of months” refers to this model as well. The headlights on this new model are positioned a few inches lower than the previous Model Y and do not integrate into the front light bar.
Initially, the update for Tesla’s adaptive headlights in the US will enable automatic high beam switching when passing another vehicle, according to Lars Moravy. The pixel pattern will then adjust to provide an optimal balance between visibility and consideration for other drivers.
Improving Driving Experience
“When Adaptive Headlights is enabled,” Tesla states, “the beam of the headlights adjusts automatically to improve your driving view.” This includes dimming specific pixels of the high beams when other traffic is nearby, automatically switching from low to high beams on the highway, and adjusting the beams around corners.
Tesla has been discussing the introduction of adaptive high beams in the US for quite some time, and 2025 might finally see the actual launch of this sought-after feature.
The delay is due to the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 being stricter than the vehicle headlight regulations in Europe. The rules require that “the adaptive driving beams must be designed to conform to the photometry requirements of Table XXI when tested according to S14.9.3.12,” among other complex stipulations.
Navigating Regulations
Navigating these regulatory challenges is no small feat, but Tesla appears to have successfully maneuvered through the bureaucratic hurdles in the US and is expected to activate the Model Y’s adaptive high beams soon.
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