According to new reports from some lucky, recently-turned Model 3 owners, Tesla has started deliveries of the refreshed 2021 Model 3 complete with the newly introduced heated steering-wheel in the US.
When dealing with traditional cars, you typically know what to expect in regards to features, when choosing the model year you would like to purchase. Tesla however, doesn’t follow the “traditional” carmaker’s approach and even claims it doesn’t refresh or redesign its vehicles. Instead it pushes over-the-air software updates which can sometimes make it hard to know exactly what you’re going to get.
Tesla’s over-the-air software downloads allows all Tesla cars to eventually get the update. A huge advantage over other automakers as Tesla buyers will benefits from said updates throughout the entire life-span of their vehicle. However, the situation gets a little sticky when Tesla makes changes to hardware as reservation-holders may end up with a previous build, while others are lucky enough to get a car with the new hardware. The car can also be delivered with the new hardware, but not the software update to activate it, as we saw with Tesla’s heated seats. When delivered, the cars were equipped with the hardware for seat warming, but didn’t receive the software update to utilize the hardware until later.
Now we are learning from a new report from Teslarati that “some” of the refreshed 2021 Tesla Model 3 cars have the heated steering wheel. The use of the word “some” leads us to believe not all of the refreshed cars are being delivered with the heated steering wheel.
Last October, infamous Tesla hacker ‘green’ suggested that the refreshed Model 3 would in fact come equipped with a heated steering wheel.
More recently, Youtuber and Tesla enthusiast, Bearded Tesla Guy, reported that he received two confirmed reports of U.S. Model Y units that are equipped with a heated steering wheel, which was only previously seen in MIC Model Ys. It seems almost certain that all refreshed 2021 Model 3 units will come with heated steering as it already shares a good number of components with the Model Y.