Spy Shots Reveal Tesla Model 3 Refresh With Chrome Delete and New Cabin

Tesla’s habit of slipping updates into production without a formal announcement was on full display this week, as a transport truck loaded with updated Model 3 sedans was spotted on a public road near the Fremont factory. A Tesla owner who happened to be driving the same model blended into traffic and followed the carrier, capturing the first clear images of the revised car.

The most noticeable change is the switch from chrome exterior trim to a blacked-out finish, a look that brings the Model 3 visually closer to its Model Y sibling. Inside, the glossy black center console that drew complaints from reviewers for collecting fingerprints gives way to a matte surface, accented with white contrast stitching on the vegan leather. A second photo shared shortly afterward offered a clearer look at the redesigned console layout.

Because Tesla does not tie its changes to traditional model years, these cars carry 2021 designations even though the updates arrive whenever they are ready. Deliveries of the refreshed sedan are expected to begin within a couple of weeks, likely without an official press release from the company.

For shoppers, the practical effect is a car that is harder to distinguish from the Model Y at a glance, and an interior that answers some of the most common criticisms of the outgoing version.