The Tesla Model 3 and Y in Shanghai have received V2L. The Model 3’s screen has been upgraded to 16 inches.
Tesla will begin delivering upgraded Model 3 and Y vehicles produced at the Shanghai Gigafactory starting from the fourth quarter of 2026. The 2027 model year vehicles will come equipped with V2L, while the Model 3 will also feature a larger screen, a black ceiling panel, and a new Zen Gray finish.
The updates will apply to cars destined for countries such as China, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. Tesla is not waiting for a traditional facelift to introduce these changes. It introduces new components into production after using up inventory of older parts.
V2L turns Tesla into a mobile power station
The biggest innovation is Vehicle-to-Load, which allows devices to be powered by the vehicle’s traction battery. By connecting a Tesla Outlet Adapter to the charging port, the car can supply power to heaters, camp stoves, power tools, or basic household devices during grid outages.
The feature cannot be added to cars that have already been produced. V2L requires two-way power electronics in the onboard charging system, so a software update alone is not sufficient.
Tesla started with the Cybertruck. Then V2L appeared in the six-seater Model Y L, which debuted in China in the summer of 2025, and later made its way to the Model Y Performance and Model Y Premium. Everything indicates that all versions of the Model 3 and Y from Shanghai will receive this feature, but the list of potential exceptions will only become clear after deliveries begin.
Model 3 gets elements already seen in the Model Y
In the Model 3, the light gray ceiling trim will be replaced by black, available in all trims. The Model Y has gradually adopted it since early 2026. The previous Black and White interior option is also being removed from the lineup, replaced by the softer Zen Gray. In the Model 3, it will be offered in Premium versions, namely Long Range and Performance.
Zen Gray debuted a year earlier in the Model Y L, and in spring 2026 it appeared in standard Model Y vehicles from Shanghai. The original source indicates that Tesla may eventually phase out the very light interior color in other markets as well, but the company has not provided a global timeline.
The central screen in the Model 3 is increasing from 15.4 inches to 16 inches. More significant than the additional 0.6 inches is the jump in resolution from 1920 x 1200 to 2560 x 1440 pixels.
Specification
Old screen
New screen
Aspect ratio
16:10
16:9
Width
13.06 inches
13.95 inches
Height
8.16 inches
7.84 inches
Area
106.59 square inches
109.39 square inches
The new panel is therefore wider but slightly shorter. It should display sharper maps and clearer text, although the area has only increased by about 2.6 percent. The Model Y has used this type of screen since early 2026.
The package of changes also includes 19-inch Nova wheels in a darker gray finish for the Model 3 Premium. Meanwhile, in Australia and New Zealand, the base rear-wheel-drive Model 3 with a single engine was introduced.
It is not yet known when these features will arrive in vehicles produced in Fremont, Texas, and Berlin. Shanghai often precedes Tesla’s other factories, but the timeline for European rollout remains speculative for now.
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