Tesla drops radar systems from US-built Model 3 and Model Y, some autonomous features disabled

The so-called Autopilot system will now operate entirely via cameras in the US; but the future of radar in Australian-delivered cars is not yet known.

Tesla will ditch radar technology in its US-built Model 3 sedans and Model Y SUVs, the electric vehicle manufacturer has confirmed.

"When radar and vision disagree, which one do you believe? Vision has much more precision, so better to double down on vision than do sensor fusion,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet earlier this year.

Drive understands that radar systems have now been completely phased out in US-built cars, and Autopilot features will now operate solely via an integrated camera system known as Tesla Vision.

An official statement from Tesla said: "For a short period during this transition, cars with Tesla Vision may be delivered with some features temporarily limited or inactive."

According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), cars built built by the company on or after April 27 2021 cannot be advertised as having "forward collision warning, lane departure warning, crash imminent braking and dynamic brake support" functionality.

It's unclear if Australian-delivered Model 3 vehicles – which are built in China, as the Model Y is not yet on sale Down Under – are ultimately destined for the same fate. This story will be updated when more information becomes available.

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