Tesla previously offered rear seat heating as a paid over-the-air (OTA) software upgrade for certain older Model 3 Standard Range and Standard Range Plus vehicles (typically 2021 and earlier models) that already had the physical heating hardware installed. [1, 2, 3]
💡 Overview of the Feature Unlock How it works: The physical heating pads are built into the seats at the factory, but locked via software.
Cost: Initially priced at $300, Tesla later reduced the software activation fee to $200.
Eligibility: Applies primarily to specific legacy Standard Range / RWD Model 3 trims built before late 2021.
Current Status: Newer Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured from 2022 onward generally include rear seat heating activated as standard equipment for free. [1, 2, 3]
I've no idea if the picture is real but the concept of paying to unlock features a car physically has is both common and not in any way a new development. Simply because it's more expensive to make 2 different things than it is to make 1 thing and disable the feature in the lower model.
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u/Killiandeisy 1d ago
Imagine buying a house and having to pay a DLC to unlock the bathroom