In the United States of America, the Tesla Model 3 underwent some noticeable changes, with the carmaker stripping away some features that were once considered standard. Among the surprising changes is the removal of power-adjustable side mirrors in favor of a manual setup.
The update to Tesla’s online configurator shows that the base Model 3, now referred to as the “Standard” trim, will come with side mirrors that require manual adjustment. This move stands out in today’s market, where even budget-friendly vehicles typically offer at least power adjustment for exterior mirrors. While Tesla has been known to simplify its model lineups over the years, this particular omission signals an even more aggressive approach to cost reduction.
The Standard trim also sheds a number of interior and convenience features. Gone are the rear touchscreen, ambient cabin lighting, ventilated front seats, leather trim, and heated rear seats. It also loses the power-adjustable steering column, the Tesla Autosteer feature, and even the AM/FM radio. The result is a significantly more basic, stripped-down version of the Model 3. But why?
The most obvious answer is the brand’s aim to lower the vehicle’s price point. In the US, the Standard variant is priced at $38,630, equivalent to approximately P2.2 million in today’s exchange rate. This makes it around $5,500 or roughly P315,000 pesos cheaper than the Premium trim. However, the lower price comes with some trade-offs. The battery’s usable capacity is reduced to 69.5 kWh, resulting in a driving range of approximately 512 km, compared to the Premium variant’s 584 km range. The charging speed is limited to 225 kW, while the 0-60 mph sprint time slows to 5.8 seconds.
The Model Y also gets a “cheaper” standard trim, which loses the power-folding function on the side mirrors. It’s quite bizarre to think that at a starting price of $41,630 or roughly P2.4 million in Philippine money, this minor omission to the Model Y, a nameplate above the Model 3 in the lineup, is a bit of a short change.
Tesla has yet to issue an official statement on whether the manual mirror function is permanent or temporary, though it’s known for quietly rolling out product updates without formal announcements. Buyers will have to wait and see if this specification holds.
For Filipino buyers, the updated US specs and pricing strategy paint an interesting picture of what it might offer locally in the future. Currently, the local-spec Tesla Model 3’s base variant is priced at P2.1 million. If Tesla updates the local-spec Model 3 to align with its US version, the price could go lower. And, with the help of the EVIDA law incentives, as well as the 0% tariff on US-made (or US-branded) products directive, which is expected to take effect soon, even average hard-earning middle-class Filipino families may have more opportunities to experience Tesla, but at the expense of some creature comforts standard in many more affordable cars today.
