Tesla Shows Off Adaptive Headlights: Does Your Car Have Them?

Tesla has shared a new adaptive headlights demo, drawing attention to a nighttime-driving feature that can keep more of the road illuminated without blasting other drivers with the full high beam. But whether your Tesla supports it depends on more than the badge on the trunk.

Matrix headlights can dim individual LED pixels around other road users while leaving the rest of the beam bright. That is different from ordinary Auto High Beam, which switches between high and low beams.

Tesla brought adaptive high beams to compatible cars in the U.S. and Canada through its 2025.14 Spring Update. European owners received the feature earlier, with wider support arriving in 2024.8. Having the hardware and having the software enabled in your region are separate requirements.

Which Teslas have adaptive headlights?

• Model 3: Supported on suitably equipped refreshed and older cars. Matrix hardware was already appearing on newer Model 3s in 2021, so it is not exclusive to the Highland redesign. Older cars with conventional headlights do not gain pixel-level dimming from software alone.
• Model Y: Compatible examples include both the original and redesigned versions. Some early Performance cars had matrix headlights, while other configurations varied. Tesla still documents Model Ys with only Auto High Beam, so a newer model year is not a guarantee.
• Model S: Newer cars with the required matrix headlights qualify. Tesla documents a global headlamp refresh in 2022; do not assume every car from the 2021 interior refresh has the necessary lights.
• Model X: Newer matrix-equipped vehicles support the feature. The refreshed interior alone does not establish eligibility.
• Cybertruck: Its current lighting manual describes Auto High Beam, rather than the individual-pixel adaptive system, so it should not be included on the confirmed compatibility list.

The quickest check is Controls > Lights > Adaptive Headlights. Tesla’s current Model Y manual explicitly distinguishes that toggle from Auto High Beam. Availability can vary with market, configuration, purchased options and software version.

Tesla also warns that adaptive headlights remain a convenience feature: drivers must ensure their lights suit the conditions. You can watch the company’s latest demo below.

Does your Tesla have adaptive headlights, and have they made a noticeable difference on night drives?