Update 2026.38 Adds Grok Files to Intel Model 3 and Model Y

Update 2026.38 Adds Grok Files to Intel Model 3 and Model Y

Owners of older Intel-powered Teslas have been excluded from Grok since its launch, but that may be changing. A Model 3 owner with root access enabled Grok on the car’s Intel Atom infotainment computer by switching a feature flag, and also turned on Tesla’s full-screen parked vehicle visualization.

The video, originally from @angellvroo and shared on X by @Luckeronisekcz, shows both features running smoothly on the older hardware with what the latter called “surprisingly solid framerates.”

Update 2026.38 Quietly Added Grok

The owner did not need to install Grok from scratch. Tesla builds separate software packages per vehicle type, and until recently, Intel Model 3 and Model Y builds lacked the source code for Grok integration. That changed with software update 2026.38, which began rolling out in late September, allowing the owner to simply flip a feature flag to enable it.

Tesla hacker @greentheonly confirmed the change, noting that “the Intel Model 3 did get them added in 2026.38 so enabling it looks feasible indeed.” However, Model S and Model X vehicles with the same Intel hardware still do not include the necessary Grok support files.

What Intel Owners Are Missing

Grok debuted in Tesla vehicles in the U.S. last year as a conversational chatbot, but it has been limited to newer cars with AMD Ryzen infotainment computers. Since launch, Tesla has added navigation commands, control of vehicle functions like climate and general settings, and location-based reminders, and has expanded Grok to most markets worldwide. More features are planned, including FSD commands and text messaging support.

Full-screen parked visualizations are also Ryzen-only. They have existed for years and received a quality upgrade with this year’s Spring Update.

Will Tesla Turn It On?

The appearance of Grok files in Intel Model 3 and Model Y builds suggests Tesla may be preparing to bring Grok to some older vehicles, possibly with this year’s Holiday Update. Because Grok runs mostly in the cloud, the Intel chip may be sufficient.

That is not guaranteed, however. Assets for full-screen park visualizations have been present on Intel vehicles for some time, yet Tesla has not enabled them. When asked whether Grok would come to Intel cars, @greentheonly said “I don’t really know,” adding that this could mark the start of extended compatibility testing, similar to the parked visualizations.

For now, Grok on an Intel Tesla requires root access, and even then it will not work on a Model S or Model X. Attention will be on December’s Holiday Update to see whether Tesla enables it.