First Look at Tesla's New Model 3/Y Entry Animations [VIDEO]

Tesla’s latest software update introduces dynamic entry animations that appear on the cabin display whenever you open the door, giving the Model 3 and Model Y a more premium wake-up sequence.

The animations are part of the Summer 2026 feature drop and began reaching customer vehicles over the weekend as software update 2026.26. Other highlights in this release include a redesigned Caraoke app with live scoring and new Grok vehicle commands to place calls, play music, adjust climate, and change other vehicle settings.

Matching Ambient Lights and Performance Modes

The updated entry sequences are available on 2024+ Model 3 vehicles and the redesigned (Juniper refresh) Model Y. They echo the startup animations previously seen on Launch Series variants and on the now-discontinued Model S and Model X.

When you enter, the central touchscreen wakes and shows the TESLA wordmark, which glows in a dynamic color that automatically matches your selected interior ambient lighting theme. See a demo from X user @PatchesHQ.

As the vehicle wakes up, the color begins on the display and then flows into the ambient light strip along the dashboard and throughout the cabin. The rear passenger screen plays a matching color animation at the same time.

Performance trims add a more dramatic effect: opening the door on a Performance model triggers a full Ludicrous speed warp-effect across the display, blasting star lines before the main vehicle visualization screen loads.

You can disable the new entry animations by navigating to Settings > Display on the vehicle touchscreen and toggling Welcome Animation under Appearance. Older Model 3 (pre-2024) and Model Y (pre-Juniper refresh) vehicles are not receiving new entry animations for now.

Bringing Premium Touches to Mass Market Vehicles

These visuals were once limited to higher-end models such as the Model S, Model X, and Launch Series versions, but they’re now available on all new Teslas. Integrating the effect with the ambient lighting strips ties the experience together and makes getting into the car feel more personalized.