New Tesla Model Y with HW4 already shipping as it beats Toyota Corolla for most popular vehicle title

After the Model S and Model X, Tesla is now shipping its Model Y bestseller with the new Hardware 4.0 autonomous driving kit without ever announcing the upgrade. It seems that just the first HW4 Model Y batch is out, as on the delivery lot where the spy shots were taken there was a mix of black and red Model Y with Hardware 4.0 cameras, and white or gray models still with the older HW3 kits.

Tesla has a habit of placing new components in its cars as soon as their development is ready instead of doing formal unveiling of the upgrades. While this is good for prospective owners, those who just had a Model Y delivered still with HW3 could be pretty miffed about it, and perhaps that's why Tesla is trying not to make a big fuss about the HW4 equipment.

Unfortunately, the Hardware 4.0 kit can't be retrofitted to older Model Y units as it has a brand new computer with a different motherboard shaping, as well as more high-resolution cameras and sensors. Tesla's HW4 in new vehicle batches opens some new avenues for improved FSD situational awareness and reaction times. The Samsung cameras are more and of much higher resolution, for starters. They were found to bring a drastically increased field of view on the side of the vehicle, potentially helping the Model Y equipped with Hardware 4.0 creep up towards unprotected turns much less than cars on the current kit.

Still, all Model Y owners would be delighted to hear that their choice of transportation is now the bestselling vehicle globally, beating Toyota Corolla for the title of world's most popular car. According to Jato Dynamics' storied analyst Felipe Munoz, Toyota sold 256,400 Corollas in Q1, while Tesla moved 267,200 units, making the Model Y the first EV to head the globe's most popular car ranking.

Last year, Elon Musk predicted that the Model Y was on pace to dethrone Toyota for the title of the world's bestselling vehicle and that claim has now proven true, as Mr. Munoz forecasts that it will keep the first place throughout the year.

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