Post-6/2020 Model 3 USB ports

[rogerbohl]

A friend bought a new Model 3, on 12/30/2020, and I'm puzzled as to where the USB ports are located. The Dashcam icon shows a red dot, but we have not, ourselves, put in a datastick. An aftermarket firm's photos seems to show 2 USB-A sockets and a 12V receptacle, for cars built after June, 2020, but we don't see them on my friend's car. (We did find 2 USB-C ports inside the middle of the console, on the rear wall of the console.)

On my, older 3, the ports are under a lid, but the corresponding area on my friend's car seems inaccessible. Any clues?

Roger Bohl

 

[jjrandorin]

There is a USB port in the glove compartment, and 2 more under the wireless charger thing. I believe they are on a different wall in that compartment but they are there.

See this thread:

Which USB port on the 2021 is Data?

 

[rogerbohl]

Mystery solved. Yes, there is now, at least on some "3's," a built-in data-stick.

There are 2 USB-C ports inside the foward console, and 2 USB-A(?) ports (perhaps power-only) behind the console, for rear seat passengers.

From: Tesla starts delivering cars with TeslaCam/Sentry Mode storage device - Electrek

"Tesla is apparently starting to deliver cars with its own TeslaCam/Sentry Mode storage device." [See last line]

"Sentry Mode is Tesla’s integrated surveillance system inside its vehicles using the Autopilot cameras around the car to record potential vandalism or other incidents.

Tesla owners have to plug a storage device in one of the USB ports in the center console, and footage recorded by Sentry Mode and TeslaCam, the automaker’s dashcam feature, will be stored on it.


The feature was first launched after thieves, especially in the Bay Area, started targeting Tesla vehicles — resulting in a stream of cars left with broken windows and valuables missing.


It helped police catch thieves, but some were concerned about thieves catching up to the system and stealing the storage device with the footage of the break-in.


We previously reported on how Tesla changed its design with the Model 3 refresh — adding a USB port inside the glovebox and allowing owners to lock a storage device inside it.


Now we learn that Tesla is even providing its own storage device, according to a closer look at the Model 3 refresh by a Chinese YouTube channel."