What does a Tesla do when changing countries?

[LN1_Casey]

What happens when a US spec Tesla goes overseas? Does the AI understand it's in a new country? Does it switch to KM vs miles? Change languages? Does it understand the different street markings? Is there adapters you could purchase to go from one country's variance to anothers?

Background: I have not yet purchased a Tesla, but I am currently saving the funds to do so, and will within the next 2 years. I am in the military, and I have a preference of getting stationed overseas. I am authorized to, and very much intend to, ship my vehicle with me as I move about, so this is not a question about shipping, and I accept that any warrenty would likely void itself while doing so.

 

[f205v]

Some settings are user selectable, like: Miles Vs Km, language, etc. (much similar to tablet).
But something is not changeble: charging port is different in US Vs Europe. Also SIM card is not compatible (but Tesla may be willing to swap it for an European one if you provide it yourself and pay for the usage).
Maps should not be a problem, as they are downloaded based on the car location.
Also, there are different standards in regard to turn lights, side mirrors, etc from USA to EU, and this should also be checked with local authorities if they require to be substituted with EU approved parts or if the car needs to be re-registered due to the different specs.

I'm not a specialist in the matter, but this are just the first things that come to mind.

 

[dark cloud]

I know when I take mine to the US the car reads the speed limit signs and converts it into km, which is pretty cool.
So crossing the border in Washington I drive by the first sign that says 40 and my car displays 64 as the speed limit.

 

[A-Wimoweh]

the car reads the speed limit signs

I don't think the car actually reads the numbers on the sign. Its just part of the map data.

 

[_knag]

What happens when a US spec Tesla goes overseas? Does the AI understand it's in a new country? Does it switch to KM vs miles? Change languages? Does it understand the different street markings? Is there adapters you could purchase to go from one country's variance to anothers?

Background: I have not yet purchased a Tesla, but I am currently saving the funds to do so, and will within the next 2 years. I am in the military, and I have a preference of getting stationed overseas. I am authorized to, and very much intend to, ship my vehicle with me as I move about, so this is not a question about shipping, and I accept that any warranty would likely void itself while doing so.

I am a civilian with DoD and is waiting for my repatriation of two years to get back to Korea. When I bought the car, I made this known to my Owner Advisor and he claimed he talked to Fremont that if I do ship my car that the 8 year battery warranty will be void, but I can keep the 4 year bumper to bumper, and supercharging, LTE, and Nav won't work. That was pretty acceptable to me so I bought the car. One week after my car was delivered, I went to Seoul for vacation and stopped by the Tesla shop in Gangnam. There they called Fremont and said that none of the warranties would work, but if I do need to pay out of pocket for the battery, it will be really cheap. I think they quoted under $2,000. Not sure I believe that lol. They also said that they can install a Korean sim so that the LTE and Nav work. Lastly, they said that the Korean superchargers are changing to match the US ones and it would work. In the Asia subforum looks like someone brought their Model 3 as a AF dependent and supercharging works so that statement was correct. I tried replying to her post to follow up, but I haven't heard back yet. The other things like KM vs miles can be changed by the driver in the system. Off post housing in Korea does have both US and Korean plugs most of the time to allow the use of US appliances bought on post. Not sure if other locations do the same. I would assume that you would have to buy a new adapter end for the trickle charger if they don't have both?

 

[murphyS90D]

I don't think the car actually reads the numbers on the sign. Its just part of the map data.

AP1 cars do read the speed limit signs. Sometimes they get it wrong because of vandalism of the signs. Example: 35 mph read as 85 mph.

 

[LN1_Casey]

I am a civilian with DoD and is waiting for my repatriation of two years to get back to Korea. When I bought the car, I made this known to my Owner Advisor and he claimed he talked to Fremont that if I do ship my car that the 8 year battery warranty will be void, but I can keep the 4 year bumper to bumper, and supercharging, LTE, and Nav won't work. That was pretty acceptable to me so I bought the car. One week after my car was delivered, I went to Seoul for vacation and stopped by the Tesla shop in Gangnam. There they called Fremont and said that none of the warranties would work, but if I do need to pay out of pocket for the battery, it will be really cheap. I think they quoted under $2,000. Not sure I believe that lol. They also said that they can install a Korean sim so that the LTE and Nav work. Lastly, they said that the Korean superchargers are changing to match the US ones and it would work. In the Asia subforum looks like someone brought their Model 3 as a AF dependent and supercharging works so that statement was correct. I tried replying to her post to follow up, but I haven't heard back yet. The other things like KM vs miles can be changed by the driver in the system. Off post housing in Korea does have both US and Korean plugs most of the time to allow the use of US appliances bought on post. Not sure if other locations do the same. I would assume that you would have to buy a new adapter end for the trickle charger if they don't have both?

This is helpful information, thank you. So if I buy new, or CPO-ish, I should get it in writing which warrenties transfer over to my new location, haha.

Thank you every for the responses.

 

[_knag]

This is helpful information, thank you. So if I buy new, or CPO-ish, I should get it in writing which warrenties transfer over to my new location, haha.

Thank you every for the responses.

lol no problem, but getting it in writing might be hard. They like to just verbally confirm things. You know how that goes.. I'm still not sure how I'll get my "free first year service" since I bought an inventory car and bargained a little. It doesn't show up anywhere on my account, but was reassured they have it save somewhere in the system? Luckily I have a text chain that says all this instead of a telecon.

 

[Andres Molina]

I am a civilian with DoD and is waiting for my repatriation of two years to get back to Korea. When I bought the car, I made this known to my Owner Advisor and he claimed he talked to Fremont that if I do ship my car that the 8 year battery warranty will be void, but I can keep the 4 year bumper to bumper, and supercharging, LTE, and Nav won't work. That was pretty acceptable to me so I bought the car. One week after my car was delivered, I went to Seoul for vacation and stopped by the Tesla shop in Gangnam. There they called Fremont and said that none of the warranties would work, but if I do need to pay out of pocket for the battery, it will be really cheap. I think they quoted under $2,000. Not sure I believe that lol. They also said that they can install a Korean sim so that the LTE and Nav work. Lastly, they said that the Korean superchargers are changing to match the US ones and it would work. In the Asia subforum looks like someone brought their Model 3 as a AF dependent and supercharging works so that statement was correct. I tried replying to her post to follow up, but I haven't heard back yet. The other things like KM vs miles can be changed by the driver in the system. Off post housing in Korea does have both US and Korean plugs most of the time to allow the use of US appliances bought on post. Not sure if other locations do the same. I would assume that you would have to buy a new adapter end for the trickle charger if they don't have both?

I realize this thread is a few years old, but I am in a similar situation. I am active duty and recently arrived in Korea. My Model 3 is on its way from the States (currently on the ship, crossing the Pacific). I am concerned about the lack of maps, navigation, and access to the vehicle via the app (I assume it relies on the SIM card having a network connection). While those first two things are manageable for the year I'm here, not being able to do anything with my car via the app is definitely not okay with me. I have tried to find a way to contact Tesla in Korea by phone, but have been unsuccessful. A trip to Seoul takes quite a while, so I would hate to show up and be turned away without any help. Can you shed some more light on your experience with getting the SIM swapped out? I obviously would also need to swap back when my tour here is over. I appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks!

 

[rrlevy]

I realize this thread is a few years old, but I am in a similar situation. I am active duty and recently arrived in Korea. My Model 3 is on its way from the States (currently on the ship, crossing the Pacific). I am concerned about the lack of maps, navigation, and access to the vehicle via the app (I assume it relies on the SIM card having a network connection). While those first two things are manageable for the year I'm here, not being able to do anything with my car via the app is definitely not okay with me. I have tried to find a way to contact Tesla in Korea by phone, but have been unsuccessful. A trip to Seoul takes quite a while, so I would hate to show up and be turned away without any help. Can you shed some more light on your experience with getting the SIM swapped out? I obviously would also need to swap back when my tour here is over. I appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks!

Personal experience using a US spec Tesla Model Y in Brazil:

1) The maps in the car will be only from North America. There are ways to use the Tesla Toolbox to load another official Tesla map file (which I believe DO exist for South Korea). A Tesla service center should be able to do that but they might also refuse it. If you find an independent repair shop with Tesla Toolbox access they might be able to do it. I can't help you much on this matter because since there are no official Tesla map files for South America, that can't be done in Brazil

2) To have LTE access you will need to add a SIM card to your car computer, and ask Tesla to set the APN for the mobile provider you are using. To add the SIM card you can ask for a Tesla service center or you can do it yourself. You can easily find videos about it online. Note that you will still need to pay for Premium Connectivity even though you are not using Tesla SIM anymore and need to pay for the local data plan.

3) Here in Brazil the car won't read the signs correctly. The signs are in km/h but the car thinks they are on mph since it is a US car. It will "convert" the speed incorrectly and show it in km/h but divided by the conversion rate

4) Smart Summon and any FSD beta related stuff won't work here. Autopilot works fine, including changing lanes and summon when subscribing to FSD.

5) You can charge in South Korea withe the CCS1 adapter sold in the US. Here in Brazil the car works with an aftermarket CCS2 adapter as well.

 

[GSP]

Personal experience using a US spec Tesla Model Y in Brazil:
…….
3) Here in Brazil the car won't read the signs correctly. The signs are in km/h but the car thinks they are on mph since it is a US car. It will "convert" the speed incorrectly and show it in km/h but divided by the conversion rate
…….

Wow, I experienced this exact behavior when I drove my US-spec 2015 Model S in Canada way back in 2018. I expected Tesla would have fixed this long ago. This must be a major PIA for people that travel to/from Canada regularly.

GSP

 

[DerbyDave]

AP1 cars do read the speed limit signs. Sometimes they get it wrong because of vandalism of the signs. Example: 35 mph read as 85 mph.

The map data in my location probably hasn't been updated in 10 years. Pre FSD Beta, my car would use map data, and was always wrong. Now, with FSD Beta, if you turn on a new street, it uses the wrong map data until it reads a Speed Limit sign, and the sign takes precedence. Hopefully the map data people are using the actual reading of the speed limit signs to update their incorrect data. The Tesla can correct much inocrrect map data on intersections, signs, lanes, speed limits, etc., if someone at Tesla s doing any data updates. FSD depends on accurate data, as well as Vision. The main street I start out on has been wrong since 2020, and won't speed up from 25MPH to 35MPH until after the first sign, nearly a mile down the road.

 

[taimurasad]

Personal experience using a US spec Tesla Model Y in Brazil:

1) The maps in the car will be only from North America. There are ways to use the Tesla Toolbox to load another official Tesla map file (which I believe DO exist for South Korea). A Tesla service center should be able to do that but they might also refuse it. If you find an independent repair shop with Tesla Toolbox access they might be able to do it. I can't help you much on this matter because since there are no official Tesla map files for South America, that can't be done in Brazil

2) To have LTE access you will need to add a SIM card to your car computer, and ask Tesla to set the APN for the mobile provider you are using. To add the SIM card you can ask for a Tesla service center or you can do it yourself. You can easily find videos about it online. Note that you will still need to pay for Premium Connectivity even though you are not using Tesla SIM anymore and need to pay for the local data plan.

3) Here in Brazil the car won't read the signs correctly. The signs are in km/h but the car thinks they are on mph since it is a US car. It will "convert" the speed incorrectly and show it in km/h but divided by the conversion rate

4) Smart Summon and any FSD beta related stuff won't work here. Autopilot works fine, including changing lanes and summon when subscribing to FSD.

5) You can charge in South Korea withe the CCS1 adapter sold in the US. Here in Brazil the car works with an aftermarket CCS2 adapter as well.

Any workaround for number 3 to stop it from conversion? Does changing language on screen or region help?

 

[rrlevy]

Sorry, no known fixed to that. Also, it almost never reads a sign. Since stop sign and traffic lights Autopilot doesn’t work here in Brazil, it’s not a big deal