Tesla may stop including key cards with the new Model 3 and Model Y

The world of electric cars — is a world of changing habits. Drivers are used to charging their cars rather than filling up, and Tesla owners have long done without traditional keys. In the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, the owner’s smartphone serves as the main «key» when they approach the car, it unlocks, and when they move away — it locks again.

But until now, the kit has also included two physical key cards — small credit-card-sized RFID cards. They were handy for handing the car over to a valet, for example, or in case your phone ran out of battery. But according to recent reports, Tesla may drop the inclusion of these cards as standard equipment, making them a paid option.

There has been no official statement from the company —Tesla shut down its PR department back in 2019, so fans of the brand have to look for clues on their own. This time, the «clue» was discovered in the owner’s manual.

According to the Not A Tesla App blog, the phrase has been removed from the new Model 3 and Model Y instructions: «Tesla provides you with two Model 3/Y key cards that can be stored in your wallet». The change coincided with the launch of new, more affordable versions of the Model 3 and Model Y Standard.

The change coincided with the launch of the new, more affordable versions of the Model 3 and Model Y Standard.

The move is entirely in keeping with Tesla’s style — the company often changes text in the manuals right before a vehicle update. For example, before the launch of the Cybertruck, a mention that the Autosteer feature was standard in the manual disappeared. Later it turned out that it had to be purchased as part of the expensive Full Self-Driving package.

If Tesla does remove key cards from the kit, the reason is almost certainly financial. Production costs — a key area of optimization for the company. Even if it costs Tesla just $2 to make a single card, at scale, the savings could be as much as a million dollars per quarter.

And if Tesla does remove the key cards from the kit, the savings could be as much as a million dollars per quarter.

In addition, not including cards in the base kit creates a new revenue stream. A replacement key card now costs $40. If all of Tesla’s nearly 1.8 million new electric car buyers in 2024 bought such a kit, the company would earn more than $70 million.

For most owners, everyday use is unlikely to change — Tesla’s «smartphone-as-key» system works reliably, unlike some competitors. Problems will start in situations where you need to hand over control — for example, in a parking lot, car service or city garage. In such cases, you don’t want to hand over your phone to anyone, and a simple RFID card was the perfect solution.

Many buyers may find it odd that with a car price over $40,000, the kit no longer includes a physical key. But Tesla seems confident: customers willing to pay that much for an electric car won’t mind spending an extra $40 on a handy accessory.