Another dive into Tesla’s website code has revealed that the 2026 Model 3 is about to get some interior upgrades to match up to its bigger brother, the Model Y.
According to the backend configurator assets and Electronic Parts Catalogue data uncovered by a user on X, Tesla is preparing to introduce a black Alcantara-style headliner and brand-new, higher-resolution center display.
While these updates aren’t public quite yet, they have been spotted hiding in the EU and Asia-Pacific configurator assets.
Return of the Black Headliner
Just as with the Model Y, customers have been asking Tesla to ditch the standard light-grey fabric headliner in the Model 3 in favor of a darker, more premium material. According to the data found, this wish is finally being granted.
Visual assets tied to interior code IN3PB (Interior 3 Premium Black) have been spotted. This code has historically been used for the standard black interior on the Premium models, but the new 2026 assets map it directly to a dark, Alcantara-style headliner that matches the changes recently made on the Model Y.
QHD Display
The leak also highlights a hardware change hidden in Tesla’s Electronic Parts Catalogue. The catalogue now lists the Display_16_QHD component, previously reserved only for the Model Y, as an available part on the 2026 Model 3.
The current Model 3 features a 15.4-inch touchscreen, and a bump up to a 16-inch display may not sound significant, but the higher resolution and pixel density make quite an impact, including a bump up from 1920x1200 (HD) to 2560x1440 (QHD).
While the new display is wider and significantly sharper, the shift to a 16:9 aspect ratio also means the physical screen is actually a fraction of an inch shorter than the outgoing model - giving you a bit more visibility above the dash, without sacrificing your display resolution.
Old Display | New Display | |
|---|---|---|
Size | 15.4” | 16” |
Resolution | 1920×1200 | 2560×1440 |
Resolution name | Slightly higher than 1080P resolution | QHD |
Screen Ratio | 16:10 | 16:9 |
Display Width | 13.06” | 13.95” |
Display Height | 8.16” | 7.84” |
Screen Area | 106.59 inches² | 109.39 inches² |
Global Rollout?
The new data shows that multiple 2026 builds are already locked in and ready for production. Furthermore, because these assets were specifically found in the configurator code for the EU and Asia-Pacific markets, it is highly likely that Giga Shanghai will be the first factory to begin rolling out these refreshed interiors.
Just like we saw with the Model Y, retrofitting the new black headliner into your current refreshed Model 3 will likely be possible, as the mount points and clips will likely remain the same - but make sure you check before embarking on your upgrade adventure.
We expect these changes to go live on Tesla’s design studio in the EU and Asia-Pacific markets within the next few days.
