Automobile tuners have built a thriving community around aftermarket performance parts and techniques. However, if automakers like Tesla set the new standard, car buyers may be stuck with what they get from the factory. A Model 3 owner who added an aftermarket performance module to his vehicle discovered that a recent update to the car's software allowed it to detect the non-Tesla part.

This example of Tesla blocking aftermarket parts isn't an isolated incident. Companies often dispute a customer's rights to perform aftermarket modifications and maintenance to their property. The issue is ongoing within the agricultural sector, where increasingly software-driven equipment is closed-source and can only be repaired by authorized shops. In the smartphone world, Apple has come under fire numerous times — the latest being from Epic Games — for limiting users from downloading programs outside of the App Store.

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The Tesla user reported they had installed a Boost 50 module from Ingenext. This small box clips into two connectors on the passenger side of a Model 3. It unlocks the more costly Performance model's acceleration benefits, among some other conveniences. The user stated that when their Tesla Model 3 updated to firmware 2020.32.2, he began getting a message that said, "Incompatible vehicle modification detected. Potential risk of damage or shutdown."

Tesla Update Only Warns Users About Attached Aftermarket Performance Parts For Now

Tesla Hacks Defeated

The only ill effect of the warning message from the Model 3 was inducing a brief, mild panic in its owner. He reported that no features were disabled on the vehicle. However, he hadn't tried going to a Tesla Supercharger to see if functionality was affected. Since the post describing the warning was written, Ingenext has released a module that counteracts Tesla's detection method, which should prevent any message from appearing after installation, at least for now.

This user's experience signifies Tesla is putting effort into preventing user-installed devices from interfering with the operation of the vehicle. Tesla autos must be serviced by authorized technicians. Now, it seems like the manufacturer wants to prevent aftermarket performance additions. It can be assumed that this will be the case with many other brands in the future, as electric vehicles become increasingly prolific. At a certain point, it may not be worth fighting anymore.

The complex software and drivetrain of an electric vehicle like one from Tesla aren't conducive to car culture, which means we may be moving into the end of an era. The automobile has been symbolic of America since the mid-century, but that image may not continue to exist when users are essentially licensing their vehicles instead of outright owning them.

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Source: The Drive