Tesla's EVs To Connect To Starlink's Future Cellular Satellites

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has his hands in a whole host of companies, and it seems they can all work together.

Tesla Model 3 and Model Y

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By: EVANNEX

Aug 31, 2022 at 8:09am ET

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Posted on EVANNEX August 31, 2022, by Peter McGuthrie

Elon Musk recently announced that SpaceX plans to provide Starlink satellite cellular service in the U.S. in a new partnership with T-Mobile. The move has left several wondering if Tesla’s vehicles could also receive the satellite connection — and Musk says they will.

Above: Tesla's Model Y, X, 3 and S vehicles parked in front of a cell tower. Photo: Casey Murphy / EVANNEX

Musk responded to two tweets asking about Tesla cars’ eligibility for Starlink’s cellular service in recent weeks, as detailed in a report from The Verge. Not only are Tesla’s vehicles set to get the satellite service, as affirmed by Musk, but he also said the service will come stock with the automaker’s Premium Connectivity plan when asked.

One user asked, “Will Tesla cars get this feature too in the future to connect directly to Starlink satellites for emergency calls/texts?” Musk followed up saying “yes.”

Tesla Owners Silicon Valley followed up, asking “Will Tesla be getting this service as well with the Premium Connectivity?” Once again, Musk responded “yes.”

While Musk didn’t provide further details on when or how the Starlink connection will take place, the move will also depend on Starlink’s next generation of satellites launched into orbit. Still, at the rate SpaceX launches satellites, it’s not a far cry to think the service could become available in Tesla’s cars in the years to come.

Musk did say that Starlink’s cellular coverage will be able to offer 2-4Mbps, which will be sufficient for some activities in a Tesla. However, it still won’t be able to handle certain Premium Connectivity features such as live streaming Tesla’s cameras. The major benefit of Starlink connectivity, though, will be enjoyed in its vast connection network, which will let users have internet access “anywhere [they] have a view of the sky.”

Tesla scaled back its connectivity plans in the past many years. In June 2018, Tesla stopped including Premium Connectivity with the purchase of its cars. Cars purchased before July 20, 2022 came with the Standard Connectivity package, including maps and navigation. Both offerings last the life of the cars purchased.

Now Tesla offers the upgrade Premium Connectivity for just $9.99 per month, or for $99 per year. Tesla also offers Standard Connectivity with the purchase of vehicles, but with a time limit of just eight years instead of the car’s life.

According to Tesla, all new and certified used cars purchased from Tesla “will have Standard Connectivity for the remainder of the eight years from the first day your vehicle was delivered as new by Tesla, or the first day it is put into service (for example used as a demonstrator or service vehicle), whichever comes first.”

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