- Update allows owners to make GPS viewing light cycle
- Red ambient lighting adds to the futuristic effect
- Some customers believe the update is too much advertising
A recent Tesla software update allows Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck owners to turn their in-car visualizations into Light Cycles and other scenes from the latest Tron: Ares movie.
When owners head to the app launcher and select Toybox, they’ll see a new Tron option that adapts 3D navigation so that its standard vehicle icon appears as a cycle of light, complete with leak lighting effects as you navigate the city.
The move was made in conjunction with the launch of the third film in the Tron universe, allowing those with optional ambient lighting in the cabin to also set the cockpit to a dark red hue in order to increase the feeling of sci-fi futurism when driving.
However, the update was met with resistance from owners, some of whom opted to Reddit complains that the futuristic flasher sounds that are part of the update are irritating, while others feel that a company collaboration like this is an ominous sign of things to come.
The Grid has expanded to your Tesla – The Tron: Ares update is now rolling out pic.twitter.com/oQvYSAFuLMOctober 10, 2025
Comments on the Electrek article are also particularly damning, with one user saying that automakers putting ads in cars would be “a blatant violation of a personal space.”
It’s unclear whether Disney paid Tesla for recent movie promotions, but Elon Musk previously lashed out at Disney bosses when they decided to remove advertising on his X social media platform.
The Tesla founder demanded that CEO Bob Iger be “fired immediately,” angrily adding that “Walt Disney is rolling over in his grave because of what Bob did to his company.”
But the companies appear to have put their differences aside, as themes from the Disney-produced film not only now appear inside vehicles, but the film’s promotional team also used a Tesla Optimus robot to attract attention at a red carpet event for the film.
The humanoid robot tried to “fight” Tron: Ares star Jared Leto, who has created a bit of content on social media.
Advertising panels on wheels
While allowing the Tron: Ares The theme is optional in a Tesla, but it undoubtedly blurs the lines between advertising and the real added value of a product.
But the fact is that more and more car manufacturers are moving towards Software-defined vehicle model, in which cars can be updated quickly, easily and remotely with live data packages.
Not only does this have the potential to add new features or squash bugs, but it also opens the door to more subscription plans or “on-demand” payments being offered to the owner – something many big brands admit will be an increasingly important source of revenue in the years to come.
Perhaps when the owner is not willing to pay monthly sums of money, they may be faced with in-vehicle advertisements to make up the “shortfall”, as is the case with many modern streaming services, such as Spotify and YouTube.
Last year, a story surfaced that Ford had filed a patent for a system to personalize infotainment advertising content based on numerous sources, including audio from voice commands and even location data.
Some Jeep owners also reported seeing pop-up ads appearing on their infotainment systems earlier this year, although the company said this was a problem.
Either way, these commercial tie-ins are becoming more common, and as in-car infotainment systems become an extension of our digital lives, drivers may be forced to endure an increasing number of marketing campaigns on the road.
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