Which lights can each Tesla use in a light show?

Two kinds of light: on-off and ramping

Most lights are boolean: they turn fully on or fully off, instantly. Some lights can ramp, meaning they fade on or off over 500, 1000, or 2000 ms. Cybertruck has a few lights with full brightness control.

Tesla’s table of how each light behaves:

• Outer main beam: ramping on LED reflector headlights, boolean on LED projector headlights (Model S, X, 3, Y). Ramping on Cybertruck.
• Inner main beam: ramping on all five.
• Signature: boolean on Model S and X, ramping on Model 3 and Y, not present on Cybertruck.
• Channels 4 to 6: ramping on Model S, X, 3, and Y. Not present on Cybertruck.
• Front turn: boolean on Model S and X, ramping on Model 3, Y, and Cybertruck.
• Front side markers: boolean on Model S, X, 3, and Y, ramping on Cybertruck.
• Brake light and rear turn: boolean on Model S, X, 3, and Y, full brightness control on Cybertruck.

Model S and Model X

On both, channels 4 to 6 can be switched on and off individually, but they share one ramp duration, set by channel 4. On the Model S, the side markers and aux park lights work together but keep independent left and right control.

Closures: both can use liftgate, mirrors, charge port, and windows. Model S can also use door handles. Model X can use front doors and falcon doors, and the falcon doors can dance.

Model 3 and Model Y

Channels 4 to 6 are combined into a single output, so the light is on if any of the three is on, and channel 4 sets the ramp duration. For a visible flash, all three need blank time between pulses. Side markers and aux park lights all operate together.

Tesla notes these details for specific builds. Front fog lights are not installed on the Model 3 Standard Range Plus, nor are aux park lights. On Model 3 built before October 2020, the left tail, right tail, and license plate lights operate together. Liftgate movement works only on vehicles with a power liftgate.

How refresh generations differ

Tesla’s published guide groups the Model 3 and Model Y together and does not describe the newer Model 3 or Model Y bodies separately. Maestro’s developer measured one 2026 Model Y Premium by firing each channel alone and recording what the car did. That is a single car, not a Tesla statement, but it is worth knowing:

• The signature, front fog, aux park, and side marker channels produced no light.
• Channels 4 and 6 drove sections of the front light bar, and channel 5 drove amber headlamp elements.
• The side repeater, rear turn, and reverse channels responded as on-off lights.

The practical lesson: a show tuned for older bodies may look different on a newer car, and one that leans on a single light may go dark on a car without it. Beat-synced effects are safest on lights every car has.

Cybertruck

Cybertruck has the most lighting control. Its front light bar has 60 individually controllable LEDs and its rear bar has 52, and these, along with the brake lights and rear turn signals, can run at any brightness you choose. An off-road light bar is an optional upgrade that most trucks will not have. Bed lights always ramp over 500 ms, even when commanded instantly.

Older shows are remapped to suit the truck. Per Tesla, reverse lights follow the left and right tail lights, and the rear side markers follow the side repeaters. All five cars can move the mirrors, charge port, and windows. On Cybertruck, the liftgate channel moves the frunk.

Tips for shows that work everywhere

Tesla advises using lights installed on all vehicles for effects synced to the beat, and leaving shared blank time on every channel of a combined group so the light visibly flashes. Tesla also recommends avoiding closing the windows during a show so the music stays more audible, since the music plays through the cabin speakers only.

Maestro is built around this idea. Its preview plays a show on each supported body style. If you plan to make shows by hand instead, the overview guide covers xLights.