Tesla has quietly updated the Cybertruck's side mirror caps, swapping out painted finishes for textured plastic. It's a small change with real-world consequences for owners who take their trucks off-road or through tight brush — and it also trims production costs. Here's what we know.
What exactly changed on the Cybertruck's mirror caps?
According to The Tesla Newswire, Tesla has replaced the previously painted side mirror caps with textured plastic units. The new caps forego a painted surface entirely in favor of a molded texture that is part of the plastic itself. The result is a component that no longer has a paint layer to chip, scratch, or peel — which was a known vulnerability on the original caps, particularly when navigating brush or tree limbs at speed.
Why does a painted cap scratch more easily than a textured one?
Paint sits on top of a substrate — once the surface coat is breached, damage is visible and tends to spread. Textured plastic, by contrast, has no separate coating to lose. Minor abrasions from branches or debris scuff the surface at most, without creating the kind of paint chip that catches the eye or invites rust concerns. For Cybertruck owners who use their truck as a truck — trails, ranches, overgrown driveways — that's a meaningful durability difference in a spot that's directly in the path of passing brush.
Does the new cap match all Cybertruck exterior finishes?
Yes, according to the report. Because the cap is now a consistent textured plastic rather than a color-matched painted piece, it works across all Cybertruck exterior configurations without requiring finish-specific variants. The stainless steel body of the Cybertruck already pairs naturally with matte and textured trim elements, so the transition reads as intentional design rather than a cost-cutting compromise.
Is this a cost-saving move for Tesla as well?
Clearly. Painting components adds steps: priming, coating, curing, quality inspection for paint defects. Eliminating that process from mirror cap production reduces both materials cost and line time. Tesla has made a pattern of simplifying manufacturing on the Cybertruck platform since launch — this fits that trajectory. The fact that the durability outcome is also better for owners makes it a straightforward win on both sides of the ledger.
How do I know if my Cybertruck has the updated caps?
The simplest check is visual: run your finger across the mirror cap surface. The original painted caps have a smooth, glossy or semi-gloss feel. The updated textured plastic has a tactile grain you can feel immediately. If your truck was delivered recently, there's a reasonable chance it already has the new caps. If you're unsure, your VIN delivery date and a quick comparison against the photos in the source report should make it clear.
Do existing owners need to do anything?
No action is required. This is a production change, not a recall or service campaign. If your current caps are undamaged, there's no reason to swap them. That said, if you've already experienced paint chips or scratches on your mirror caps — a complaint that circulated among early owners who drove through dense brush — the updated part is worth asking about at your next service visit. Tesla's service manual already documents the mirror skull cap as a replaceable component, so sourcing the new textured version through Tesla Service should be straightforward.
Tesla hasn't issued a formal announcement about this change, so the rollout across the production line and service parts inventory is still being tracked by the community. If you've recently taken delivery and can confirm which version you received, that kind of owner data helps the broader picture come into focus faster.
Related Gear
Gear up your Cybertruck with tested, custom-fit BASENOR accessories — shop Cybertruck accessories →
Sources & reporting notes
The links below identify the material source records used for this report.
- @TeslaNewswire on X (2026-09-20T16:00:17.000Z) — Direct source
Source links are preserved as published or accessed. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.
The BASENOR Editorial Desk covers Tesla, SpaceX, and related technology, curating reporting from primary sources — official accounts, regulatory filings, and software release data. Every article passes source-record and fact-checking review before publication. About the newsroom.
This report was curated by the BASENOR Editorial Desk from the sources listed above. Read our editorial standards or email editorial@basenor.com to report an error.
