Tesla has quietly changed one of the most exposed exterior parts on the Cybertruck.
Newer Cybertrucks are beginning to receive textured, unpainted plastic side mirror caps instead of the painted mirror caps used on earlier trucks.
The change is small enough that many owners may never notice it. But according to Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill, there is a practical reason behind it: the original painted surface was simply too easy to scratch.
That makes this more than a cosmetic update.
For current Cybertruck owners — especially anyone shopping for Cybertruck mirror caps, mirror covers or carbon fiber exterior accessories — the change also raises an important question:
Did Tesla only change the finish, or did the actual mirror cap dimensions and fitment change too?
Here's what we know so far.
What Did Tesla Change on the Cybertruck Mirrors?
The change affects the outer cap of the Cybertruck's exterior side mirrors.
Earlier Cybertrucks were produced with a painted mirror-cap surface.
Tesla has now moved to a grained/textured plastic finish similar to material already used elsewhere on the Cybertruck exterior.
Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill explained that while the painted version looked good when new, it could scratch relatively easily — particularly when the truck came into contact with brush.
Tesla North reported the change on September 20 following Morrill's explanation. (TeslaNorth.com)
In other words, Tesla appears to have found an unusual manufacturing win:
reduce production cost while potentially improving real-world durability.
For a vehicle marketed around utility and outdoor use, an unpainted textured surface makes practical sense.
Why Would Tesla Replace a Painted Part With Textured Plastic?
Paint looks clean when it leaves the factory.
The problem is what happens afterward.
Cybertruck's side mirrors extend well beyond its stainless-steel body and are therefore among the exterior components most exposed to:
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branches and brush
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parking-lot contact
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road debris
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repeated washing
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everyday scratches and scuffs
A scratch through a painted surface can expose the underlying material and leave a visible mark.
With textured, molded plastic, there is no conventional painted top layer to scratch through in the same way.
That doesn't mean the new mirror caps are scratch-proof.
They aren't.
But eliminating paint removes one vulnerable cosmetic layer from an exterior component that is likely to encounter regular wear.
Morrill specifically described the original paint as being too easy to scratch when driving through brush. (TeslaNorth.com)
Old vs. New Cybertruck Mirror Caps
For owners trying to determine which version they have, the easiest distinction appears to be the surface finish.
| Earlier Cybertruck | Newer Cybertruck |
|---|---|
| Painted mirror cap | Textured / grained plastic |
| Smoother-looking surface | More visible molded texture |
| Paint can show scratches | No conventional painted topcoat |
| More cosmetic finish | More utility-focused finish |
The important point is that this appears to be a running production change, not a new Cybertruck model year or trim.
Tesla frequently makes relatively small production revisions without introducing a traditional annual model-year redesign.
That means two Cybertrucks delivered at different times can have small component differences even if they otherwise appear to be the same vehicle.
Did Tesla Change the Shape of the Cybertruck Mirror Caps?
This is the most important question for aftermarket accessory buyers.
And right now, the correct answer is:
We don't have enough verified information to say that the physical dimensions are unchanged.
Tesla and Morrill have discussed the material and finish change, but there has not been a detailed public specification showing whether mounting points, tolerances, outer dimensions or cap geometry changed at the same time. (TeslaNorth.com)
Visually similar does not automatically mean dimensionally identical.
Even a relatively small change to:
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edge thickness
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clip locations
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curvature
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surface geometry
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molding tolerances
could affect a tightly fitted aftermarket Cybertruck mirror cover.
That's especially important for molded carbon fiber caps designed to closely follow the OEM mirror housing.
Will Existing Cybertruck Mirror Covers Still Fit?
Don't assume compatibility yet.
If Tesla changed only the surface material while keeping the original geometry, many existing mirror covers may continue to fit.
But that needs to be physically verified.
Tesla's current Cybertruck owner's documentation still describes the exterior mirror system and its folding, heating, auto-dimming and adjustment functions, but it does not provide dimensional specifications for the outer mirror cap. (Tesla)
For owners buying aftermarket accessories, this creates an important distinction:
“Fits Cybertruck” may no longer be enough information if an accessory depends on extremely tight mirror-cap tolerances.
Ideally, manufacturers should test products on both the earlier painted cap and the newer textured version.
What Should Cybertruck Owners Check Before Buying Mirror Caps?
If you already own a Cybertruck, look closely at your mirror housing before ordering a fitted cover.
First, determine whether your factory mirror cap has the smooth painted finish or newer textured plastic finish.
Then check whether the accessory manufacturer has verified fitment for your specific version.
This matters most with rigid molded covers.
A flexible film or wrap may tolerate small surface differences, while a precisely molded carbon fiber shell depends much more heavily on the factory geometry underneath.
Does the Textured Surface Affect Adhesive Installation?
Potentially.
This is another detail worth watching.
Many aftermarket mirror covers use automotive adhesive in addition to clips or shaped retention points.
Adhesive generally behaves differently depending on the surface it contacts.
A smooth painted surface and a heavily textured molded-plastic surface do not necessarily provide identical bonding conditions.
That does not automatically mean adhesive mirror covers won't work on the new Cybertruck cap.
It simply means accessory manufacturers should validate adhesion on the new material rather than assuming installation behavior is identical.
For owners, proper surface preparation becomes particularly important.
Why Mirror Protection Still Makes Sense on Cybertruck
Tesla's change actually highlights why the mirrors deserve attention.
The Cybertruck's stainless-steel body gets most of the attention, but the side mirrors are conventional exposed components positioned outside the body.
Tesla's own owner's manual confirms that the exterior mirrors contain multiple functions, including powered adjustment, auto-folding, heating and automatic dimming. (Tesla)
They're therefore not something most owners want to repeatedly scratch or damage.
A fitted mirror cover can serve two purposes:
Protection: adding another exterior layer over the factory mirror cap.
Customization: changing the visual relationship between the black exterior components and Cybertruck's stainless-steel body.
This is particularly relevant for owners who prefer carbon fiber accents.
Carbon Fiber Is One Way to Change the Look
Tesla's new textured finish is clearly focused on practicality.
But some owners will still prefer a more premium or performance-oriented appearance.
That's where a fitted carbon fiber mirror cap can make sense.
For example, Yeslak currently offers Real Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps for Tesla Cybertruck in matte and gloss finishes.
The existing product uses genuine molded carbon fiber and combines shaped fitment with clips and pre-installed adhesive. (Yeslak Tesla Accessories)
There is also a Cybertruck Forged Carbon Fiber Mirror Cap option for owners looking for a more distinctive exterior finish. (Yeslak Tesla Accessories)
Compatibility note: because Tesla's textured mirror cap is a newly reported production change, fitment with the new version should be physically verified before claiming full compatibility. Owners with newly delivered Cybertrucks should confirm their mirror-cap version before ordering tightly molded accessories.
Painted vs. Textured vs. Carbon Fiber: Which Is Better?
There isn't one answer for every Cybertruck owner.
The original painted cap offers the smoother factory appearance Tesla initially selected.
The new textured plastic cap prioritizes durability and reduces the cosmetic consequences of scratching through paint.
A carbon fiber cover is primarily an aftermarket customization and protection option for owners who want a different exterior appearance.
The important distinction is that Tesla's update isn't necessarily about making the Cybertruck look different.
It's primarily about making an exposed component more practical to manufacture and live with.
Can Older Cybertrucks Be Upgraded to the New Mirror Caps?
Tesla has not announced the textured mirror caps as an official retrofit package for earlier Cybertrucks.
So owners shouldn't assume Tesla Service will automatically replace painted mirror caps with the new version.
Whether the newer cap eventually becomes available as an individual service component — and whether it directly fits earlier mirror assemblies — will depend on Tesla's parts catalog and service procedures.
Until Tesla provides more information, this should be treated as a production revision rather than an owner upgrade program.
Does This Mean More Cybertruck Parts Could Change?
Very possibly.
Cybertruck has been in continuous production since deliveries began in late 2023, and running manufacturing changes are normal for Tesla.
The mirror cap is particularly interesting because it shows the company is willing to reconsider seemingly minor exterior components when another material can improve manufacturing efficiency or durability.
That matters for the aftermarket.
A product labeled simply:
“Fits 2024+ Cybertruck”
may eventually require more detailed compatibility information as Tesla continues revising components.
For accessory manufacturers, checking the vehicle's actual factory hardware is increasingly important.
What This Means for Cybertruck Accessory Buyers
The bigger lesson isn't really about plastic versus paint.
It's about fitment.
Tesla can change a relatively small exterior component without launching an entirely new Cybertruck generation.
For universal accessories, that may make little difference.
For precision-fit parts such as:
mirror covers, trim overlays, wheel accessories, interior panels, body components and carbon fiber shells, small production revisions can matter.
Before purchasing, Cybertruck owners should therefore look beyond the vehicle year alone and verify that the product has been tested against their factory component.
You can browse Yeslak's Tesla Carbon Fiber Mirror Covers for current Tesla mirror-cover options. (Yeslak Tesla Accessories)
FAQ: New Tesla Cybertruck Mirror Caps
Why did Tesla change the Cybertruck mirror caps?
According to Cybertruck Lead Engineer Wes Morrill, the original painted mirror caps looked good when new but the paint could scratch too easily, including when driving through brush. Tesla therefore moved to a textured/grained plastic surface. (TeslaNorth.com)
Are new Cybertruck mirror caps unpainted?
Yes. The newly reported version uses a textured plastic finish rather than the painted surface used on earlier Cybertrucks. (TeslaNorth.com)
How can I tell which Cybertruck mirror caps I have?
Look at the outer surface of the mirror housing. Earlier caps have a smoother painted appearance, while the newer version has a more obvious molded/grained plastic texture.
Are the new Cybertruck mirror caps more durable?
Tesla's stated reason for the change is that the original paint scratched too easily. Removing the painted surface should eliminate paint-layer scratches, although the plastic itself can still be scratched or damaged. (TeslaNorth.com)
Do existing Cybertruck mirror covers fit the new textured caps?
That should be verified product by product. Tesla has not published detailed dimensional information establishing that the newer textured cap has exactly the same geometry, mounting points and tolerances as the earlier painted version.
Can I replace the textured Cybertruck mirror cap with carbon fiber?
Aftermarket carbon fiber mirror covers are available, but owners of newly produced Cybertrucks should confirm compatibility with the newer textured factory cap before purchasing.
Can older Cybertrucks retrofit the new textured mirror caps?
Tesla has not announced an official retrofit program. Parts interchangeability between the original and revised caps should therefore be confirmed before purchasing replacement components.
Final Takeaway
The more I look at this change, the more it feels like one of those small Cybertruck updates that actually makes sense.
The painted mirror caps looked great when they were fresh, but on a truck that's supposed to be used like a truck, scratches were always going to show up pretty quickly. Switching to textured plastic seems like a much more practical choice.
What I'm more curious about is how this affects aftermarket mirror covers.
A lot of Cybertruck accessories are designed with pretty tight tolerances, so I wouldn't automatically assume that a cover made around the earlier painted cap will fit the newer textured version exactly the same. Maybe it will, but I'd want to see someone physically test both versions before calling them fully interchangeable.
This is also a good reminder for Cybertruck owners buying accessories: Tesla can quietly revise individual parts without making the truck look noticeably different from the outside.
So even if two Cybertrucks look identical, there may already be small hardware differences underneath.
Anyone here taken delivery of a newer Cybertruck with the textured mirror caps yet? Would be interesting to see some close-up photos or hear whether existing mirror covers still fit.
