Tesla’s GNSS antenna design is already more advanced than many people realize.
My 2026 Model 3 Performance appears to use a much more sophisticated GNSS antenna — a spiral PCB structure — rather than the older small ceramic patch antenna design. Together with a larger RF ground plane and modern multi-band capability through the HW4 platform, this is a smart direction.
But real-world vehicle positioning is not solved by the GNSS chipset or antenna alone.
Under elevated roads, near overpasses, and in dense urban multipath environments, reflected and low-elevation GNSS signals can still enter the receiver before software has a chance to correct them.
I observed this directly in my own vehicle.
Under urban canyon conditions, the position can still jump to the wrong location. The actual vehicle should be on the blue route line, but the system showed the vehicle incorrectly shifted to the right.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7461634888136519680/
If this happens during FSD operation, it could become a dangerous positioning error.
If even my small effort can help save lives, then it is worth doing.
That is the real value of engineering.
This is exactly where the A-E Physical Filter becomes relevant.
It is not software.
It is not post-processing.
It is a passive RF front-end filter that suppresses unwanted low-elevation GNSS energy before it reaches the receiver.
Better chipset.
Better antenna.
Cleaner RF input.
Modern vehicle positioning needs all three.
