Vehicle hub

Subnautica 2 Vehicles

The vehicle page starts with the first route step that matters in a real save: after the Welcome Center, scan the southwest wreck for Dive Elevator, Beacon, and one Tadpole fragment. That first Tadpole progress reveals Power Cell and Strong Acid planning before the full vehicle chain opens up.

Quick answer: clear the Welcome Center, aim southwest between 210 and 240 degrees, scan the 25m wreck, then return home to craft Habitat Builder and prepare vehicle support. Keep exact Tadpole depth, modules, and future vehicle names patch-aware.

Updated .

Subnautica 2 Tadpole fragment at the southwest wreck after the Welcome Center.
Subnautica 2 Tadpole fragment at the southwest wreck after the Welcome Center.
First vehicle route

Tadpole first scan

After the Welcome Center, swim southwest between 210 and 240 degrees to the 25m wreck. Scan the Tadpole fragment there to start the vehicle chain.

One Tadpole fragment is enough to reveal Power Cell and Strong Acid planning, so this scan matters even before the full vehicle is craftable.

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Subnautica 2 Power Cell item card for vehicle energy planning.
Vehicle support unlock

Power Cell and Strong Acid

The first Tadpole progress turns Power Cell and Strong Acid into real recipe targets instead of distant item names.

Power Cell belongs to vehicle energy planning; Strong Acid belongs to the later material chain that follows deeper routes and vehicle upgrades.

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Subnautica 2 Vehicle Fabricator item card for vehicle construction planning.
Roadmap system

Docking and fabrication

Vehicle docking and fabrication are official Early Access roadmap topics, but exact station behavior, module slots, and costs still need patch-by-patch checks.

Track Tadpole Dock, Vehicle Fabricator, charging, base clearance, and module access after the first base is stable.

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Vehicle progression order

This is the route logic we can support today without pretending every recipe and module value is final.

  1. 1

    Finish the Welcome Center

    Scan both Habitat Builder fragments, restore power, pick Dash and Sea Skimmer, then leave with the base-building route unlocked.

  2. 2

    Swim southwest to the wreck

    From the Welcome Center, aim southwest between 210 and 240 degrees. The nearby wreck sits around 25m and is close enough for an early follow-up.

  3. 3

    Scan Dive Elevator, Beacon, and Tadpole

    Clear the Dive Elevator and Beacon fragments first, open the supply crate, then scan one Tadpole fragment to reveal Power Cell and Strong Acid.

  4. 4

    Return home and build base support

    Collect Titanium or starter materials on the way back, craft Habitat Builder, then plan power, storage, and future vehicle fabrication space.

What to recheck after each vehicle patch

Hotfix 3 behavior: Hammerheads no longer attack unpiloted Tadpoles, but can still take an interest in Tadpoles.
Hotfix 3 visual/state fix: goggles should no longer remain visible in first-person view after exiting the Tadpole Haul Chassis as a passenger.
Hotfix 2 behavior: Tadpole teleporting, infinite oxygen after hunger/thirst death while piloting, and Hammerhead attraction to Tadpole lights.
Exact Tadpole material cost in your installed build.
Crush depth, depth module tiers, and whether numbers differ by platform build.
Upgrade names and module slot count.
Charging, docking, and repair behavior inside a player base.
Whether any vehicle supports co-op passenger behavior or shared storage rules.
Any newly named vehicle in official posts, Steam notes, or in-game databank entries.

Vehicle search shortcuts

Vehicle searches split into fragments, crafting stations, modules, and roadmap terms. Use these shortcuts before trusting a generic vehicle table.

Chassis and future-vehicle watchlist

Players are already searching for chassis names and future vehicles. These names are useful demand signals, but not final facts for this site until the route is clearer.

Scout Ray Chassis

Watch term

Useful search demand, but speed, recipe, and availability should wait for official media, an in-game station row, or a tested route.

Tadpole Haul Chassis

Patch term

Useful demand signal for cargo/passenger searches, but storage pods, hardpoints, and passenger behavior need a current patch check.

Seafrog / walker chassis

Future signal

Treat as a future or preview signal. It should not become a normal page until official media or in-game support is available.

Trident submarine

Future-vehicle watch

External vehicle pages mention it as a preview-style vehicle. Keep under roadmap watch; no recipe, stats, or page yet.

Treat these as patch-sensitive

  • Exact crush-depth numbers unless the installed build is checked.
  • Named upgrade modules unless the in-game station or a reliable tested guide confirms the name.
  • Passenger, storage, charging, or co-op sharing behavior without host and guest checks.
  • Future vehicle names from comments, preview speculation, or unsupported lists.

Why this page exists now

Vehicle searches are already separating into Tadpole, fragments, docking, fabrication, modules, and future-vehicle intent. A hub keeps those paths organized while the specific Tadpole page stays focused on the vehicle itself.

The rule is simple: use the hub now, keep uncertain values labeled, and expand only when official notes, hands-on testing, or reliable route guides support the next entry.

Vehicle questions

What vehicles are confirmed in Subnautica 2 right now?

The Tadpole Submersible is the main player vehicle to plan around right now. The first useful route step is scanning a Tadpole fragment after the Welcome Center, which also reveals Power Cell and Strong Acid planning.

Did Hotfix 3 change Tadpole or Hammerhead behavior?

Yes. Hotfix 3 says Hammerheads no longer attack unpiloted Tadpoles, though they can still take an interest in Tadpoles. It also fixes goggles remaining visible in first-person view after exiting the Tadpole Haul Chassis as a passenger.

Should I trust exact Tadpole depth and upgrade numbers?

Treat exact depth and upgrade values as patch-aware. Early Access patches can change depth, upgrade names, module slots, and recipe costs, so this page focuses on route order and what to verify.

Is a new vehicle coming later?

Unknown Worlds says later Early Access drops expand vehicles, but the public roadmap does not give a stable future vehicle name here. We will add a separate page only when official media, an in-game entry, or a reliable tested guide supports it.

How do I build vehicles in Subnautica 2?

Use the Welcome Center follow-up first: scan Dive Elevator, Beacon, and one Tadpole fragment at the southwest wreck. Then build base support and continue the Tadpole fragment route.

Where is the Vehicle Fabricator?

This site tracks Vehicle Fabricator as a vehicle-support search term, but does not list a final location or recipe until the game, an official source, or a reliable tested route supports it.

Sources and route references

These sources help with direction and patch checks. Use official notes and reliable route guides for planning, not third-party image CDNs or unsupported upgrade lists.

Related pages