diff --git a/common/model.h b/common/model.h
deleted file mode 100644
index d134ebd15e..0000000000
--- a/common/model.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-#define DEFAULT_MODEL "POP model (Default)"
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/sunnypilot/layouts/settings/models.py b/selfdrive/ui/sunnypilot/layouts/settings/models.py
index adbd99f1f3..81f1c47db2 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/sunnypilot/layouts/settings/models.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/sunnypilot/layouts/settings/models.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import time
 import pyray as rl
 
 from cereal import custom
+from openpilot.sunnypilot.models.default_model import DEFAULT_MODEL
 from openpilot.common.constants import CV
 from openpilot.selfdrive.ui.ui_state import device, ui_state
 from openpilot.system.ui.lib.multilang import tr
@@ -207,7 +208,7 @@ class ModelsLayout(Widget):
     for bundle in bundles:
       folders.setdefault(next((ov_ride.value for ov_ride in bundle.overrides if ov_ride.key == "folder"), ""), []).append(bundle)
 
-    folders_list = [TreeFolder("", [TreeNode("Default", {'display_name': tr("Default Model"), 'short_name': "Default"})])]
+    folders_list = [TreeFolder("", [TreeNode("Default", {'display_name': f"{DEFAULT_MODEL} (Default)", 'short_name': "Default"})])]
     for folder, folder_bundles in sorted(folders.items(), key=lambda x: max((bundle.index for bundle in x[1]), default=-1), reverse=True):
       folder_bundles.sort(key=lambda bundle: bundle.index, reverse=True)
       name = folder + (f" - (Updated: {m.group(1)})" if folder_bundles and (m := re.search(r'\(([^)]*)\)[^(]*$', folder_bundles[0].displayName)) else "")
@@ -243,7 +244,7 @@ class ModelsLayout(Widget):
     self._update_lagd_description(live_delay)
     self.model_manager = ui_state.sm["modelManagerSP"]
     self._handle_bundle_download_progress()
-    active_name = self.model_manager.activeBundle.internalName if self.model_manager and self.model_manager.activeBundle.ref else tr("Default Model")
+    active_name = self.model_manager.activeBundle.internalName if self.model_manager and self.model_manager.activeBundle.ref else f"{DEFAULT_MODEL} (Default)"
     self.current_model_item.action_item.set_value(active_name)
 
     if not ui_state.is_offroad():
diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/sunnypilot/mici/layouts/models.py b/selfdrive/ui/sunnypilot/mici/layouts/models.py
index 331743416f..7f3d9a065b 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/sunnypilot/mici/layouts/models.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/sunnypilot/mici/layouts/models.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from collections.abc import Callable
 import pyray as rl
 
 from cereal import custom
+from openpilot.sunnypilot.models.default_model import DEFAULT_MODEL
 from openpilot.selfdrive.ui.mici.widgets.button import BigButton
 from openpilot.selfdrive.ui.sunnypilot.layouts.settings.models import ModelsLayout
 from openpilot.selfdrive.ui.ui_state import ui_state, device
@@ -27,7 +28,8 @@ class CurrentModelInfo(Widget):
     subheader_color = rl.Color(255, 255, 255, int(255 * 0.9 * 0.65))
     max_width = int(self._rect.width - 20)
     self.current_model_header = UnifiedLabel(tr("active model"), 48, max_width=max_width, text_color=header_color, font_weight=FontWeight.DISPLAY)
-    self.current_model_text = UnifiedLabel(tr("default model"), 32, max_width=max_width, text_color=subheader_color, font_weight=FontWeight.ROMAN, scroll=True)
+    default_text = f"{DEFAULT_MODEL} (Default)".lower()
+    self.current_model_text = UnifiedLabel(default_text, 32, max_width=max_width, text_color=subheader_color, font_weight=FontWeight.ROMAN, scroll=True)
 
     self.info_header = UnifiedLabel("cache size", 48, max_width=max_width, text_color=header_color, font_weight=FontWeight.DISPLAY)
     self.info_text = UnifiedLabel("0 mb", 32, max_width=max_width, text_color=subheader_color, font_weight=FontWeight.ROMAN)
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@ class ModelsLayoutMici(NavScroller):
 
     folders = self._get_grouped_bundles(favorites)
     folder_buttons = []
-    default_btn = BigButton(tr("default model"))
+    default_btn = BigButton(f"{DEFAULT_MODEL} (Default)".lower())
     default_btn.set_click_callback(self._select_default)
     folder_buttons.append(default_btn)
 
@@ -168,7 +170,8 @@ class ModelsLayoutMici(NavScroller):
     self._was_downloading = is_downloading
 
     self.current_model_info.current_model_header.set_text(tr("active model"))
-    self.current_model_info.current_model_text.set_text(manager.activeBundle.displayName.lower() if manager.activeBundle.index > 0 else tr("default model"))
+    model_text = manager.activeBundle.displayName.lower() if manager.activeBundle.index > 0 else f"{DEFAULT_MODEL} (Default)".lower()
+    self.current_model_info.current_model_text.set_text(model_text)
     self.current_model_info.info_header.set_text(tr("cache size"))
     self.current_model_info.info_text.set_text(f"{ModelsLayout.calculate_cache_size():.2f} MB")
 
diff --git a/sunnypilot/models/default_model.py b/sunnypilot/models/default_model.py
index 0260a3c3bc..f0469a4601 100755
--- a/sunnypilot/models/default_model.py
+++ b/sunnypilot/models/default_model.py
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@ import hashlib
 
 from openpilot.common.basedir import BASEDIR
 from openpilot.sunnypilot import get_file_hash
+from openpilot.sunnypilot.models.model_name import DEFAULT_MODEL
 
-DEFAULT_MODEL_NAME_PATH = os.path.join(BASEDIR, "common", "model.h")
+DEFAULT_MODEL_NAME_PATH = os.path.join(BASEDIR, "sunnypilot", "models", "model_name.py")
 MODEL_HASH_PATH = os.path.join(BASEDIR, "sunnypilot", "models", "tests", "model_hash")
 VISION_ONNX_PATH = os.path.join(BASEDIR, "selfdrive", "modeld", "models", "driving_vision.onnx")
 POLICY_ONNX_PATH = os.path.join(BASEDIR, "selfdrive", "modeld", "models", "driving_policy.onnx")
@@ -25,8 +26,7 @@ def update_model_hash():
 
 def get_current_default_model_name():
   print("[GET DEFAULT MODEL NAME]")
-  with open(DEFAULT_MODEL_NAME_PATH) as f:
-    name = f.read().split('"')[1]
+  name = DEFAULT_MODEL
   print(f'Current default model name: "{name}"')
 
   return name
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def get_current_default_model_name():
 def update_default_model_name(name: str):
   print("[CHANGE DEFAULT MODEL NAME]")
   with open(DEFAULT_MODEL_NAME_PATH, "w") as f:
-    f.write(f'#define DEFAULT_MODEL "{name}"\n')
+    f.write(f'DEFAULT_MODEL = "{name}"\n')
   print(f'New default model name: "{name}"')
   print("[DONE]")
 
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     exit(0)
 
   current_name = get_current_default_model_name()
-  new_name = f"{args.new_name} (Default)"
+  new_name = args.new_name
   if current_name == new_name:
     print(f'Proposed default model name: "{new_name}"')
     confirm = input("Proposed default model name is the same as the current default model name. Confirm? (y/n): ").upper().strip()
diff --git a/sunnypilot/models/model_name.py b/sunnypilot/models/model_name.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2d9c549763
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sunnypilot/models/model_name.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+DEFAULT_MODEL = "POP model"
diff --git a/sunnypilot/selfdrive/car/sync_car_list_param.py b/sunnypilot/selfdrive/car/sync_sunnylink_params.py
similarity index 100%
rename from sunnypilot/selfdrive/car/sync_car_list_param.py
rename to sunnypilot/selfdrive/car/sync_sunnylink_params.py
diff --git a/sunnypilot/sunnylink/athena/sunnylinkd.py b/sunnypilot/sunnylink/athena/sunnylinkd.py
index b896d26ab4..5e7b400d97 100755
--- a/sunnypilot/sunnylink/athena/sunnylinkd.py
+++ b/sunnypilot/sunnylink/athena/sunnylinkd.py
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ from websocket import (ABNF, WebSocket, WebSocketException, WebSocketTimeoutExce
                        create_connection, WebSocketConnectionClosedException)
 
 import cereal.messaging as messaging
-from openpilot.sunnypilot.selfdrive.car.sync_car_list_param import update_car_list_param
+from openpilot.sunnypilot.models.default_model import DEFAULT_MODEL
+from openpilot.sunnypilot.selfdrive.car.sync_sunnylink_params import update_car_list_param
 from openpilot.sunnypilot.sunnylink.api import SunnylinkApi
 from openpilot.sunnypilot.sunnylink.utils import sunnylink_need_register, sunnylink_ready, get_param_as_byte, save_param_from_base64_encoded_string
 from openpilot.sunnypilot.sunnylink.capabilities import generate_capabilities, CAPABILITY_LABELS
@@ -214,6 +215,7 @@ def getParamsMetadata() -> str:
     schema = generate_schema()
     schema["capabilities"] = generate_capabilities()
     schema["capability_labels"] = CAPABILITY_LABELS
+    schema["default_model"] = DEFAULT_MODEL
     raw = json.dumps(schema, separators=(",", ":")).encode("utf-8")
     return base64.b64encode(gzip.compress(raw)).decode("utf-8")
   except Exception:
diff --git a/sunnypilot/system/params_migration.py b/sunnypilot/system/params_migration.py
index 5d5c75ffeb..2f796c174e 100644
--- a/sunnypilot/system/params_migration.py
+++ b/sunnypilot/system/params_migration.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ See the LICENSE.md file in the root directory for more details.
 import json
 
 from openpilot.common.swaglog import cloudlog
-from openpilot.sunnypilot.selfdrive.car.sync_car_list_param import CAR_LIST_JSON_OUT
+from openpilot.sunnypilot.selfdrive.car.sync_sunnylink_params import CAR_LIST_JSON_OUT
 
 ONROAD_BRIGHTNESS_MIGRATION_VERSION: str = "1.0"
 ONROAD_BRIGHTNESS_TIMER_MIGRATION_VERSION: str = "1.0"