Tesla homeowners love over-the-air software program updates, which add options to reinforce efficiency, comfort and security. However the updates can even make the Tesla expertise extra enjoyable round Christmas time.
This 12 months’s massive “vacation replace” brings a high characteristic that Tesla followers have been clamoring for: Apple Music on the infotainment display screen. Additionally added was Zoom video convention integration utilizing the in-cabin digicam and microphone.
And in line with the celebratory theme of the season, Tesla autos can now carry out synchronized gentle reveals, with flashing exterior lights and transferring motorized doorways to songs comparable to Auld Lang Syne, Tesla stated this week.
“Increasingly automakers are making the most of over-the-air functionality to carry updates to a automobile’s security, infotainment and even drive programs,” stated Robby DeGraff, business analyst at AutoPacific. “Tesla’s been maybe the chief on this observe for years now. And are available every December, homeowners can look ahead to being handled to to all kinds of presents by way of this annual vacation software program replace.”
The Tesla gentle reveals should not new, however now include extra choices, together with the power to synchronize a a number of automobile gentle present as much as 10 minutes prematurely, Tesla stated through the software program rollout to Mannequin S, X, 3 and Y homeowners.
“Throughout the vacation season, you present it off to your loved ones, you present it off to your folks,” stated a number of the YouTube channel ChargeGo concerning the gentle present. “It isn’t even a automotive at that time, it is a toy.”
Tesla’s common Canine Mode, which controls the inside temperature and shows a message on the middle touchscreen for bystanders to not fear, provides a dwell inside digicam feed that may be seen on a smartphone, Tesla stated. That feed can be used with Tesla’s Sentry Mode, a safety characteristic that beforehand used solely exterior cameras.
Surveys present that Tesla homeowners are probably the most loyal amongst auto manufacturers within the U.S., and software program updates are one cause why. Along with small and quirky options, updates could make Teslas sooner and enhance braking efficiency.
House owners of EVs are extra demanding with regards to in-cabin options, in line with AutoPacific, as a result of they spend extra idle time of their vehicles whereas charging. Teslas have lengthy featured streaming companies comparable to Netflix.
“The engineering elves in Musk’s workshop appear to actually be being attentive to what cool and useful options their prospects want,” DeGraff stated.
“Two new options specifically delivered by way of this 12 months’s replace are ones that our current analysis right here at AutoPacific has proven EV homeowners particularly would reap the benefits of greater than homeowners of combustion autos: in-vehicle video conferencing and video gaming,” DeGraff added.
Zoom CEO Eric Yuan posted an image on Twitter of his first video name in a Tesla. The picture reveals Yuan with different members in a grid structure.
The Zoom video feed solely works when the automobile is parked.
The vacation software program replace additionally expands the variety of video video games that may be performed inside a Tesla by including the Steam gaming platform, however just for 2022 Mannequin X and S autos with extra strong pc specs, Tesla stated. These two additionally obtain the power to make use of Bluetooth sport controllers, quite than wired controllers.
Tesla additionally has made good on its promise to carry “observe mode” to the Mannequin Y crossover. The software program setting modifies traction management, braking and cooling programs to extend efficiency and dealing with on closed programs, the automaker stated.
Different software program enhancements embody computerized canceling flip indicators for lane modifications and the power to generate fart sounds by way of the Tesla cellular app — a characteristic known as “emissions testing.” Fart sounds should not new on Teslas, however the distant characteristic is.
The characteristic most requested by Tesla homeowners, in line with surveys, has been Apple Music included into the infotainment. Beforehand, Tesla homeowners may solely use Apple Music by streaming it over Bluetooth by their smartphones, which wasn’t superb. Tesla had built-in apps for competing music companies like Spotify.
The Tesla software program replace doesn’t embody the whole Apple CarPlay suite of apps, which is almost common on new autos from legacy auto manufacturers.
On Tesla on-line boards, homeowners have lengthy speculated that Apple Music was not accessible on Teslas due to a perceived enterprise rivalry between the 2 corporations. Apple is reportedly growing an electrical automotive, autonomous automobile software program, or each. Apple can be increasing its attain into extra automobile capabilities with CarPlay.
Since Teslas are thought-about the “iPhone of vehicles,” in line with some Tesla followers, the shortage of Apple Music was thought-about a obtrusive omission.
“Everybody’s been ready on Apple Music,” stated the ChargeGo host. “It is about time that Tesla reached some form of take care of Apple.”
Tesla vacation updates haven’t been with out controversy since Tesla CEO Elon Musk is thought to push the bounds of what security regulators will permit.
A 2020 Christmas characteristic, Boombox, was later recalled as a result of it allowed any sound to be performed on the exterior speaker of newer Tesla fashions.
NHTSA stated Boombox allowed exterior sounds whereas the automobile was in movement, probably obscuring the EV warning sound that alerts pedestrians to an approaching automobile.
About 600,000 Teslas obtained an over-the-air replace early this 12 months to limit Boombox to conditions the place the automobile is parked. The recall got here after months of wrangling between Tesla and regulators.
On the time of the recall, Musk blamed NHTSA for proscribing the novelty characteristic.
“The enjoyable police made us do it,” Musk stated in a Twitter publish.