Tesla introduced Auto Cancel turn signals with update 2021.36 on their refreshed Model S and Model X vehicles. This feature makes using the new yoke steering wheel easier since the yoke uses touch-sensitive buttons for turn signals instead of a stalk.
Supported Models
In Tesla’s holiday update, version 2022.44.25, Tesla added the Auto Cancel turn signals feature to all Model 3 and Model Ys that have FSD hardware 3.0. It’s currently not available for legacy Model S and X vehicles and cars that have FSD hardware 2.5 or lower.
How to Enable Auto Cancel Turn Signals
Tesla’s Auto Cancel feature is turned off by default. To enable it, go to Controls > Lights > and toggle Turn Signals to "Auto Cancel." This setting is saved per profile, letting each driver choose their preference. It is also synced to your Tesla profile so that it's available across all vehicles you rent or own.
Behavior Without Auto Cancel
The Model 3 and Model Y currently have two ways to use the blinkers. The first is a soft press, which causes the blinker to flash three times before turning itself off. This is great for when you’re quickly switching lanes on the highway. The firm press, or click, activates the blinker until the wheel is returned back to center. This is ideal for stop signs and other longer events where you may need your turn signal on for longer than three flashes.
Behavior with Auto Cancel
When Tesla's Auto Cancel feature is enabled, the distinction between the soft press and click practically disappears. Tesla will now manage when to turn off your turn signals based on Tesla Vision. The turn signals will turn off only after a turn is completed, regardless of how many times the signal blinks. This is a much more functional (and safer) way to drive since the blinker will only turn off once the turn is completed. This could be as simple as changing lanes on the highway or making a complete left turn at an intersection.
It’s worth noting, though, that the signals will also turn off if the steering wheel is returned to the center, regardless of your setting. The vehicle is also intelligent enough to not turn the turn signal off after a lane change if there is an upcoming turn.
As previously mentioned, the Auto Cancel feature is not yet available to legacy Model S and Model X vehicles. But we’re anticipating Tesla will enable it in a future update.
Auto Shift in Model S and Model X
Tesla’s refreshed Model S and Model X vehicles have garnered a lot of adoration for their design, technology, and safety. To add to the “cool factor” of the vehicles, they come with the ability to automatically shift into park, reverse, and drive.
For example, if you are grocery shopping and your vehicle is pulled up to a wall, the vehicle will know that it can’t go forward; therefore, it needs to reverse and automatically shift into reverse.
Tesla can accomplish this by using its proprietary Tesla Vision, an advanced hardware and software functionality that only uses cameras to make decisions. The goal of Tesla Vision is to resemble human driving and make it safer.
Last year, Elon said the Auto Shift feature will come to all Teslas. With Auto Cancel functionality now being brought to the Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla may be looking to add Auto Shift next.
There has been extensive reporting on what the long-anticipated affordable EV option would become, and we’ve seen numerous news stories mentioning that it was delayed or even arriving on time. The executive team revealed the near-term and long-term plans for Tesla’s upcoming vehicles, and there’s definitely good news to share here.
Updated Timeline
The most important piece of news is that despite all the talk of delays from supposed inside sources, Tesla has confirmed that the plan for its more affordable model remains on schedule for production to begin in the first half of 2025. Tesla’s executive team narrowed that timeline down further - and said that they expect production to kick off as soon as June and that the new model will be in the market shortly thereafter.
While the production timeline itself is on track, Tesla did note that the subsequent ramping process will likely be slower than initially hoped, citing global tariff and financial impacts as challenges to overcome to prepare its production lines.
Hybrid Production Approach
Tesla has once again confirmed that this will not be their next-generation vehicle, built using new production methods. Instead, they outlined a relatively more pragmatic approach for this new model.
Tesla will utilize aspects of both the next-generation platform as well as some parts of its current platforms (namely the Model 3 and Model Y). This means that Tesla will produce this new vehicle on the same manufacturing lines as the Model 3 and Model Y.
This strategy allows Tesla to bring the vehicle to the market more quickly, while also managing capital expenditures more efficiently by using existing infrastructure. However, Tesla’s executive team also noted that this approach, while faster, will result in fewer cost reductions than what might have been achieved with an entirely new platform and dedicated manufacturing process.
Vehicle Design
Using these existing production lines means that Tesla’s new vehicle will likely share some considerable similarities with either the existing Model 3 or Model Y. Rather than being a radically different and smaller vehicle, this new model will resemble the overall form factor and shape of Tesla’s current core offerings, while being optimized for a lower cost.
This doesn’t mean that Tesla is forgetting the overall goal here. Their ultimate goal is to reduce the initial cost of ownership and lower monthly payments for customers while maintaining a standard of excellence and safety.
Not Unboxed
Both at this Earnings Call and previous ones, Tesla has indicated that this new vehicle will not be using the innovative unboxed assembly method, at least for the time being. That relatively unique method will be developed and implemented specifically for the purpose-built Cybercab and for future vehicles on the next-generation platform.
We’re just a few days away from May, so it won’t be long before we see more about this upcoming vehicle. Stay tuned.
In a follow-up move to the current US administration’s goals to introduce a federal framework for autonomous vehicles, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is loosening autonomy restrictions following an announcement from Secretary Sean Duffy on X. This new initiative helps streamline complex regulatory processes and foster home-grown innovation.
From the Wright Brothers to the first astronauts on the moon, our nation has always been at the forefront of transportation technology.
That’s why today we're unveiling a new Automated Vehicle Framework from @USDOT’s Innovation Agenda ⬇️ ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/W3kbMUwQSn
As part of the broader upcoming USDOT Innovation Agenda, the newly unveiled AV Framework is designed to promote American innovation and strengthen domestic engineering while maintaining existing safety standards. The framework centers around three key principles:
Prioritize Safety
Unleash Innovation
Enable Commercial Deployment
To kickstart this AV framework, USDOT announced two initial steps focused on streamlining processes and expanding opportunities.
Crash Reporting Requirements
Under the first principle to Prioritize Safety, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) will maintain its Standing General Order requiring crash reporting on Advanced and Automated Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS and ADS).
However, the reporting process will be streamlined following feedback from AV innovators, likely including Tesla. The goal here is to focus on collecting critical safety information while removing unnecessary or duplicative items from the reporting process, thereby reducing the burden without compromising safety.
Cutting Red Tape
Directly tied to the second principle of Unleash Innovation, the framework also seeks to slash red tape. The first step here is the expansion of the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program, or AVEP. This program allows manufacturers to petition for temporary exemptions from certain federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) for testing or deployment purposes.
Previously, the standard excluded domestically produced vehicles. Now, domestically produced AVs will not need to meet FMVSS, which will broaden the scope for manufacturers to test more innovative and unique designs and technologies.
Single National Standard for AVs
Finally, tied to the third principle of Enable Commerical Development, USDOT intends to move the United States closer to a single national standard for autonomous vehicles. This aims to prevent a confusing and inefficient patchwork of state-level or city-level laws and regulations, which can create hurdles for companies attempting to innovate, deploy, and scale their technology.
A unified standard across the United States also means that Canada and Mexico will likely be able to follow, as they share homologization standards across North America, including for vehicle crash safety and some autonomy regulations.
What This Means for Tesla
These framework changes will likely have a substantial impact on Tesla. The move towards a national standard is potentially the most impactful change, as Tesla identified regulatory hurdles as one of the most significant challenges it will face with the deployment of both Unsupervised FSD and its Robotaxi network.
The reduction of FMVSS requirements and streamlined reporting will likely play a role in the future as well. The FMVSS requirements are probably already being worked on, if not already met, by the Cybercab and other vehicles in Tesla’s lineup.
Meanwhile, the streamlined reporting will be helpful once Tesla officially launches its Robotaxi network in June.
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