Tesla continues to enhance Service Mode in their vehicles
Niner
Tesla's 2023.26 update, which is now available on most vehicles, arrived with several exciting features, including a Spotify player refresh, support for Bluetooth controllers on the Model 3/Y and the rumored Charge on Solar feature for Tesla Solar and Powerwall owners.
The update also included smaller enhancements, such as the multi-cam view in the Tesla app, the ability to automatic turn on the headlights when the wipers are in use (available in select regions) and more.
For the new Model S and Model X, the update also added some features that were previously available on the Model 3 and Model Y, such as the customizable scroll wheel and the ability to reposition the Blind Spot Camera on the center display.
However, most Tesla updates also include smaller improvements not mentioned in the release notes. Owners slowly discover these changes over time, and we've outlined them here.
Improved Phone Calls
Update 2023.26 automatically adjusts the fan speed while you're on a call
Not a Tesla App
When you have your climate system set to 'Auto,' the HVAC fan speed may be lowered automatically to reduce cabin noise while you're on a phone call.
Service Mode Improvements
More Service Mode improvements were included in this update
Niner
Several new diagnostic screens have been added to Service Mode. They include the ability to test your steering wheel stalks, scroll wheels, horn and parking brake. You can now view the status and details of your airbags, low-voltage battery and the pitch of your vehicle's cameras.Service Mode is a mode that's typically reserved for service technicians, although it can be accessed by anyone. It is used to view information and test various aspects of a vehicle.
Supercharging Details
More details are now displayed on the Charging screen
Zer
When charging your vehicle at a Tesla Supercharger, your vehicle will now display more details about the Supercharging session.On the Charging screen (Controls > Charging), your Tesla will now display the price per kWh you're being charged, as well as the total energy charged.This is in addition to the Supercharger location and the total cost for the Supercharger session, both of which were added in prior updates.
Automatic Navigation Improvements
The vehicle will now show you if an automatic destination was chosen
BabyTesla/X
If you have Automatic Navigation enabled in your Tesla, you'll now be presented with your suggested destination when you enter your vehicle.The popup on the screen will display your destination, your ETA, battery upon arrival, as well as a photo of your destination if available.You can begin driving to automatically start the route, or you can cancel the suggested destination.Note: You can turn on Automatic Navigation by going to Controls > Navigation and enabling Automatic Navigation.
Updated Apps Badge
Updated apps will now include a blue dot
Not a Tesla App
Similar to the "New" badges that Tesla added in update 2023.12 that signify which features are new in menus, Tesla will now display a blue dot underneath each app that is new or has been updated.
Daily Charge Limit
The recommended charge level has been updated for some vehicles
The recommended daily charge level has been updated for some vehicles. Depending on your vehicle, the types of batteries it uses and where it was manufactured, Tesla may have lowered the recommended daily charge limit.
Updated Manual App
The recently added Manual app also received an update
Software Release Notes are now part of the Manual App, which already houses the owner's manual and tutorials. The app's icon has also been updated slightly.You can tab between the three sections of the app by tapping on the names near the top.The Release Notes' left column has been simplified and now only lists the name of the new feature, instead of the category such as "Climate Control Improvements."
Almost every update comes with a handful of undocumented changes that may not be big to make it into the release notes. Have you noticed any other changes in update 2023.26 or 2023.32 that we're not aware of? Let us know.
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest Tesla news, upcoming features and software updates.
According to an article published by The Information in early October, Tesla intends to introduce four new types of 4680 batteries in 2026. We already know that Tesla has been working hard on new batteries. The Cybercell - the upgraded 4680, is already a new design meant specifically to get the Cybertruck and future vehicles off the ground.
Tesla has also been working on Solid-State Batteries, but even with Tesla’s technological and engineering prowess, that technology is still quite far out.
The 4680 Cell
To put things in context, the 4680 cell is Tesla’s replacement for the older 2710 cells present in most Model 3s and Model Ys. Tesla has been producing these cells for a long time and has optimized them considerably, both in terms of scale of manufacturing and engineering.
But the tech behind the 2170 cell is old, and 4680 will be Tesla’s next leap forward. They previously tried with the much-maligned 4680 Model Y, but it was quickly pulled from sale. They tried again with the Cybercell—and that went much better. So much better, in fact, that Tesla is working on enhancing the Cybercell even further—using a Dry Cathode Process to make the cell easier and cheaper to manufacture.
The Trouble with 4680
According to The Information, an inside source at Tesla has said that Tesla is losing 70-80% of its anodes—one of the two parts that move electrons from the cell to the vehicle—in test production. Tesla has been working hard to solve this, and they recently demoed a Dry Cathode Process Cybertruck.
First prototype Cybertruck with in-house dry cathode 4680 cells – making it an all dry electrode vehicle pic.twitter.com/NzJxKQrRBp
The 4680 cell is the next leap in large battery packs, but it's a difficult leap to make. Tesla is having trouble moving its research and development to engineering, but it's just a matter of time. Today, the 4680 is primarily made at the Fremont factory in California, but Tesla intends to move parts of its future battery chain production to a new area outside Giga, Texas.
With that new zone, they intend to establish the 4680’s dry cathode process production facility—to produce the 4680D Cell. According to Musk, that move will cut the 4680's production costs by nearly 30%.
The New Batteries
The four cells that Tesla plans to introduce in 2026 have some interesting code names. The first is “NC05.” The NC stands for New Cell, but we’re sure Tesla will come up with a witty name once it comes out of R&D.
NC05 Battery
This cell is intended to be the easy-to-manufacture cell that will power the Cybercab and will likely also power the lower-cost $25,000 model—which we’re still expecting to see sometime next year.
NC20 Battery
The next size up, the NC20, is intended to power Tesla’s SUV lineup and the Cybertruck. This will be a larger-format cell intended for moving larger and heavier vehicles and possibly optimized for towing—a constraint the Cybertruck, on its current 4680s, can find challenging in harsh winter conditions.
NC30 & NC50 Batteries
The NC30 and NC50 are the other two cells that The Information lists, but they’ll be drastically different. They won’t be using the standard cell materials that we’ve seen used up to this point. This is where the focus of Tesla’s R&D likely lies - they intend to introduce cells using silicon carbon into the anodes. Silicon Carbon, or SiC, can hold and move electrons faster than traditional anode materials.
These cells are likely where Tesla will make significant strides in both faster charging times and improved energy output. The advanced anode design, which allows for greater energy transfer, is poised to play a crucial role in Tesla's push for ultra-fast Supercharging.
The NC30 will eventually end up in the Cybertruck and Tesla’s future SUV lineup - maybe a refreshed Model X or Model Y.
The NC50, on the other hand, will be focused on performance and a smaller cell. It’ll power the new Tesla Roadster and likely Tesla’s performance models, such as the Plaid, Performance, and Beast variants.
The Information didn’t provide any information on whether Tesla will utilize this tech on its Powerwalls or Megapacks just yet, but it's likely that both of those two products will see further cost optimization and efficiency gains as well.
We’re excited to see where Tesla takes its battery tech in the future, as charging times and vehicle range are still one thing preventing the mass adoption of electric vehicles.
We’ve been working behind the scenes on a few updates for our readers. We recently saw the unveiling of the Robotaxi and even some leaks of the Model Y refresh. This time, it's our turn for a refresh.
Let’s take a quick peek at the changes coming next week.
New Navigation
One key feature of our site refresh is an updated navigation. The new nav better organizes our content under one of three sections: News, Software Updates, or Guides. Once you tap on a category, you’ll be presented with the pages for that section.
This will also allow us to expose a lot more of our news content — letting you dig down into Robotaxi news, Project Juniper, or specific models. In a future update, we’ll also introduce a new Popular section, letting you easily catch up on news by viewing the best content on the site.
Dark Mode+
Not a Tesla App
Along with the new navigation and some tweaked site colors, we’re also happy to introduce an updated dark mode with new, smoother colors that will be easier on the eyes. It’ll keep our night owls happy and keep your eyes nice and comfy whether you’re using it during the day or night.
Auto-Updating Statistics
Not a Tesla App
We recently also launched auto-updating statistics for each of Tesla’s software updates. These stats let you view the number of installations and rollout of each Tesla update, giving you a better idea of which updates are still rolling out and which are paused.
More Features
We’re also actively working on a couple of other projects, so stay tuned for more features coming soon.
Support Us
The best way to support us is by sharing articles and following us on social media. We’re on X, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, Google News and other popular platforms. If you don’t see your favorite here, just scroll to the bottom of the site to see all of the platforms we’re on.
We launched more than four years ago, in 2020. Here’s a brief look back at what our site looked like then.
A look back at how the site looked in 2020
Not a Tesla App
Feedback
If you have any feedback on the changes, whether it’s good or bad, let us know in our forums or reach out to us.
![Tesla Appears to Have Updated Its Navigation Voice in Newer Vehicles [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/2022/nav-search-results.jpg/b2f526f35d9b7a7c9e9e2a6497e8230e/nav-search-results.jpg)
![Tesla Shows Off Wireless Charging Dock and Vehicle UI [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/charging/wireless-charging-2.jpg/97329945fb4d01274cbf6b15cf7a9ab2/wireless-charging-2.jpg)
![Tesla Adds Smoother FSD Visualizations by Fixing Four-Year-Old Bug [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/fsd-beta/fsd-12-5-6.jpg/3852f2feb2b7731812961c51307876b9/fsd-12-5-6.jpg)
