When you drive a Tesla, every time of the year is good, but December is just a little bit better. That’s because we know Santa Musk and the engineer elves have worked hard to create the best update of the year. To refresh your memory about how epic these updates are, check out our history of the Holiday Update.
A post on Reddit detailed more than 150 things that Tesla owners have on their wish list for the 2023 holiday update. We’ve narrowed it down to the items mentioned the most and added some themes. We will start our series with map and navigation enhancements.
Waze Integration: Real-Time Insights for the Road Ahead
The potential integration of Waze into Tesla's navigation system is possibly already on its way. Tesla hacker, Green, has done some poking around in the code and found enough clues that have the reliable X user reporting Waze-like features are in the works.
Known for its user-generated real-time traffic reports, Waze could offer Tesla drivers valuable insights into speed camera locations, road conditions, traffic jams, and even hazards on the route. However, it is not a collaboration with Waze, Tesla is incorporating its own features - as usual. The difference in Tesla implementation is that users won’t have to manually mark road debris, accidents, etc. Instead, Tesla will automatically pick up such incidents using their vision system, and share the data with the fleet.
This would lead to more efficient route planning, helping drivers avoid unexpected delays and maximize Tesla's electric range. It's a move that emphasizes community and shared knowledge, aligning perfectly with Tesla's vision of a connected and environmentally conscious future.
Traffic Lights and Stop Signs on the Map
One of the most requested features is the integration of traffic lights and stop signs directly into Tesla's navigation maps. This addition is more than a mere convenience; it would provide needed situational awareness by displaying real-time visibility of traffic controls. Tesla drivers can anticipate stops and navigate more smoothly through complex intersections, leading to a safer and more efficient driving experience. Voice guidance could then leverage this new information and say things like, turn left at the traffic light, instead of having to rely solely on distance. This feature would help Tesla maps remain comparable to other mapping solutions like Google Maps and Apple Maps that already display these details.
Another navigation feature that appears to be coming soon is the continuous display of alternate routes as you drive, instead of just showing two or three routes when you begin your drive. Green found evidence of this enhancement back in October, in the 2023.38 update.
3D Buildings for Immersive Navigation
Owners would also like 3D buildings included in Tesla's maps; this is not just about aesthetics but context and clarity. Navigating through unfamiliar urban landscapes can be daunting. Including 3D buildings offers drivers a more intuitive understanding of their surroundings, making locating destinations and navigating busy city streets easier.
It's a feature that brings the virtual world closer to reality, providing a more natural and familiar way of viewing the world through the lens of technology. We have had some significant map upgrades in Korea that include some things more owners want to see globally.
This is just the beginning of a list that Tesla owners have provided. In our next entry to our wish list, we will look at what owners would like to see with autonomy.
The Cybertruck is having an eventful November. Just last week, we shared the news that Tesla isn’t offering their in-house wrap service for the Cybertruck anymore; the Foundation Series is now available in inventory in select US locations, Crossbars have arrived, and faster charging is around the corner. Now there’s even more to discuss about the stainless steel beast.
Projection Puddle Lights
Like the recently launched puddle lights for the Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla has introduced a set of add-on Projector Puddle Lights for the Cybertruck. These Cybertruck-specific ones go for $75 USD, or $105 CAD and are available in both the Canadian and US Tesla stores.
However, these don’t have the Tesla wordmark - instead, they feature the iconic Cybertruck symbol and, in our opinion, look even nicer. Here’s to hoping Tesla also introduces a set with the graffiti-style Cybertruck wordmark.
Powershare in Canada
While the Foundation Series Cybertruck has been getting delivered in Canada since November 7th, there was no news on Powershare being supported due to regulatory constraints. On the 20th, Foundation Series owners in Canada began to receive emails to get their Powershare installs started through Tesla’s official installer - Qmerit.
More to follow on pricing and the process as we receive our Canadian quote from Qmerit soon.
FSD in Canada
The Cybertruck Program Manager, Siddhant Awasthi, confirmed that with Powershare now becoming available, FSD for the Cybertruck in Canada will also become available soon. Canadian trucks shipped with a factory software build that didn’t include FSD, but did include TACC and stoplight/traffic control.
Early this morning Tesla began rolling out a new version of FSD 12.5.5.3 for the Cybertruck, which is update 2024.39.5. Will this be the version that rolls out in Canada?
Following Integrated Flight Test 6 for SpaceX’s Starship, Elon Musk confirmed that uncrewed Starships are likely to begin making their way to Mars in about 2 years. You’re probably going to ask what’s going to be in those Starships - that’s what Brett Winston on X asked as well. Elon confirmed that Cybertrucks and Optimus robots will be among some of the first items landing on Mars.
That’s a ton of awesome news for Cybertruck, and there’s absolutely going to be more around the corner, especially as we await the big Tesla Holiday Update. While you wait, why not take a look at our Holiday Update Wishlists?
Tesla software update 2024.44.3 has started rolling out to customers in larger waves recently and it brings several new features - including Actually Smart Summon to Europe and the Middle East, as well as improvements to Autopark. But that’s not all, it also adds a new Blind Spot Monitoring feature to the new Model 3, and potentially the Cybertruck, but that’s still to be determined.
We previously covered the Blind Spot Warning While Parked as part of our preview notes for update 2024.44, but now that it's going out to customers, it's time to see it in action.
If the vehicle’s door open button is pressed, and a vehicle or object is near or incoming, the vehicle’s Blind Spot Warning Light (2024 Model 3 and Cybertruck) will illuminate, an audible tone will ring and the door won’t open. A message will also be displayed on the center displaying, letting driver’s know why the door didn’t open.
Pressing the button a second time will allow you to override the warning and open the door normally, providing a way to get out in case you just parked close to a nearby vehicle or obstacle.
The object detection for this new feature includes cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and other objects - like things including traffic cones, bollards, strollers, and other large obstacles that FSD and vision-based Autopark detect during normal operation. Of note - this only works for the front two doors. Thanks to X user Max, who did some testing for us, It does not work for the rear passenger doors.
Optional Feature
The feature is optional - it’ll be enabled by default for safety, but if you need to enable or disable it, you can do so under Controls > Safety. For now, the feature is only available on the 2024 Model 3, but we expect it to roll out to the Cybertruck at least. However, there’s no reason why it can’t be added to other vehicles as well, minus the small red dot. We expect Tesla to eventually add this feature to all Tesla vehicles, but it’s currently not a part of update 2024.44.
Enhauto’s S3XY Buttons & Commander
If that’s not enough safety and vision for you, Enhauto, the makers of the popular S3XY Buttons and Commander recently put out a new software update for the 2024 Model 3, which makes some fantastic use of the ambient lighting.
With Enhauto’s solution, users are able to tie their ambient lights to Autopilot use, turn signals or even if a vehicle is their blind spot. Check out the video below for this awesome implementation, where the ambient lights turn red when another vehicle approaches.
Maybe Tesla will integrate something like this into a future update? We’ve been hoping for more customizability with their ambient lighting - it's an easy safety win and a demonstration of Tesla’s do-more-with-less attitude.
I look forward to @enhauto updates more than Tesla...
Ambient light effects....
I set default color to white. Blinks green on turn signals Turns blue on FSD activation Yellow if someone in blind spot Blinks red if turn signal on and blind spot activity detected.
![First Look at Tesla’s New 'Blind Spot While Parked' Feature [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/model-3-2024/blind-spot-indicator-monitor.jpg/4cdcb11af7b1c7cf021ba96588fd4f1a/blind-spot-indicator-monitor.jpg)
![Tesla's Hidden 'Elon Mode' Unveiled: A Sneak Peek into the Future of FSD [Video]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/images/news/2022/fsd-beta-inside_300w.jpg)
