Tesla's recent initiative to tailor its vehicle design and software to meet the unique consumer needs of the Chinese market represents a shift in the company's global strategy. Franz von Holzhausen, Tesla's Head of Design, has articulated the company's commitment to this approach, emphasizing the importance of localizing product design and engineering.
Emphasizing Local Needs in Design
Franz von Holzhausen, in his statement reported by Shanghai Securities News (h/t Drive Tesla Canada), stressed the significance of understanding and integrating local needs into product design. He mentioned, "Tesla spends time and energy listening to the demands of different markets, integrating local needs into product design, and ensuring that the products are safe and good-looking from the perspective of design and engineering." The new Model 3 was engineered and designed in China. It appears to be one of Tesla’s most successful refreshes. It looks like Tesla may be looking to double down on this idea.
Software Localization
We can already see some of Tesla’s localization efforts in recent software updates. Tesla has recently introduced several features in software updates that are either exclusive to China or debuted there. Examples include the traffic light countdown, a smart voice assistant, and complex intersection views. These are excellent examples of Tesla's localization efforts and may offer a glimpse into Tesla’s design future.
Traffic Light Countdown and Intersection Views
Tesla recently added traffic lights to its navigation system in various regions, but they have now gone one step further and added a countdown to a green light in China. The next traffic light on the map will count down to when it turns green. In China, this is available due to government-supplied data, while in other countries it’s transmitted over special frequencies instead of over the web.
Tesla in China can now display accurate traffic light countdowns with minimal errors. pic.twitter.com/SBRYACQhfv
Prior to this, Tesla added detailed intersection views that are displayed at upcoming turns. This feature was more recently added to South Korea.
Smart Voice Assistant
The introduction of an advanced voice assistant in China is a leap from Tesla’s rudimentary voice commands that are available in most countries. This smart assistant provides services like weather updates, language translation, and basic information. It’s not clear yet how this service directly compares to Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant, but it’s an effort to improve Tesla’s basic voice commands and keep Tesla relevant in rapidly progressing markets such as China.
Design Studio in Beijing
Tesla's R&D center in Shanghai is central to its efforts in China. Housing numerous laboratories and teams for software, hardware, and AI development, this center is instrumental in creating market-specific adaptations and innovations.
Furthering its commitment to the Chinese market, Tesla has plans to establish a design studio in Beijing allowing for even greater customization and adaptation to local tastes and preferences. By addressing specific regional needs, Tesla not only solidifies its market presence in these areas but also sets a precedent for how global car manufacturers can successfully cater to diverse consumer bases.
In a post on X, Elon Musk mentioned that FSD V12.5 for Hardware 3 vehicles will soon be receiving a smoothness upgrade. This was in response to a user post that they have encountered a lot of phantom braking on FSD V12.5.4 with Hardware 3.
As a HW3 owner with V12.5.4, I can certainly agree with that—there has been a significant increase in phantom braking, especially near and around green lights or traffic merging from behind the vehicle.
For context, phantom braking is when the vehicle uses the brakes harshly for seemingly no reason. There isn’t a single reason for phantom braking, but it could be related to harsh light, the front cameras being obscured, or the vehicle detecting an incoming object across its path.
Smoothness Upgrade
This smoothness upgrade will hopefully prevent the issues that users—myself included—have been experiencing on FSD V12.5.4, along with other improvements to make the ride smoother. FSD 12.5 currently doesn’t pass the “coffee cup” test like HW4. FSD V12.5 was initially touted as the comfort update, and while it is smoother than V12.3.6, there is still a lot of work to do.
We’re hoping the next update for V12.5 will bring additional braking smoothness to HW3 and better-timed decision-making. V12.5.4 still leaves lane change decisions to the last few seconds, resulting in changing lanes right before your exit. This can result in a jerky or somewhat unexpected motion if you’re going down a new route.
Either way, we’re looking forward to additional improvements to FSD and are happy to see the focus Tesla still has to improve FSD on older hardware. The next major FSD update is expected to include the end-to-end highway stack, just like the Cybertruck.
In Tesla software update 2024.32 and onwards, Tesla has made a big—and unexpected—change to how its vehicles handle power sockets. This change impacts every vehicle except the Cybertruck, where you can already adjust how power sockets are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Power Socket Change
This change to the power sockets means that in 2024.32, Tesla vehicles will have their 12v sockets and USB ports turned off while in Sentry Mode. Previously, while the car was awake or Sentry Mode was active, the 12v sockets in the rear of the vehicle and any of the USB ports would all remain powered.
Now, owners will no longer be able to operate devices that rely on these ports once the vehicle falls asleep. This change renders some accessories almost useless, such as vehicle fridges. Owners previously relied on Sentry Mode coming on when their vehicle was parked, which kept the fridge in the vehicle’s sub-trunk powered. This change will also prevent owners from using Sentry Mode to keep USB ports powered to charge laptops and other devices.
Until further changes are made, owners will have to use Camp Mode to keep 12v sockets and USB ports powered. However, Camp Mode leaves the vehicle unlocked, making it insecure and unsuitable for things like sub-trunk fridges.
Cybertruck Power Interface
Tesla may be planning to integrate the Outlets & Accessories menu from the Cybertruck into the rest of its vehicles. The outlets menu in the Cybertruck allows you to keep the cabin (and bed) outlets in the vehicle active, even when the vehicle isn’t in use. These outlets remain powered for up to 12 hours after the Cybertruck is exited.
The Power Menu in the Cybertruck
Not a Tesla App
Sentry Mode Improvements
Drew Baglino, Tesla’s now former SVP of powertrains and energy, said back in February of this year that Tesla was looking at reducing the amount of power that Sentry Mode used. He stated that Sentry Mode power consumption needs to be improved and that the team was working on an update to reduce power by about 40%. According to Baglino, the improvements were expected to come in the second quarter of this year, but it’s not clear if this change in update 2024.32 is part of those changes that will lower Sentry Mode’s power consumption.
Even if these are planned changes, we hope Tesla makes them optional, and lets owners choose when to keep outlets powered and when to conserve energy.
Tesla Service Responds
MarkSPurcell
Update: Tesla service has now responded to some users regarding this issue. A Tesla service rep says that Tesla is receiving a lot of feedback regarding this change, meaning that this isn’t simply a bug. However, it’s still not clear whether this change was made to improve power consumption while Sentry Mode is enabled, whether it’s to reduce wear on the low-voltage battery which powers the 12v power sockets and USB ports, or if i’s due to an entirely different reason.
Hopefully, we’ll hear something officially from Tesla soon.
![Tesla Disables 12V Power Sockets and USB Ports With Sentry Mode in Update 2024.32 [Tesla Service Responds]]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/2022/powered-trunk.jpg/1359d7f569e52e41547b08e99eb75e28/powered-trunk.jpg)
