Tesla has just released its newest software update, version 2024.26 to its employees. The update is now available for any employee that has access to “wave 1” releases.
We have our first look at the update and some of its most popular features. This is a large update that brings some of the most requested features to Tesla's OS, rivaling Tesla's recent Spring Update in terms of popularity.
YouTube Music and Amazon Music
In this update, Tesla has added two new music streaming services, including the popular YouTube Music and Amazon Music services. We first wrote about Tesla adding Amazon Music back in May, but it’s now official with update 2024.26.
Both of these music streaming services will require Tesla's $10 / month Premium Connectivity add-on or an active WiFi connection. You can also use your mobile phone's hotspot to get around the required Premium Connectivity, but this won't work for all premium features.
Tesla says that YouTube Music will let you access all of your liked and added songs, along with your playlists and artists and podcasts you've subscribed to. You'll need a subscription to YouTube Premium which costs $13.99 / month.
As for Amazon Music, any Amazon Prime members will be able to use Amazon Music in their Tesla without paying an additional subscription cost. Amazon also offers Amazon Music Unlimited, which will also be available but requires an Amazon subscription to use. Like YouTube Music, you'll need Tesla's Premium Connectivity feature or use a WiFi or hotspot connection to use Amazon Music.
Weather and Air Quality Index
In addition to the music services, Tesla has added two additional features if you subscribe to Premium Connectivity. Unfortunately, it looks like Tesla is paying a fee for this data, so it won't be available if you're on WiFi or a hotspot. You'll need to have a Premium Connectivity subscription to use these features.
Like Tesla has shown in China for a while, Tesla will now display the Air Quality Index in the vehicle's status bar. Unlike in China, this will only be displayed if the AQI is considered poor.
If the AQI is poor, then you'll see an AQI label at the top of the screen with the AQI reading.
You'll now also be able to tap the temperature reading in your vehicle and receive a weather report. When you tap the temperature, you'll see a popup that displays the day's high and low temperatures, as well as the chance of rain.
Lately, Tesla has really been pushing Premium Connectivity and it continues to add value to the service by adding additional features. Some of the features are available on WiFi, so you can try them out when connected at home or a nearby business, while others are only available when you subscribe to Premium Connectivity.
These updates in 2024.26 have been some of the most requested features, so it’s nice to see Tesla finally add them. A lot of users are still hoping Tesla will add SiriusXM music streaming, and with all the music services added lately, you gotta imagine that's coming soon. Especially when it means that Tesla could drop the required SiriusXM receiver in the Model S and Model X. Tesla is known for dropping hardware in favor of software solutions, so this seems like a candidate.
Release Date
Since this update has just gone out to wave 1 employees today, it could be a week or two before we see any customers receive this update in their vehicles. However, the amount of time varies from just a few days to several weeks, depending on the bugs found during employee testing. If you haven’t checked out all the features in Tesla update 2024.26, go on and take a look as there’s quite a bit more in there, including parental controls and a new climate screen.
After launching puddle lights that spell out ‘Tesla’ in China several months ago, Tesla has finally added the add-on Projection Puddle Lights to the North American store. Before launching them worldwide, Tesla appears to have been using China as a testing ground for its accessories. This is an interesting move, and it's not the first product we’ve seen soft launch in China before a North American and European launch. Tesla did the same with the Caraoke Mic it launched in the U.S. back in July.
Puddle Lights
This pair of puddle lights costs $65 USD or $90 CAD at the Tesla Store right now and is available for the Model Y, as well as all versions of the Model 3. This includes the 2024 Model 3 Highland Refresh, as well as older Model 3s built before 2024. Currently, these are not available for the Model X and Model S.
The lights themselves present a high-definition Tesla wordmark – text only, no logo – of Tesla onto the ground whenever the driver and front passenger doors are opened. While these would technically be compatible with the rear two doors as well, Tesla doesn’t state this.
Third-party options that include the rear two doors often mention that they suffer from reduced brightness as the wiring harness in the rear door doesn’t bring as much power to the rear door puddle lights.
Installation is done by the customer, and isn’t covered by Tesla – but they do offer a page on their DIY service manual on how to get them installed. Installation is straightforward, but you'll need a blunt plastic tool to remove them from the door and to detach the power adapter from the original puddle lights.
We recently discussed a bunch of features that the Tesla Android App is missing in comparison to the Tesla iOS App, but we didn’t look at the other side.
If you’ve got an NFC-capable Android phone and a Tesla, you actually have a feature that’s not available on iPhones. You can tap your phone on Tesla’s NFC card reader to unlock or lock your car, just like you can with your keycard. Tap to Unlock is enabled by default on Android and cannot be turned off on NFC-capable phones unless you disable NFC in your system settings.
Tap to Unlock
Android provides Tesla with access to the API necessary for Tap to Unlock to function over Near-Field Communications (NFC). This means that the Tesla app can serve as a backup keycard if, for some reason, your Phone-as-a-Key (PAAK) doesn’t immediately unlock the car upon waking it.
You’ll need to be a bit precise with this, as most phones have a small NFC location near the center on the back of the phone. You’ll also want to place it slightly under the B-pillar camera, where the car’s NFC reader is.
When you’re successful, the car will honk twice and unlock. Of note, this will not load your pre-set profiles as if you’re unlocking using your phone key, as the car treats this as a unique key. You will not be able to set up Tap to Unlock to load a particular profile – it seems to load a “default” profile every time. This also means that if you’ve got your mirrors set to unfold or your seats to move back, this will also not happen.
However, once you hop in, you can select your profile and everything will adjust to you. Your phone will continue to work as a phone key to keep you authenticated so that you can start your car.
Unlock Car Even If Phone Battery is Drained
This feature serves as a convenient way to get your car open and unlocked if your phone won’t power on or if the car doesn’t recognize your phone key, which can sometimes happen. On newer Android phones, NFC remains on even if your phone battery has run out since NFC uses so little power.
If you disable Bluetooth on your phone or your phone battery is on empty, your phone key won’t work, so you’ll need to authenticate again inside the vehicle to start the car. You can place your phone on either the Wireless Charger (for newer vehicles) or in the NFC slot between the cup holders and the center armrest to authenticate.
Other NFC Devices
For those more adventurous, you can also use other NFC-capable devices as Tesla keycards. Personally, the author uses an NFC-capable ring, as well as a third-party app on an Android Watch as backups. They serve solely as backups in the case of a lost phone rather than my primary keys.
