An In-Depth Look at Tesla's Updated Climate Menu in Update 2024.26.1

By Not a Tesla App Staff
The new climate menu
The new climate menu
enjustice3192/Reddit (Edited by NATA)

Tesla update 2024.26.1 started rolling out to a small selection of lucky customers early this morning. While the update includes several exciting features such as Amazon Music and Parental Controls, we’ll take a look at the redesigned climate menu in this article.

In the ‘Other Updates’ section of the release notes, Tesla teased a new climate panel. Thanks to the update now going out to customers, we have our first look at Tesla’s updated climate screen.

New Climate Menu

The new climate menu compared to the previous one in update 2024.14
The new climate menu compared to the previous one in update 2024.14
Not a Tesla App

Tesla’s updated climate screen doesn’t look a lot different from the previous one, but there has been a lot of reshuffling.

First, climate options that are used after you exit the vehicle such as Keep, Dog Mode, and Camp Mode (differences between these) have been relocated from the far right side to the top center — directly above the climate panel. This makes them a little more obvious and easier for the driver to reach.

When we first heard of the redesign we were hoping for front and rear climate options to be merged into one screen, but unfortunately, that’s not the case in this update. The tabs to switch from the front to rear climate options have just been relocated from the left to the top center. Although this is just shuffling some of the current options, it makes it easier for a passenger to reach and change rear climate options.

Simplified Look and Options

In general, the updated climate screen tries to simplify the interface. Every option, like AC, recirculate, etc, used to be a button with text or an icon inside of a rectangle. The color of the button also signified whether the feature was on, off, or unavailable. However, now all the buttons are simply text or an icon, without an accompanying rectangle or background color.

To simplify the interface further, Tesla has also removed climate options that are currently unavailable. For example, if you have the climate set to auto, you can't turn off the AC or choose which vents the air is blowing through. Previously, these options were grayed out when Auto was enabled, whereas in the new climate menu, they’re hidden when the option is unavailable. In order to change certain features such as which vents are being used, you’ll first need to turn off Auto mode, which will cause the other options to appear.

The new climate menu with Auto turned off
The new climate menu with Auto turned off
Frank2005/TFF Forum

By simplifying the number of options, it also has allowed Tesla to make the vehicle photo in the climate menu larger, which should make it slightly easier to adjust airflow. The view of the vehicle now goes edge-to-edge, which is about 2” larger width-wise.

Shuffling Options

Various other options in the climate menu have been shuffled around. The defogging, rear defrost, recirculate air and fan speed have been moved to the bottom center. Some of the key options such as climate on/off, Auto, Schedule and seat heaters have remained the same or very similar to their previous locations.

New Scheduling option

The new Schedule options in settings
The new Schedule options in settings
enjustice3192/Reddit (Edited by NATA)

Perhaps more interesting are Tesla’s new scheduling options in this update. To get to the new scheduling options, there is a Schedule button at the top right, very similar to before, but the scheduling options have been greatly improved. Instead of a simple popup menu, the button now appears to take you to the new Schedule option in settings, where you’ll be able to create a schedule name and pick specific start and stop times for preconditioning or charging your car.

While a lot of the changes we’re seeing in this update make sense, there doesn’t appear to be any new functionality besides the improved scheduling options. A lot of the work appears to have been focused on simplifying the climate screen and making buttons easier to access.

Tesla to Allow Drivers to Display License Plates in Vehicle Visualization

By Karan Singh
Rendering of what Tesla's license plate feature could look like
Rendering of what Tesla's license plate feature could look like
Not a Tesla App

Tesla update 2024.38 has started rolling out to several regions and vehicles. Thanks to Tesla hacker Greentheonly, we have a behind-the-scenes look at some new features coming to Teslas.

License Plate Display

According to Greentheonly, it looks like Tesla may soon let you display your actual license plate in the vehicle’s visualization on the screen. In our article, The Most Request Tesla Features, several readers suggested displaying the vehicle’s license plate in the visualization instead of a blank, white plate.

It looks like Tesla will be doing just that, at least in China. Green found references that appear to conclude that you’ll be able to display your vehicle’s plate on screen. This will likely be user input, so you could have it say anything you’d like, and it doesn’t have to be your actual license plate.

For many owners, who may find it difficult to remember their license plate, this could serve a practical purpose in addition to adding to the visualization's realism.

While Green was only able to say it’ll be available in China, we expect this is due to China’s software development team working on it and that it’ll eventually be released worldwide.

We’ve seen several features originally released in China and later applied to everyone. Some of these include the Air Quality Index display, the trip meter that displays traffic along your route, and even the ability to change your vehicle’s color.

While code for this feature was found in update 2024.38, we may not be turned on in China yet. We suspect this feature may be a strong candidate for Tesla’s upcoming holiday update.

FSD Hardware Version Display

As part of the 2024.38 update, Tesla has now made it easy to determine whether your vehicle includes Hardware 3 or Hardware 4. You can now simply navigate to Controls > Software and tap Additional Vehicle Information. In addition to other hardware information about your vehicle, your Autopilot hardware version will now be listed as well.

You can see whether your vehicle has HW2.5, HW3, or AI4. This in-car display is useful, but if you don’t have access to the vehicle, you can always use our guide on how to determine the hardware version of a Tesla.

New Battery Health Test & Service Mode Improvements

Green found some additional things as well. There’s a new and improved Battery Health Test. The new test will show you how your car scores compared to similar vehicles in the Tesla fleet.

In addition, maintenance records can now be permanently stored “in the car.” It doesn’t appear that this feature is activated yet, but it’s likely in active development with some parts leaking out in the 2024.38 update.

Tesla has included various Service Mode improvements and new visualizations in this update.

Leaked Images of the Tesla Model Y Juniper Refresh

By Karan Singh
Mr Li on X

It’s been a while since we saw the last batch of leaked images of the Model Y Juniper refresh. That inspiring photo, alongside other images, set the blood of many concept artists on fire. We saw a ton of awesome concepts of Project Juniper, and now there are even more leaked images.

Mr Li on X came across some covered-up Project Juniper vehicles recently and he managed to get various shots of the vehicle.

Juniper Images

This front image reveals what looks like two rows of lights, possibly confirming the front light bar for the Model Y refresh — similar to the one on the Cybercab.

The rear side has a lot of lights on it!
The rear side has a lot of lights on it!
Mr Li on X

The rear side shows a ton of brake lights, but it’s not clear why. While it looks like the Model Y refresh will also feature a rear light bar similar to the Cybertruck, there isn’t strong evidence of that in this photo.

Mr Li on X

There's an obvious set of lights at the bottom, so it looks like the Model Y refresh will be similar to the new Model 3 where the bottom lights can operate as brake lights when the one-piece tail lights and trunk are up.

Mr Li on X

In the last photo, we see that the overall form factor of the refreshed Model Y will remain unchanged, and Tesla is focusing the changes on the front and rear ends of the vehicle, much like the Model 3 refresh. However, in this one shot, we can also see what appears to be red light leaking out of the rear camera cover opening, possibly due to the rear light bar.

The Model Y is not only Tesla’s best-selling vehicle but also the world’s best-selling car in 2023. This year, it’s expected to be the best-selling vehicle in the United States and again in the world, so this refresh will be huge for Tesla.

We expect most of the interior to remain the same as the Model 3 refresh, which saw substantial improvements in quality, noise reduction, and performance. Check out our wishlist of more things we hope to see in the Model Y refresh.

Dominic’s Concept

Dominic's Concept, in all its glory.
Dominic's Concept, in all its glory.
@DominicBRNKMN on X

@DominicBRNKMN made another fantastic set of concepts based on these new images. Given he had the most accurate Model 3 Highland concept before the official launch, we’re pretty sure his latest work be close here as well.

@DominicBRNKMN

We’re super excited to see the eventual reveal of Project Juniper, which is expected in the first half of 2025. However, expect to see a few more leaks before production kicks off at Giga Shanghai.

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