As part of update 2024.26.1, Tesla is bringing some oft-requested user features, including two of the biggest ones — the ability to schedule climate and charge cycles.
Although both of these options were available before, they were very limited in features, for example, if you wanted to precondition your cabin, you could only choose between weekdays or weekends, not anything in between. Scheduled charging was better, but you couldn’t pick the days of the week to charge, or choose a stop time. For owners with a time-of-day electrical plan, where the price goes up after a certain time, the ability to stop charging before the price increases is beneficial.
For now, this update is in a very limited release with only about 0.1% of the fleet having access to it, but it’s expected to go out to more vehicles soon.
In settings, there’s a new tab called Schedule, right after Navigation. There’s also a shortcut in the climate menu that will take you to the same location.
Schedule Location
Schedules for preconditioning or charging your vehicle are location-dependent, so your vehicle will only precondition at the selected time if it’s at the location you picked.
With the new scheduling options, you’ll be able to pick the location from a drop-down menu of saved locations, including your current location, Home, Work, and labeled Favorites. You can set a different schedule for each location. You can now set a schedule for any location even if you’re not physically there. Previously, setting a preconditioning or charging schedule only applied to the vehicle’s current location.
Start Times, End Times & Days of the Week
In the precondition or charging sections, you’ll be able to see any schedules that were already created for the selected location. Tapping on the + button will reveal additional options to create a new schedule.
From here you’ll be able to select a start time, end time, which days of the week the schedule should apply to, and whether this is a one-time occurrence or if the schedule should repeat.
These new options let you quickly set up temporary preconditioning or charging schedules when traveling.
You can set climate and charge schedules
@greggertruck/X (Edited by NATA)
You’ll be able to add multiple schedules, for example, you can have the vehicle precondition the cabin at 8 am during the week, but then create a second schedule for it to also precondition when you leave work at 5 pm, or create a completely different schedule for Saturdays, etc. Likewise, you can have different charging schedules during the week versus the weekend when electricity is sometimes cheaper.
Tesla App
In addition to setting schedules up through the vehicle, you’ll also be able to create them through the Tesla app once your vehicle receives update 2024.26.
Those with Tesla Solar and Tesla Powerwalls will find that this new interface is already compatible with Charge on Solar. Charge on Solar overrides the schedule settings when excess energy is available but will fall back to these settings if energy isn’t available.
These are two very welcomed features that will save some owners some money, while also reducing electrical loads on the grid by letting them set charge stop times.
If you have a consistent schedule, the preconditioning options are a huge improvement as you won’t have to remember to manually precondition anymore.
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In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, Tesla’s VP of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, confirmed that the new Model Y will feature adaptive headlights.
As Moravy was talking about the updated headlights in the vehicle, which now sit a few inches lower than before, he stated that in a couple of months, Tesla will add adaptive headlights in the U.S.
While Tesla has already introduced adaptive headlights in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, the feature has yet to make its way to North America.
Originally delayed in the U.S. due to regulatory issues, manufacturers have been able to implement adaptive headlights since mid-2024. Meanwhile, competitors like Rivian and Mercedes-Benz have already rolled out their own full matrix headlight systems, matching what’s available in other regions.
Update: This article has been updated to clarify that adaptive headlights will indeed be launched in the U.S., shortly after the vehicle launching in March.
Currently, Tesla in North America supports adaptive high beams and automatic headlight adjustment for curves, but full matrix functionality has yet to be rolled out. Meanwhile, matrix headlights are already available in Europe, where they selectively dim individual beam pixels to reduce glare for oncoming traffic and adapt to curves in the road.
It was surprising that matrix functionality wasn’t included in the comprehensive 2024 Tesla Holiday Update. This feature would likely improve safety ratings, so we can only assume Tesla is diligently working to secure regulatory approval.
Adaptive Headlights on Other Models
Lars didn’t confirm whether the refreshed Model Y comes with the same headlights as the new Model 3 and the Cybertruck, instead simply calling them "matrix-style” headlights.
The headlights on the new Model Y appear very similar to those available in the 2024+ Model 3, possibly meaning these other models will also receive adaptive headlight capabilities in the next couple of months.
For vehicles with older-style matrix headlights, it’s unlikely that adaptive beams support will launch at the same time, but they will hopefully become available soon afterward.
For the first time since launching Tesla Insurance in 2019, Tesla will begin underwriting its own policies, starting in California.
Tesla Insurance originally debuted in California and has since expanded to several U.S. states. Until now, policies were underwritten by State National, a subsidiary of the Markel Insurance Group. However, Tesla is now transitioning to fully in-house underwriting, beginning with its home state.
As part of this shift, California Tesla Insurance customers who receive an in-app offer to switch will be eligible for a one-time 3% discount on their next term’s premium—covered entirely by Tesla Insurance.
What is Underwriting
Underwriting is the process an insurance company uses to assess risk and determine whether to offer coverage, at what price, and under what terms.
Insurers evaluate factors such as driving history, credit score, age, vehicle type, and location. In Tesla’s case, vehicle driving data (not available in California) also plays a key role in risk assessment. These factors help classify drivers into risk categories, which influence their base premium.
From there, coverage limits, deductibles, and policy inclusions or exclusions can further adjust the final premium up or down.
Robotaxi and Other Benefits
At first glance, underwriting insurance might seem like a complex and costly process for Tesla. However, there are several compelling reasons why this move makes sense.
Insurance Income: Insurance is a highly profitable industry. Companies set rates based on risk, offering lower premiums to safer drivers and higher rates to riskier ones. This not only maximizes profitability but also incentivizes safer driving behavior, reducing overall claims.
Data Advantage: Tesla collects vast amounts of driving data through its Safety Score system. While California doesn’t allow Safety Score to impact premiums, Tesla can still use this data in the underwriting process to refine risk assessments and pricing for its vehicles.
Control Over Repair Costs: By underwriting its own policies, Tesla gains direct control over repairs and total loss decisions. This allows them to dictate when, where, and how repairs are done, optimizing costs for parts, labor, and service while ensuring vehicles are fixed according to Tesla’s standards.
FSD-Driven Discounts: Tesla has already begun offering insurance discounts for drivers using Full Self-Driving (FSD). By underwriting its own policies, Tesla could expand these incentives, potentially offering greater discounts to frequent FSD users in the future.
Preparing for Robotaxi: Perhaps the biggest long-term reason for this shift is the June launch of the Robotaxi fleet. How will Tesla insure these vehicles? The answer is simple—by underwriting its own policies and assuming liability.
Tesla’s decision to underwrite its own insurance isn’t just about cutting out middlemen—it’s a step toward lowering costs, increasing profitability, and preparing for the future of autonomous driving, a risk many insurance companies may be unwilling to make.
Further Expansion
This could be a strong sign that Tesla is preparing to expand its insurance offerings now that it has taken on the underwriting process itself. In July 2024, Tesla hired a former GEICO insurance executive to lead the expansion of Tesla Insurance and help reduce costs—a move that now appears to be paying off.
Rather than a traditional expansion, Tesla has instead made a bold move by bringing underwriting in-house, something few expected. However, it aligns with Tesla’s strategy of vertically integrating and controlling key aspects of its business, whether in manufacturing, software, or now, insurance.
If this pilot program proves successful, it could pave the way for Tesla Insurance to launch in more states—and potentially even other countries. With 2025 shaping up to be a pivotal year, we may see Tesla accelerate its insurance expansion sooner than expected.
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