In a post on X, Elon Musk confirmed that vehicles with Hardware 3 will be receiving FSD V12.5 in about 10 days.
When FSD V12.5 was rolled out initially, it only rolled out to Model Y vehicles with AI4 (Hardware 4). However, just a few days later, FSD V12.5 started rolling out to most AI4-based vehicles.
Hardware 3
Hardware 3 owners have been left feeling behind on this, especially since the divergence between Hardware 3 and AI4 wasn’t supposed to start happening until later this year. Elon has mentioned that even though AI4 is still emulating Hardware 3, the additional compute capacity available on the newer hardware makes it easier to develop.
This pretty much means that Tesla is developing for Hardware 3 but is using the unconstrained compute power of AI4 to test and do initial rollouts. After optimization, it then rolls out to Hardware 3 vehicles. This is similar to how most software is often made – on far better PCs, and then scaled down and optimized to better fit the average computer.
But Tesla clearly isn’t abandoning their Hardware 3 and Tegra-based infotainment (MCU 1) customers just yet. Update 2024.26.3 brings FSD V12 to MCU1 vehicles for the first time. These vehicles are based on an older infotainment chipset from NVIDIA. That’s a great leap in optimization and compatibility and demonstrates Tesla and Elon’s commitment to bringing Unsupervised FSD to any vehicle produced after 2016.
V12.5 is Significant
FSD V12.5.1 has also shown some amazing improvements, with the capability to navigate parking lots and unpaved/unmarked roads being demonstrated by AIDRIVR on X below. That’s one of the key components that Tesla will need for its Robotaxi, as well as for Actually Smart Summon, Park Seek, and Banish Autopark. And Elon has said that there is more to come.
We haven’t heard about these features making it to FSD V12.5 just yet, but we do know that sunglasses-capable hands-free, end-to-end highway stack, more natural lane changes, and Cybertruck FSD are supposed to be coming soon. This laundry list of improvements is found in the Update 2024.20.15 Release Notes, all listed as Upcoming Improvements.
We’re excited to see FSD V12.5 coming to Hardware 3 vehicles – especially as the vast majority of Tesla’s current fleet is still on Hardware 3, not AI4. While Elon has said Tesla doesn’t envision an upgrade path between Hardware 3 and AI4 due to the complexity, there’s always a chance Tesla will develop new AI4-based hardware that meets the power consumption capabilities and space constraints of vehicles running HW3.
In Tesla’s upcoming update, 2024.32.3, Tesla has added hands-free support for opening the vehicle’s frunk. This follows the Spring Update (2024.14), which added Hands-Free Trunk support for certain vehicles.
When hands-free trunk support was added earlier this year, it was supported on vehicles that include an ultra wideband chip, which includes the refresh Model S, new Model X, and the 2024 Model 3. Due to the hardware requirement, these will be the same vehicles that support the new Hands-Free Frunk feature. Legacy vehicles without UWB will unfortunately not support either feature due to the hardware requirement. UWB enables far more accurate tracking of the phone key, allowing Tesla to pinpoint its exact location relative to the vehicle.
The Cybertruck interestingly also includes an ultra wideband chip, however, it didn’t include the automatic opening of the gate earlier this year. However, we expect the Cybertruck to also receive the hands-free frunk opening in this 2024.32.3 update or relatively soon afterward.
Update: The Cybertruck is receiving hands-free frunk support in the 2024.32 update as well.
Hands-Free Frunk
The Hands-Free Frunk works similarly to the trunk feature – with an iPhone 11+ and a recent version of the app, you’ll be able to stand in front of your vehicle, and the Frunk will unlatch after sounding a chime. On some vehicles, the frunk will immediately open after being unlatched, however, you’ll need to manually close it.
This new feature isn’t enabled by default – you’ll need to go to Settings > Locks > Hands-Free Frunk to enable it.
At this time, Tesla doesn’t support UWB on Android devices, though both the Hands-Free Trunk and Hands-Free Frunk support will come to Android users in a future app update, according to Tesla.
Exclude Home
With the addition of the hands-free frunk opening, Tesla has also added a new option. You can now choose to disable the automatic opening when your vehicle is located at home to prevent you from accidentally opening. This will apply to the automatic frunk and trunk. In addition, in the Model X, you’ll also be able to disable the self-presenting doors at home. This is a great addition as many people have kept the hands-free feature disabled due to it awkwardly opening in the garage.
In the 2024.32.3 update, Tesla also mentions that they’ve improved the detection of the phone key, which should make the feature more reliable and faster when approaching the vehicle from the front or rear.
Following its recent launch in the United States and Canada, Tesla has launched their referral program in several European countries as well.
The program is available in Germany, Norway, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and possibly others. The program is almost the same as the one available today in North America, with rewards for each referral and a discount for those referred. The cap in Europe is also ten per year.
This program comes right on the heels of a 0% financing offer for the Model Y in Sweden and France. While referrals aren't currently available in Sweden, the 0% financing still is.
European Referrals
The European Referral program accounts for country and local currency, where applicable.
Country
Referral Discount
Referral Award
UK
£1,000
£500
Germany, France, Netherlands
€1,000
€500
Norway
kr11,500
kr5,750
The referral reward program is comparable to the one available in North America. After exchange rates, there is only an approximately 10% difference between the available rewards in the US and EU.
Other Countries
We expect this program to start rolling out to other European countries over the next few days or weeks, as Tesla continues to expand its referral program.
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