When Tesla ships a vehicle out from its factory, it’s usually on a fairly recent update – but with a three-digit last set of numbers. These factory firmwares look something like this in general: 2024.26.100, or 2024.26.200.
If you see a vehicle with a 3-digit firmware update – that means it’s fresh from the factory. It’s generally not anything unique, and nothing to be concerned – or excited – about. However, there have been a couple of instances where Tesla has included a new feature in factory firmware, such as the time they started measuring distances without ultrasonic sensors.
Why Does Tesla Do This?
Sometimes, factory firmware is the most stable version of a specific software build – and one that is generally up to date or one major update behind. This is done for a couple of reasons; one is new Tesla owners receive a stable software version without major issues.
Next, sometimes Tesla does incremental hardware updates to its vehicles on the production lines. These incremental hardware updates also require software support – generally reflected in these factory firmware. After all, Tesla won’t put support for an incremental hardware update in an older firmware version.
When Do You Receive an Update?
Factory firmware generally lags behind a few weeks to other Tesla software updates. In general, when a vehicle is on factory firmware, it’ll be about a month before it receives its first true software update.
So don’t worry! If you’ve got a vehicle on factory firmware, you’ll likely receive a software update a little later than everyone else. But once you do get your first one, you’ll be on the main software track and ready to receive consistent software updates through the normal process.
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Many Uber drivers use Teslas – in fact, Uber and Tesla have a joint sales program that helps Uber drivers either get Tesla rentals, or purchase/lease their own Tesla using Uber’s EV Assistance Package.
Uber has now upped their game further by integrating two features directly into Tesla – Automatic Trip Navigation and Battery-Aware Matching.
Automatic Trip Navigation
Automatic Trip Navigation connects the Uber app with Tesla. This means that when an Uber driver accepts a trip, the pick-up destination will be automatically sent to the Tesla. Once you arrive and the passenger(s) enter, their destination is automatically set in your vehicle’s navigation so that you can begin your trip. This makes the process seamless and could even save a few minutes off each trip.
Battery-Aware Matching
Another perk that comes with connecting your Tesla and Uber accounts is Battery-Aware Trip Matching. This means that you’ll only see trips, including travel distance to the pickup area, as well as the trip itself – that are within your currently estimated battery range.
For Uber drivers, this is a fantastic feature that helps filter our trips you’re not able to complete without charging. Uber drivers will have an easier time planning trips, as well as planning for their next charge – whether that’s at home, or at a Supercharger.
Setup
Setup for both Navigation and Battery-Aware Matching is simple. In the eligible vehicles pane in the Uber App, you can hit the connect button next to your Tesla. You’ll then sign into your Tesla account and grant access to Uber. Uber uses the official Tesla API for third parties to determine the range left on your vehicle and to send destinations to your navigation system.
For iOS and Android, you’ll want to grant the necessary permissions by selecting the boxes next to Vehicle Information and Vehicle Commands and hit allow. On Android, you will also have to go to Menu > Account > Navigation and enable Tesla Navigation as the primary navigation.
These two new features make Tesla Uber driving an even more compelling pitch, as many Uber drivers already save quite a bit of money from driving a low-maintenance EV, alongside the reduced cost of electricity compared to gas.
Tesla Investor Relations has officially confirmed that they will conduct the Robotaxi unveiling event on October 10th in Los Angeles. Event sign-up will be done using a random drawing for Tesla shareholders. The final date for entries is a week from today, on September 17th at midnight, and the selected shareholders will be announced the week of September 23rd.
Sign Up
You’ll need to own Tesla stock ($TSLA) to participate and will be required to verify your shareholder status on the Investor Relations site. The random drawing provides a better opportunity for those who hold lots of Tesla shares, as they’ll have a higher number of entries. You get one entry per confirmed share held.
At the moment, there are no details on the timing of the event, nor anything about +1 attendees. However, one item of note is that event draw winners cannot transfer their tickets to another party – which means if you get a ticket, it's for you and nobody else.
If you’re located in the United States, you can use ‘Say’ – Tesla’s Investor Relations partner – to automatically verify your shareholder status. For those outside of the United States, unless you’re trading with an American bank, you will need to provide an updated statement showing shareholder status for September 2024. Say takes about 3-5 business days to verify statements, so be sure to sign up early.
Robotaxi Event
The Robotaxi event will take place at the Warner Bros. Discovery Studios in LA, and Tesla has been pre-emptively gathering FSD data around the neighborhood. This likely means that the event will include a demonstration of Robotaxi’s capabilities and a reveal of the Robotaxi itself. We’re hoping that attendees will have the opportunity to sit in and experience Robotaxi delivering them from Point A to Point B inside of the Discovery Studios set pieces.
It’s expected to be one of Tesla’s most interesting and notable events, as this is the first reveal of the much-talked-about Robotaxi, which has been Tesla’s goal for its Full Self-Driving software since Elon Musk’s Masterplan I.
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