The location sharing menu now shows which apps or services are using your location
Not a Tesla App
Tesla has now started rolling out Tesla update 2024.26 more widely, so lets take a look back at update 2024.20 and go through all of the changes that weren’t mentioned in the official release notes.
Prior to this update, if the customer opened the hood, the vehicle may not properly detect that the hood is open and may not notify the customer when the vehicle is put into drive. This could cause a potentially dangerous condition in which the hood isn't latched and opens during the vehicle's operation and obstructs the driver's view.
Autopilot Attention Warning
The Model S/X get a new attention warning
Not a Tesla App
On the Model S and Model X, Tesla will now display the Autopilot warning more predominately.
When you need to apply additional resistance to the steering wheel, Tesla will now display the attention warning on the left-side of the instrument cluster.
Location Sharing Information
The location icon that appears when an app or third-party service is requesting your vehicle's location has been updated to display more details.
If you tap the location icon in the status menu, Tesla will now display the app or service that is accessing the vehicle's location, even if it's the official Tesla app.
If it’s a third-party service accessing the vehicle’s location, the name of the service will be displayed. If the location is being requested by someone using the official Tesla app, then Tesla will display “Tesla Mobile App,” and then display the Tesla account that is being used to access the vehicle’s location. If it’s the primary account, Tesla will display “Owner.”
Location Sharing Button
There's a new location button in the Software menu
Not a Tesla App
In the Software tab under vehicle settings, Tesla has added a new location button that opens up the same dialog box that’s presented when you tap on the location icon in the status bar. This allows you to bring up the Location Sharing menu at any time, instead of having to wait until the location icon appears in the status menu. However, similar to the location icon, this dialog box will only show you apps or service that are actively using the vehicle’s location.
Tesla may eventually expand this menu so that it shows apps that have accessed your location over a longer period, such as the last 24 hours.
Tesla Atari Games Removed
Tesla Atari games have been removed for AMD-based vehicles
Not a Tesla App
Tesla Atari games, which are a part of Tesla Arcade, have been removed from vehicles with the AMD Ryzen processor.
This includes games such as Gravitar, Tempest, Millipede, Missile Command, Lunar Lander, Super Breakout, and Asteroids.
Tesla Atari games were the first games Tesla introduced with Tesla Arcade, which was initially called TeslAtari.
At this time this appears to only affect vehicles with the AMD Ryzen processor, but it may be removed from all vehicles in the future. While some of these games are still fun to play today, they likely didn't get much use given Tesla's more modern games such as Cuphead and Skyforce Reloaded.
Explicit Content Filter for TIDAL
TIDAL can now limit explicit content
Not a Tesla App
The Explicit Content setting under Audio Settings > Options now also applies to TIDAL in addition to Streaming, Apple Podcasts and Apple Music. The ability to block explicit Apple Music content was added in update 2024.14.
There has been extensive reporting on what the long-anticipated affordable EV option would become, and we’ve seen numerous news stories mentioning that it was delayed or even arriving on time. The executive team revealed the near-term and long-term plans for Tesla’s upcoming vehicles, and there’s definitely good news to share here.
Updated Timeline
The most important piece of news is that despite all the talk of delays from supposed inside sources, Tesla has confirmed that the plan for its more affordable model remains on schedule for production to begin in the first half of 2025. Tesla’s executive team narrowed that timeline down further - and said that they expect production to kick off as soon as June and that the new model will be in the market shortly thereafter.
While the production timeline itself is on track, Tesla did note that the subsequent ramping process will likely be slower than initially hoped, citing global tariff and financial impacts as challenges to overcome to prepare its production lines.
Hybrid Production Approach
Tesla has once again confirmed that this will not be their next-generation vehicle, built using new production methods. Instead, they outlined a relatively more pragmatic approach for this new model.
Tesla will utilize aspects of both the next-generation platform as well as some parts of its current platforms (namely the Model 3 and Model Y). This means that Tesla will produce this new vehicle on the same manufacturing lines as the Model 3 and Model Y.
This strategy allows Tesla to bring the vehicle to the market more quickly, while also managing capital expenditures more efficiently by using existing infrastructure. However, Tesla’s executive team also noted that this approach, while faster, will result in fewer cost reductions than what might have been achieved with an entirely new platform and dedicated manufacturing process.
Vehicle Design
Using these existing production lines means that Tesla’s new vehicle will likely share some considerable similarities with either the existing Model 3 or Model Y. Rather than being a radically different and smaller vehicle, this new model will resemble the overall form factor and shape of Tesla’s current core offerings, while being optimized for a lower cost.
This doesn’t mean that Tesla is forgetting the overall goal here. Their ultimate goal is to reduce the initial cost of ownership and lower monthly payments for customers while maintaining a standard of excellence and safety.
Not Unboxed
Both at this Earnings Call and previous ones, Tesla has indicated that this new vehicle will not be using the innovative unboxed assembly method, at least for the time being. That relatively unique method will be developed and implemented specifically for the purpose-built Cybercab and for future vehicles on the next-generation platform.
We’re just a few days away from May, so it won’t be long before we see more about this upcoming vehicle. Stay tuned.
In a follow-up move to the current US administration’s goals to introduce a federal framework for autonomous vehicles, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is loosening autonomy restrictions following an announcement from Secretary Sean Duffy on X. This new initiative helps streamline complex regulatory processes and foster home-grown innovation.
From the Wright Brothers to the first astronauts on the moon, our nation has always been at the forefront of transportation technology.
That’s why today we're unveiling a new Automated Vehicle Framework from @USDOT’s Innovation Agenda ⬇️ ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/W3kbMUwQSn
As part of the broader upcoming USDOT Innovation Agenda, the newly unveiled AV Framework is designed to promote American innovation and strengthen domestic engineering while maintaining existing safety standards. The framework centers around three key principles:
Prioritize Safety
Unleash Innovation
Enable Commercial Deployment
To kickstart this AV framework, USDOT announced two initial steps focused on streamlining processes and expanding opportunities.
Crash Reporting Requirements
Under the first principle to Prioritize Safety, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) will maintain its Standing General Order requiring crash reporting on Advanced and Automated Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS and ADS).
However, the reporting process will be streamlined following feedback from AV innovators, likely including Tesla. The goal here is to focus on collecting critical safety information while removing unnecessary or duplicative items from the reporting process, thereby reducing the burden without compromising safety.
Cutting Red Tape
Directly tied to the second principle of Unleash Innovation, the framework also seeks to slash red tape. The first step here is the expansion of the Automated Vehicle Exemption Program, or AVEP. This program allows manufacturers to petition for temporary exemptions from certain federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) for testing or deployment purposes.
Previously, the standard excluded domestically produced vehicles. Now, domestically produced AVs will not need to meet FMVSS, which will broaden the scope for manufacturers to test more innovative and unique designs and technologies.
Single National Standard for AVs
Finally, tied to the third principle of Enable Commerical Development, USDOT intends to move the United States closer to a single national standard for autonomous vehicles. This aims to prevent a confusing and inefficient patchwork of state-level or city-level laws and regulations, which can create hurdles for companies attempting to innovate, deploy, and scale their technology.
A unified standard across the United States also means that Canada and Mexico will likely be able to follow, as they share homologization standards across North America, including for vehicle crash safety and some autonomy regulations.
What This Means for Tesla
These framework changes will likely have a substantial impact on Tesla. The move towards a national standard is potentially the most impactful change, as Tesla identified regulatory hurdles as one of the most significant challenges it will face with the deployment of both Unsupervised FSD and its Robotaxi network.
The reduction of FMVSS requirements and streamlined reporting will likely play a role in the future as well. The FMVSS requirements are probably already being worked on, if not already met, by the Cybercab and other vehicles in Tesla’s lineup.
Meanwhile, the streamlined reporting will be helpful once Tesla officially launches its Robotaxi network in June.
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