Tesla recently rolled out FSD V13 to early access testers, but we’re still discovering more capabilities of Tesla’s latest FSD version. FSD V13.2 has major new features like Start FSD from Park, Autopark at Destination, and the ability to reverse, but there are also lots of smaller improvements.
FSD V11 and FSD V12 both move over when semi-trucks or other large objects are nearby - but they don’t move over for other cars encroaching on your lane space. That’s changing now, with FSD V13 now giving other vehicles more space when they get too close.
Of course, FSD is also much smarter and aware of both its own vehicle’s size and the size and location of objects around it. This all adds up - because now FSD can make multiple-point turns to get out of extremely tight spaces too.
Moving Over
While it doesn’t seem like a lot, this is a movement that humans naturally perform when there is another vehicle near them. It helps give people in the vehicle - whether Supervising or being a passenger - a sense of safety. In addition, it also provides other vehicles with a buffer zone, ensuring that there are no mishaps when a human driver swings their wheel too harshly or too early.
Beyond providing that sense of safety for both drivers, it also provides FSD with a little bit of space. If there is a need to perform an emergency maneuver, whether braking or moving out of the way, this little bit of space could make all the difference. This is especially true as FSD V13 is 2x faster at making decisions than FSD V12 - which was already faster than humans. Those extra moments could make all the difference.
FSD Gives Space When Being Passed 🚗💨
I love these thoughtful little touches, even when they scare me😅I didn’t see the car approaching pic.twitter.com/uqukREfgf7
Setting all that aside, it's good to see FSD acting more and more human as time goes on—especially when learning good defensive driving habits. Tesla is already collecting audio data to train its AI on audio input, and soon, the vehicle will react to certain sounds, such as vehicle honks and emergency vehicles. It will even gain the ability to honk itself. As FSD becomes more human, it also becomes more predictable for other drivers, which means it will become safer for both FSD users and other road users.
On top of that, due to the way Tesla’s End-to-End AI training is performed, these small defensive driving changes will propagate throughout the entire model. As FSD is trained and realizes that driving safely is rewarded, it will continue to learn to drive safely. As we know, Tesla’s next big challenge as they reach FSD feature completion is the March of 9s - making FSD that 99.9%, then 99.99%, and then 99.999% safer.
Tight Spaces
FSD V13 also gained the ability to reverse, and along with that - it can perform really well when faced with extremely tight spaces. Robotaxis and fully autonomous vehicles won’t be able to rely upon a human to help them on these occasions, so it’s essential that FSD is able to determine how much space it needs to turn around and get out of a tight location.
Check out this video below from WholeMarsBlog where FSD makes it out of a relatively tight location with a couple of effective turns.
We look forward to seeing FSD V13 put in more situations that it previously wasn’t able to handle. FSD V13.2 is still with early-access testers, but hopefully we’ll see this extended to more HW4 users later this month or in early 2025.
HW3 could see a version of V13 at some point in the future, but Tesla is clearly focused on HW4 right now, and Tesla would need to create a smaller model for HW3.
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Tesla has released software update 2025.2.6, and while minor updates typically focus on bug fixes, this one introduces a major new feature. With this update, Tesla has activated the in-cabin radar, a sensor that has been included in some vehicles for more than three years but remained unused until now.
Why Not Vision?
Unlike vision-based systems, radar can precisely measure object dimensions and even detect movement behind obstacles by bouncing radio waves off surrounding surfaces. This allows for more accurate and reliable measurements of objects that vision may not even be able to see, such as behind the front seats.
What Tesla Announced
Tesla recently highlighted the 4D radar in the new Model Y, explaining how it will improve passenger safety. Tesla executives stated that the radar would be used to properly classify passengers and improve the way airbags deploy.
Tesla went on to say that in a future update, Tesla will use the in-cabin radar to detect any potential passengers left in the vehicles. Since radar can even pick up on heartbeat and breathing patterns, it can provide a much more accurate method of detecting children left in a vehicle. Tesla talked about how the vehicle will send owners a notification via the Tesla app and enable the HVAC system if it detects a passenger in the vehicle. It’ll even call emergency services if needed.
New Feature in Update 2025.2.6
Tesla has officially named this feature in update 2025.2.6, “First-Row Cabin Sensing Update,” which appears to align with the first portion of what Tesla discussed in the new Model Y video.
In the release notes, Tesla describes the update as:
“The first-row cabin sensing system has been updated to use cabin radar, which is now standard in all new 2025 Model Ys. Your Model Y was built pre-equipped with the necessary hardware, allowing Tesla to also bring this technology to your vehicle.”
For now, it appears that Tesla is using the radar to detect and classify passengers in the front seats. This could eventually replace traditional seat sensors, reducing the number of hardware components and lowering production costs.
Tesla plans to expand the feature later this year, bringing rear-seat passenger detection in Q3 2025. While Tesla talked about the feature for the new Model Y, we expect it to be available for all vehicles with the in-cabin radar.
Supported Models
Although Tesla is vague in their release notes, this feature is being added to all Model Ys that include a cabin radar. Tesla started including the cabin radar in 2022, but its availability may vary by region and model. The Model 3 didn’t receive the cabin radar until it was redesigned in 2024, while all Cybertrucks already include it.
The owner’s manual for the redesigned Model S and Model X doesn’t specifically mention the interior radar, although Greentheonly believes the vehicles also include one, so we’ll have to wait to determine whether those vehicles also receive this new feature.
At this time, the feature appears to be only going out to Model Y vehicles, but we expect it to become available on other supported models soon.
We love to see these kinds of updates. Tesla is increasing the safety of existing and new vehicles through a software update while also making them more affordable to own.
Tesla has updated the Tesla app to version 4.42.0, and this time, it’s more than just bug fixes. The app includes a new service interface, introduces support for the new Model Y, and, for the first time, includes some code for the Robotaxi coming later this year.
This update was released for iOS and should be available on Android within a few days.
Refreshed Model Y 3D Model
First up in the update is the introduction of the 3D model for the refreshed Model Y. Interestingly, while we all know it as Juniper, the file code name inside the update lists the vehicle as “Bayberry.” The Bayberry name was introduced in Tesla app update 4.41.5. Tesla’s internal code names sometimes change as the vehicle evolves - and we’ll continue to refer to it as the refreshed or new Model Y for ease of understanding.
A rear-angle shot of the Refreshed Model Y from the Tesla App
@olympusdev_ on X
As usual with Tesla’s 3D models in the app, there’s a lot of detail, although it’s not easy to see since you can pinch and zoom the model in the app. The 3D models used in the app are actually the same models that Tesla uses in the vehicle, although sometimes they include different lighting effects, but they’re all highly detailed.
Robotaxi API
Tesla has added a new endpoint in their app for Robotaxi - and it’s the very first Robotaxi or Cybercab-related item we’ve seen in the app. With the Robotaxi fleet launching in June, according to Tesla, it looks like they’re now adding support to the Tesla app.
What the Robotaxi interface is supposed to look like in the future.
Not a Tesla App
The new app API is called “rides_feedback_upload,” which seems pretty explanatory. Tesla will need to gather a lot of information on ride quality and all the little things in between. What better way than to get feedback directly from users?
While Tesla previously released prototype images of what the Robotaxi app will look like, the introduction of this API into the Tesla app leads us to believe that Tesla will utilize the current app for Robotaxi use.
Updated Service Interface
The Updated Service Panel in the Tesla App
Not a Tesla App
Tesla has released an updated UI for the Tesla Service panel, and we have a ton of details on these changes. This new pane displays appointment details more prominently. If you have a service appointment scheduled, you’ll now see a lot more details on the main service screen. The app will now display:
Your current service status
Appointment date and time, which you can now tap on to add the event to your calendar
Address and hours of the service center. You can now also tap on the address to open up the location in your maps app
There’s also a new appointment details screen (the right portion of the image). This screen displays additional details that were previously unavailable, such as your transport type. The app will display whether you’ll get a loaner vehicle, demo vehicle, or something else.
There are a ton of user experience (UX) improvements in this update regarding service, including clearer language, improved UI fixes to images, and more.
Tesla has been making a lot of positive updates to the Service-related sections of the app lately, and we’re happy to see these coming rapid-fire. Tesla Service is now easier to use and understand. In the previous app update, Tesla also added the ability to pull down to update the service screens.