While there were a ton of new features for everyone in Tesla’s Holiday update, it was especially true for the Cybertruck. Not only did the Cybertruck receive features such as custom wrap and license plate visualizations and a special Santa Mode, but it also included improvements to the rear camera and more.
Rear Camera Update
The Cybertruck’s rearview camera is a little different from other vehicles since it acts as a rearview mirror when the back glass is covered. Since drivers may need to use the maps and rearview at the same time, Tesla created a special interface that allows you to view the rearview camera on top of the maps.
Wider Rearview: The Holiday update is making additional improvements to this. The rearview camera is now stretched across the full width of the maps, making it a far more seamless part of the interface.
Zooming In: If you double tap the camera or tap the icon in the corner once, you’ll be able to switch between three preset zoom levels - 0.5x, 1x, and 1.5x. And if three isn’t enough, you can fine-tune your zoom by pinching your finger in and out to really get the zoom level you’re most comfortable with.
Door Opener
MattWallaceTech / j32pmxr
On other Tesla vehicles, you’re able to unlatch the driver’s door through the Tesla app, by adding the Unlatch option to the list of Quick Actions. However, this wasn’t available on the Cybertruck, and the only way to open the vehicle doors was to actually walk up to it and press the button.
Now, when you’re within Bluetooth range (approximately 30 ft/10m), the Controls Section of your Tesla App will have a new set of buttons - an arrow facing away from each door. Pressing one of these will pop open the door, similar to the “Open Driver’s Door” button that was previously available for other Tesla vehicles.
It’s a fantastic feature, especially for the winter months, as snow and ice can build up, and pressing the button can become a challenge. Another good use is for your passengers - many of whom are likely unfamiliar with the Cybertruck’s rather unique door-opening solution. You’ll be able to open it as they walk up.
Wes Morrill, Tesla’s Cybertruck Program Manager, confirmed on X that the Offroad Light Bar will eventually make its way to the Tesla Shop, and is compatible with both the Dual Motor and Tri-Motor variants of the Cybertruck.
However, those who haven’t purchased a Foundation-series Cyberbeast will have to wait until everyone who pre-ordered has received their lightbar first.
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Following the latest meeting of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which decides safety regulations for vehicles, it seems that Tesla will be facing further delays and regulatory hurdles in Europe. The Telegraph in the UK reported on this story yesterday following the conclusion of UNECE discussions.
Tesla has been waiting for regulatory approval in Europe, which would pave the way for wider FSD deployment across the EU and other countries that adhere to UNECE regulations.
Regulatory Shut Down
The latest round of delays stems from efforts by the UK, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands to push for additional testing and trials of autonomous systems. Progress toward approving vehicle autonomy in Europe has faced repeated setbacks, and this latest hurdle casts further doubt on the prospects for European customers awaiting FSD.
Regulatory changes that initially seemed on track to ease restrictions were stalled in September 2024 when the UK’s Department for Transport raised concerns, stating:
“While [a driver assistance system] may help reduce collisions, it may also introduce new safety risks.”
This perspective sounds like it comes from someone who has never actually used an advanced driver assist system—whether from Tesla or its competitors.
The UNECE, which oversees vehicle regulations in Europe, is set to meet again in June and November. However, based on the agenda from the most recent session, autonomy does not appear to be on the docket for the June meeting.
What This Means for FSD in Europe
Simply put, FSD isn’t coming to Europe anytime soon. While Tesla has some potential workarounds, none are ideal.
One option would be for Tesla to pursue regulatory exemptions on a nation-by-nation basis—requesting approval for each and every FSD feature separately. That means filing exemptions for lane changes, left and right turns, highway exits, and countless other functions. The bureaucratic process would be exhausting, requiring approval from each country individually.
Alternatively, Tesla could release a heavily restricted version of FSD that complies with current UNECE regulations. However, this would likely make the system impractical, as drivers would have to manually confirm every single action—down to something as simple as adjusting speed—using a physical button press.
For now, Europe’s regulatory framework remains a major roadblock to autonomy. Unless there’s a significant shift in policy, it’s unlikely that FSD will launch in Europe in 2025 as planned.
Tesla recently started rolling out an update that enabled the cabin radar in recent Model Ys and added support for first-row cabin sensing. This functionality not only lets Tesla replace the seat occupancy sensors in the front seats but also gives them a better idea of the size of the passengers — critical information when an accident occurs.
However, Tesla has now revealed that it won’t just be recent versions of Model Y that will receive these updates. Other recent vehicles also have a dormant in-cabin radar that will be activated in a future update.
Child Presence Detection
This front-row occupant sensing is only half of the update. Tesla also plans to add support to the rear seats that will let it detect occupants left in the vehicle. In a post on X, Tesla stated that at least 37 children die per year from heatstroke, just in the United States, according to the NHTSA. Tesla’s cabin radar will help reduce the number of deaths by detecting children left in the vehicle and alerting the owner or turning on the HVAC system.
The new radar has several safety-focused features, and they’re all designed to help protect someone left behind in a vehicle. First up - the radar will detect and classify passenger sizes to determine which airbags to deploy dynamically, helping to reduce injuries from shorter individuals sitting up front.
Additionally, the radar can differentiate an adult from a child or baby - and automatically and dynamically make the necessary safety adjustments on the fly. Tesla will also be able to detect heart rate and breathing through the radar - and has a series of safety steps it can take from here.
If a child or baby is detected being left behind in the vehicle, the Tesla app will immediately notify you and turn on the HVAC system to ensure their safety. In the case of an emergency, the vehicle will automatically call emergency services and report its location.
As a reminder, while Tesla vehicles outside of the United States support eCall, vehicles within the US cannot call 911 unless a phone is connected to the vehicle via Bluetooth. We hope that Tesla looks to add similar capabilities in North America to improve safety capabilities.
Supported Models
Although the cabin radar has only been activated in Model Ys produced in the last couple of years, Tesla said in their post on X that the radar is also available in recent Model 3s and the Cybertruck.
We did a little digging and confirmed that the part numbers for the cabin radar are the same for the 2024+ Model Y, 2024+ (new) Model 3, and the Cybertruck. So, these vehicles should also receive the latest cabin radar features.
Although the 2023 Model Y features a different part number, 2022 and 2023 Model Ys have also been receiving the front-row cabin sensing feature in Tesla’s 2025.2.6 update, but it is less clear whether they’ll receive the rear seats update later this year. The Model S and Model X also include a cabin radar, but the part number also differs from the cabin radar for the 2024 Model 3 and Model Y.
While the new Model Y isn’t available to check against on Tesla’s Electronic Parts Catalog, it looks like Tesla has been shipping the new 4D cabin radar in at least the 2024+ versions of their Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck.
We expect rear-seat sensing to arrive on vehicles with the latest cabin radar later this year, while it’s unclear whether the other vehicles with the older cabin radar will receive it.
Tesla mentioned that rear-seat support will arrive in Q3 2025 for the refreshed Model Y. Based on the different interior sizes and spaces, sensor calibration and testing for other models may come slightly later.
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