Tesla continuously updates their vehicle owner’s manuals to reflect the latest software updates and the Holiday update is no exception. We often comb through (thanks Niner!) the owner’s manual and find all the undocumented changes that weren’t mentioned in the release notes.
The 2024.44.25 update included several changes which we’ve categorized into various categories below to make them easier to read.
Service Maintenance Changes
Front Camera Window Cleaning
Tesla has added new instructions indicating that the inside of the windshield within the front camera enclosure (behind the rearview mirror) must be cleaned periodically. Previously, there was no indication of this being a regular maintenance item.
Tesla now advises users to schedule cleaning service if it is needed by checking the new maintenance section under Vehicle Controls > Service > Maintenance. Tesla recommends that cleaning be scheduled through a service appointment.
If you’re interested in doing this task as a DIY, you can search your relevant vehicle’s Service Manual for “Quad Camera Cover - Upper (Remove and Replace).” The procedure is not too difficult, but you’ll, at a minimum, need a tool to pry trim-free safely. We recommend a service appointment if you’re not confident in doing that.
Desiccant Bags
Tesla has also gone ahead and removed another set of instructions. Previously, Tesla indicated that the desiccant bag in the A/C portion of the heat pump required replacement every four years. This has now been removed from the manual.
This change is likely because Tesla saw no need to continue replacements of these desiccant bags, which could have been superfluous. It seems likely that the desiccant bags last far longer than 4 years - likely well past the vehicle’s warranty period.
This particular change only applies to vehicles with heat pumps. Older vehicles not equipped with heat pumps (such as a legacy Model S or older Model 3s) still have the desiccant replacement indicated at the 4-year mark.
Vehicle Dynamics
Regenerative Braking Setting
Tesla offers two regenerative braking options on older vehicles, Low and Standard. However, the low setting was removed on vehicles after January 2024. While the normal setting may take a while to get used to for new EV owners, it increases the vehicle’s efficiency and affects the numbers Tesla can show for the vehicle’s EPA range.
What’s interesting in this version of the owner’s manual removed the note saying that regenerative braking options are not available on vehicles manufactured after January 2024.
This appears to indicate that regen braking options could come back as a setting in the future, at least in some fashion. Keep in mind that this doesn’t indicate that the also-removed Stopping Modes are coming back - that part of the manual still has the relevant text about it being removed.
Steering Wheel Weight
This is a relatively simple naming change. Tesla has renamed the steering wheel weight option from Medium to Standard. There are no additional changes here except renaming.
Construction and Accident Alerts in More Regions
Tesla began adding new map icons, including road closures, accidents, and construction within the US, as part of update 2024.2. The text indicating this feature was limited to the United States has now been removed, which means that the feature is expected to roll out to other regions.
Construction and Road Closures are already available in Canada, so we’re likely just waiting for more data providers to work with Tesla for this addition.
Parental Controls
When you enable Require Safety Features in your vehicle’s parental controls, the below options will be automatically enabled and won’t be able to be changed or removed.
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
Obstacle-Aware Acceleration
Automatic Blind Spot Camera
Blind Spot Collision Warning Chime
Automatic 911 (Emergency) Call
Allow Mobile Access
Park Assist Chimes
Lane Departure Avoidance - Locked to “Assist”
Speed Limit Warning Set to Chime
Speed Limit: Set to Relative
Offset Set to +5 mph (8 km/h)
Forward Collision Warning - Locked to “Early”
New to parental controls are the speed limit setting being set to relative and the offset being set to +5 mph.
Valet Mode
Not a Tesla App
Additionally, Valet Mode, which prevents drivers from using certain vehicle features such as Autopilot/FSD and other features, also improves privacy by removing home and work addresses, access to driver profiles and more.
With the Christmas update, it’s adding one more thing to the list. If your device is still connected to the vehicle via Bluetooth while Valet Mode is turned on, the vehicle will no longer show or read text messages.
Valet Mode prevents access to over a dozen features and even forces the vehicle to remain in Chill Mode to reduce acceleration. Check out our guide to read all the features and restrictions of Tesla’s Valet Mode.
Strike Outs & Autopark
Vehicles with a cabin camera can receive up to five strikes before Autopilot features are no longer available. While vehicles without a cabin camera can receive three strikes. Autopark was previously considered to be a part of this, meaning if you strike out, you’d also lose access to automated parking.
However, now, even if you strike out, you’ll still have access to Autopark. Remember that strikes reset one per week for every week of strike-free driving.
Camp Mode Ports & Sockets
As part of a text change (no feature change), Tesla now points out that Camp Mode will keep the vehicle’s USB ports and 12V sockets operational. There is no change to this functionality after Tesla disabled Sentry Mode 12V Socket access.
Cabin Radar
Last but not least, is that the Cabin Radar is now primarily used for cabin occupancy rather than seat sensors. Tesla did this to both address a recall, and to use the cabin camera sensor as a backup. The cabin radar is located right above the rearview mirror in newer Tesla models, close to the cabin camera.
Tesla now indicates in the manual that blocking the cabin radar or cabin camera will throw errors and prevent Autopilot or FSD from engaging.
This version of the owner’s manual includes various changes. While some are minor, some are definitely interesting and hint at other features coming soon.
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Following customer requests, Tesla has once again returned FSD Transfers for North America. This comes after some new details we received on FSD Supervised and Unsupervised at the recent Q1 2025 Earnings Call.
Vox Populi, Vox Dei … FSD Transfer is back
All countries (in NA), all S3XY + @cybertruck (excl Foundation Series & Launch Series)
This latest round of FSD transfers doesn’t have a specific time limit - so if you’re in the market for a new vehicle and were worried about transferring FSD from a HW3 vehicle - now is the best chance.
This transfer opportunity is applicable for any new vehicle purchases, including the Model S, 3, X, Y, as well as the Cybertruck. The only vehicles it doesn’t apply to are the Foundation-Series Cybertruck or a Launch-Series Model Y, which already come with FSD included.
If you’re conducting an FSD transfer, you’ll need to reach out to your Tesla delivery coordinator through the Tesla app to confirm you’re eligible and to get the process started.
Note that once you take delivery, FSD access is removed from your older vehicle, regardless if you plan to trade in your vehicle or keep it.
Canada and Mexico
For those in Canada and Mexico, there’s some good news. This opportunity is available for customers in those countries as well, however, new vehicle orders are currently paused in Canada and Mexico for unknown reasons.
Running Offers
There are also several other offers running in North America, with the country flags indicating which countries their available in:
0% Financing on new Model 3 Orders (60mo, 0.99% for 72mo) 🇺🇸
Deep Blue Metallic and Pearl White are currently free on a new Model 3 Performance 🇺🇸
Original Model Y Owners are receiving $2,000 off the purchase of a Refreshed Model Y 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇲🇽
Free Supercharging on the Model S and Model X 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇲🇽
Free Supercharging on the Foundation-Series Cybertruck 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇲🇽
Tesla’s long-awaited ambitions for a fully autonomous Robotaxi network powered by the futuristic, control-less Cybercab have finally started to take shape.
During their Q1 2025 earnings call, Tesla shared new details about its Robotaxi network, including that the network will start with new Model Ys. The Cybercab will join the network in 2026.
Robotaxi Plans
Tesla confirmed during the Earnings Call that it is on track to conduct the pilot launch of its Robotaxi network in Austin in June 2025. The first vehicles deployed for this service won’t be Cybercabs, as production for those is still in the prototyping stage.
However, Tesla did outline part of their plan for the Robotaxi network rollout. The initial aim is to begin driverless operations in Austin and then expand the service to other cities within the United States by the end of 2025. Interestingly, Tesla is also testing in California - albeit with safety drivers at this time.
Not a Tesla App
Looking further ahead, there are ambitious plans to ramp up operations to have millions of vehicles operating autonomously within the network by the end of 2026. While substantial revenue generation won’t be immediate, Tesla anticipates that the Robotaxi network will start to “meaningfully move the financial needle” in the second half of 2026.
Tesla also highlighted the current real-world benefits that FSD is already offering today—and will be able to offer to many more people in the near future.
These include reducing effort and time spent on daily commuting or transit, as well as improving mobility for customers with disabilities. Tesla plans to emphasize some of these community stories and wants to highlight the advantages and capabilities of FSD to improve people’s lives.
Robotaxi App and Robotaxi Vehicle UI
Not a Tesla App
After the call, Tesla AI also shared a video showcasing the Robotaxi interface in the Tesla app, as well as some footage that included the in-vehicle UI, at least as it currently stands.
The video shows Tesla employees using and testing Robotaxi features, although there are safety drivers in place. It looks like there is already a set of well-integrated UI mechanisms for both the front and rear screen when in Robotaxi mode.
Tesla is testing this today, and this network has already completed 1,500 trips, totaling approximately 15,000 miles. The system is being tested for vehicle allocation, mission control, and remote assistance operations.
Remote Operators
Inevitably, edge cases or unique situations will come up, and they will be difficult to handle. For these cases, where a Robotaxi vehicle gets stuck or requires assistance, Tesla will likely implement remote support.
While they didn’t completely confirm remote support operators on the Earnings Call, Tesla has previously posted positions for Teleoperator Engineers for Robotaxi, and an AI T=team member posted on LinkedIn about testing for remote assistance operations.
Scaling Up
Tesla initially intends to deploy a relatively small fleet in Austin, with its pilot beginning with about 10 to 20 vehicles on day 1. They will scale up gradually as the systems are validated and operations are refined, and the target is for anyone visiting Austin to be able to hail a robotaxi by the end of June or early July 2025.
Scaling Out
Not a Tesla App
Tesla’s confidence in scaling out stems from its generalized approach with FSD. The team believes that once FSD is thoroughly verified and capable in a few diverse North American cities, deploying it to any other North American city should be technically feasible. After all, driving regulations don’t vary much from one major city to another, except for things like no right turns on red lights.
The primary limitation with scaling out geographically is expected to be securing regulatory approvals in different regions and jurisdictions. While the principles of Tesla’s FSD are expected to apply globally, as with the China rollout, regulation will continue to be a considerable hurdle.
Cybercab
FSD Supervised ride-hailing service is live for an early set of employees in Austin & San Francisco Bay Area.
We've completed over 1.5k trips & 15k miles of driving.
This service helps us develop & validate FSD networks, the mobile app, vehicle allocation, mission control &… pic.twitter.com/pYVfhi935W
Tesla’s fully autonomous, two-seater vehicle, the Cybercab, is also being developed. While volume production for the Cybercab won’t begin until 2026, Tesla is already undergoing sample production validation. The first actual Cybercab builds are expected to be completed near the end of Q2 2025, and we’re excited to see if anything changes from the prototypes shown at We, Robot.
Tesla intends to build Cybercab at Giga Texas, and the production line is on schedule, according to Tesla. Cybercab production will not require a new building and will be built inside the existing Giga Texas factory.
Unboxed Method
Tesla's Shareholder Deck for Q1 2025 is now out, and we're 40 minutes away from the Earnings Call.
It seems Tesla won't be using the unboxed process for its more affordable model - which is a new vehicle.
The Cybercab’s production and low-cost methodology heavily rely upon Tesla’s innovative new unboxed manufacturing method. Tesla’s executive team mentioned that progress and implementation with this new manufacturing solution was going well, and it will be key to lowering the cost of production while considerably raising the level of automation.
Tesla has already achieved key milestones with this method, including successfully integrating large sub-assemblies and resolving challenges related to connecting portions of the vehicle's ceiling during the process. They have also successfully completed corrosion testing related to the new assembly method, as well as begun initial crash testing for the Cybercab.
All of that and more will eventually be incorporated into other vehicle production lines, and the Cybertruck is already benefiting from some aspects of these developments. With a final ambition of achieving a 5-second cycle time per Cybercab, Tesla has come a long way—but it still has quite a bit to go. They’ve managed to meet a 33-second cycle time for the Model Y at Giga Shanghai between two production lines, but 5 seconds per vehicle is quite ambitious.
Not a Tesla App
With all that said, between Robotaxi and Cybercab, there is a lot of interesting news coming from Tesla. We expect this to continue throughout the year as Tesla launches its network and then aims to release FSD Unsupervised to customers, with a potential price increase.
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