Latest Tesla app will now display any recalls for your vehicle

By Alex Jones
The Tesla app can now displayed vehicle recalls
The Tesla app can now displayed vehicle recalls

Like other automakers, Tesla issues vehicle recalls (many involving minor software tweaks) when a vehicle feature or hardware needs to be changed.

With the release of their latest app update (version 4.9), Twitter user Tesla_App_iOS, noticed that Tesla added a new API that could potentially show vehicle recall information.

It didn't appear that the Tesla app was yet using this new API, but just a couple days later it can now be seen in the Service area of the app.

The service section of the app is loaded via a webview, which is essentially a webpage that the app loads when the user navigates to that section.

This allows Tesla to make changes to that section without requiring an app update to display new information.

Tesla, along with other car manufacturers, maintains a database of applicable recalls based on the VIN of each respective vehicle, so Tesla already has all the information needed in order to display recalls for your specific vehicle.

In the App

The Tesla app can now displayed vehicle recalls
The Tesla app can now displayed vehicle recalls

Upon navigating to the Service section, Tesla will list any recalls available for your vehicle.

Tapping an individual recall will give you additional information.

Tesla also has a Learn More button that links off to Tesla's site, where they display detailed information about the given recall.

Notifications

Since the feature appears to just have gone live recently, it's not clear yet whether Tesla will send a push notification to the owner when there is a new recall issued.

A notification could prompt the user to schedule service for critical recalls.

What is currently unknown is if software recalls will also be included in the app, or if it'll be limited to recalls that require Tesla service.

Some software-based recalls, like the removal of Boombox while in drive are displayed in the vehicle's release notes.

This is a welcome new feature to the Tesla app that makes managing recalls simple and convenient.

You can now easily look at or confirm if there are any outstanding recalls with just a few taps.

The feature is available on iOS and Android.

It looks like this feature may not be available in every region yet, as some users like TeslaChinaRider are not seeing it available in the app yet.

Tesla has a history of testing new features in select markets before releasing it broadly. Hopefully that's the case with this feature as well.

Tesla and Rivian Settle 4-Year-Long Lawsuit Out of Court

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla and Rivian have been in court since 2020. Tesla alleged that ex-employees stole and transferred trade secrets. Tesla also alleged that Rivian was encouraging Tesla employees to depart and bring said trade secrets with them on their way to Rivian.

Tesla is now seeking to have the suit dismissed on December 24th of this year, assuming the settlement terms are reached.

Initial Lawsuit

The initial lawsuit in 2020 involved several employees, including a Health and Safety Manager, a Charging Network Manager, and two Human Resources Recruiters, who all departed Tesla to move to Rivian. Tesla alleged that these employees took trade secrets, confidential materials, and proprietary information when they joined Rivian.

The next year, Tesla added to the suit, alleging that Rivian stole technology related to Tesla’s next-gen batteries. That would’ve been the 4680-cells back then - now the updated Cybercell which is shipping in the Cybertruck.

Out-of-Court Settlement

On November 25th, Tesla informed the California state court that it would be settling the matter with Rivian out of court. This means that Tesla and Rivian have come to an agreement outside of the court case, and Tesla will be dropping its lawsuit. This is good for both companies—extended legal battles are extremely expensive, especially with highly paid, specialized lawyers on both sides of the battle arguing it out for nearly four years.

It's good to see that both companies are moving forward. Rivian stock saw a positive bump in yesterday’s trading from this news—approximately 13%. We’re looking forward to seeing what both companies do in the future. It’d be best to see both as allies in electrifying the planet and supporting adventuring rather than at each other’s throats in court.

Tesla is Setting Up Pop-Up Displays Across Malls in the United States [VIDEO]

By Karan Singh
David Zhai on LinkedIn

Each year, around the Holiday season, Tesla puts up pop-up mall displays across the United States, Canada, and certain locations in Europe. It looks like Tesla is continuing this tradition once again this year, as David Zhai, Concept and Prototype Staff Manager at Tesla, has stated on LinkedIn that the Tesla Pop-Up Shops are returning.

Pop-Up Displays

Tesla intends to build small pop-up displays featuring Tesla vehicles, including the Cybertruck, at major malls throughout the United States. These displays are usually temporary and just for the holiday season. However, they’re placed in high-traffic areas, usually near the center of major malls - near food courts and rest areas. 

They’re also usually staffed by members of the local Delivery/Service Center, who are around to answer questions and show off the features of the vehicles on display. After all, seeing a Cybertruck from a distance is one thing - sitting inside is entirely another.

Other Regions

David Zhai didn’t mention whether these would be coming to other regions - just the United States. It seems that while Tesla previously ran these displays globally, it may not be the case this year. We’ll keep an eye out and see if they start popping up in Canada, Europe, or China - let us know if you spot one there!

Drive-By Displays

When Cybertruck launched, Tesla also held drive-by displays throughout North America and Europe. They drove the Cybertruck into places like New York’s Times Square while towing a Model 3 or Model Y on a trailer behind it. These displays were really popular and attracted tons of attention.

We’re hoping to see more of these drive-by displays make a comeback sometime soon. Many owners have yet to see the new Model 3 or the Tesla Semi up close and personal.

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