Tesla To Add Official Support for Third-Party Services and Apps

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla appears to be adding official support for third-party services
Tesla appears to be adding official support for third-party services
Not a Tesla App

A new addition has surfaced in your Tesla account settings. Under Profile Settings on the web, there is a new option that will let you manage third-party applications. It appears this feature is in its emergent stage, with no way to add apps yet. However, this development signifies that Tesla could be close to releasing official support for third-party apps, giving you an official and more privacy concise way to let other services access your vehicle. These third-party apps should not be confused with the apps in your vehicle and the rumored Tesla App Store.

This update to Tesla's account page appears to have slipped under the radar until now. The option is found nestled under security options alongside multi-factor authentication under Profile Settings. The new "Third Party Apps" section appears to be a central location to give or revoke access to select third parties.

Bringing third-party apps into play could redefine the relationship between Tesla and its user base, paving the way for a more customized, privacy-focused experience.

Better, More Secure Access

Third-party applications like TeslaFi help Tesla owners track their vehicle usage. To function, these apps currently require complete access to the vehicle. However, with official third-party support, Tesla could introduce more controlled access, providing a secure way to share specific vehicle information.

In addition to added security, services like TeslaFi could benefit in terms of usability and functionality by leveraging official ways to gain access to vehicle data.

Promising Prospects: Apple Maps EV Routing and More

The integration of third-party apps could yield some exciting possibilities. One potential development is the utilization of Apple Maps EVrouting, an innovative feature that allows real-time analysis of your vehicle's route and battery charge. This tool would enable users to plan their trips more efficiently, even considering real-time EV charger availability.

Such advancements will benefit users and usher in a new age of collaboration, making driving a Tesla an even more integrated part of our connected lives.

Questions Remain on Support and Access

While Tesla's move to support third-party apps is thrilling, many questions still need answering. Will any companies be able to add support? Will there be a need for a paid developer account similar to Apple's? Will there be API fees or limitations in the API?

While it's not possible to add third-party apps right now, the ability to view services with access is already live on the Tesla site, indicating that a rollout might be around the corner. There's no doubt that this feature could significantly enhance how Tesla owners interact with their vehicles and third-party services, marking a new era of intelligent, user-friendly experiences. However, until more information is made available, all we can do is speculate on the details and eagerly anticipate what Tesla has in store for us.

Tesla Cybertruck: Puddle Lights, Powershare & FSD in Canada and Cybertruck on Mars?

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

The Cybertruck is having an eventful November. Just last week, we shared the news that Tesla isn’t offering their in-house wrap service for the Cybertruck anymore; the Foundation Series is now available in inventory in select US locations, Crossbars have arrived, and faster charging is around the corner. Now there’s even more to discuss about the stainless steel beast.

Projection Puddle Lights

Like the recently launched puddle lights for the Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla has introduced a set of add-on Projector Puddle Lights for the Cybertruck. These Cybertruck-specific ones go for $75 USD, or $105 CAD and are available in both the Canadian and US Tesla stores.

However, these don’t have the Tesla wordmark - instead, they feature the iconic Cybertruck symbol and, in our opinion, look even nicer. Here’s to hoping Tesla also introduces a set with the graffiti-style Cybertruck wordmark.

Powershare in Canada

While the Foundation Series Cybertruck has been getting delivered in Canada since November 7th, there was no news on Powershare being supported due to regulatory constraints. On the 20th, Foundation Series owners in Canada began to receive emails to get their Powershare installs started through Tesla’s official installer - Qmerit.

More to follow on pricing and the process as we receive our Canadian quote from Qmerit soon.

FSD in Canada

The Cybertruck Program Manager, Siddhant Awasthi, confirmed that with Powershare now becoming available, FSD for the Cybertruck in Canada will also become available soon. Canadian trucks shipped with a factory software build that didn’t include FSD, but did include TACC and stoplight/traffic control.

Early this morning Tesla began rolling out a new version of FSD 12.5.5.3 for the Cybertruck, which is update 2024.39.5. Will this be the version that rolls out in Canada?

Update 2024.39.5

FSD Supervised 12.5.5.3
Installed on 0% of fleet
7 Installs today
Last updated: Nov 22, 12:00 am UTC

First Mars Payload

Following Integrated Flight Test 6 for SpaceX’s Starship, Elon Musk confirmed that uncrewed Starships are likely to begin making their way to Mars in about 2 years. You’re probably going to ask what’s going to be in those Starships - that’s what Brett Winston on X asked as well. Elon confirmed that Cybertrucks and Optimus robots will be among some of the first items landing on Mars.

That’s a ton of awesome news for Cybertruck, and there’s absolutely going to be more around the corner, especially as we await the big Tesla Holiday Update. While you wait, why not take a look at our Holiday Update Wishlists?

First Look at Tesla’s New 'Blind Spot While Parked' Feature [VIDEO]

By Karan Singh
Automobile Propre

Tesla software update 2024.44.3 has started rolling out to customers in larger waves recently and it brings several new features - including Actually Smart Summon to Europe and the Middle East, as well as improvements to Autopark. But that’s not all, it also adds a new Blind Spot Monitoring feature to the new Model 3, and potentially the Cybertruck, but that’s still to be determined.

We previously covered the Blind Spot Warning While Parked as part of our preview notes for update 2024.44, but now that it's going out to customers, it's time to see it in action.

Blind Spot Monitoring While Parked

If the vehicle’s door open button is pressed, and a vehicle or object is near or incoming, the vehicle’s Blind Spot Warning Light (2024 Model 3 and Cybertruck) will illuminate, an audible tone will ring and the door won’t open. A message will also be displayed on the center displaying, letting driver’s know why the door didn’t open.

Pressing the button a second time will allow you to override the warning and open the door normally, providing a way to get out in case you just parked close to a nearby vehicle or obstacle.

The object detection for this new feature includes cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and other objects - like things including traffic cones, bollards, strollers, and other large obstacles that FSD and vision-based Autopark detect during normal operation. Of note - this only works for the front two doors. Thanks to X user Max, who did some testing for us, It does not work for the rear passenger doors.

Optional Feature

The feature is optional - it’ll be enabled by default for safety, but if you need to enable or disable it, you can do so under Controls > Safety. For now, the feature is only available on the 2024 Model 3, but we expect it to roll out to the Cybertruck at least. However, there’s no reason why it can’t be added to other vehicles as well, minus the small red dot. We expect Tesla to eventually add this feature to all Tesla vehicles, but it’s currently not a part of update 2024.44.

Enhauto’s S3XY Buttons & Commander

If that’s not enough safety and vision for you, Enhauto, the makers of the popular S3XY Buttons and Commander recently put out a new software update for the 2024 Model 3, which makes some fantastic use of the ambient lighting.

With Enhauto’s solution, users are able to tie their ambient lights to Autopilot use, turn signals or even if a vehicle is their blind spot. Check out the video below for this awesome implementation, where the ambient lights turn red when another vehicle approaches.

Maybe Tesla will integrate something like this into a future update? We’ve been hoping for more customizability with their ambient lighting - it's an easy safety win and a demonstration of Tesla’s do-more-with-less attitude.

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