Tesla Improves Auto High Beam Lights in Update 2022.40

Many users are seeing drastic improvements to Tesla's auto high beams

EV Raffael/YouTube

For many of us, the days are getting shorter. Unfortunately, with the winter solstice one month away, we will have to deal with even more hours of darkness. This time of year gives headlights a workout, including auto high beams. While Tesla does many amazing things, the auto high beams have been problematic for owners, but that appears to be changing.

A video posted on YouTube by Twitter user @raffaeru shows a night drive with the lights changing from high to low beam. The description of the video reads: Finally, usable auto high beams on Teslas. A welcome undocumented change in software version 2022.40.4.

Twitter Confirms High Beam Changes

Although Tesla did not officially mention improvements to its auto high beams feature in the 2022.40 release notes, many users have reported drastic improvements to the feature. We recently asked people on Twitter if they'd noticed a difference in auto high beams. Some have not, but others raved about the change. Here are some responses:

Video of Improved Auto High Beams

@Arpe_DK: Yup, so much better! Was driving 200 miles in the dark the other day, only once did the Tesla annoy an oncoming driver. Usually it annoys all of them. I rate the [auto] high beams 7/10 from 1/10. Further improvement are needed for sensitivity, and no high beam during streetlamps.

@wertzu112: Noticed very big difference on 2022.40.4.1. Seems Tesla has cranked up the sensitivity, now they also turn off without apparent reason all the time when light reflects off of signs, poles etc. But no more dazzling of oncoming traffic, so that's a plus. Was unusable before…

@bjornstenberg: Oh it has improved massively. It now dips as soon as it detects a vehicle in the field of view. Front, back, side, it detects everything. I didn't want to use it before since I couldn't trust it to not blind oncoming traffic. That worry is completely gone.

@andefred: Yes! Significant improvement! To the point that I most of the time could not react faster manually which I always did before.

V11 Includes High Beam Improvements

Also, well-known Tesla enthusiast @WholeMarsBlog posted a text conversation when tweeting the Full Self-Driving Version 11 release notes. It's unknown who is in the discussion, but they talk about V11 and then say "auto highbeams are waaay better with this version. I can actually trust it now!"

It's not clear whether FSD Beta v11 contains only the improved auto high beams from update 2022.40 or if Tesla has made additional improvements in v11.

Full Self-Driving has started going out to everyone in North America and FSD Beta v11 is speculated to be released later this year.

By the way, we rely on information from Tesla owners and would like to thank everyone for their input on our Twitter question. If you've noticed improvements to auto high beams, let us know in our forum below.

Tesla Is Now Offering Cybertruck Test Drives [List of Locations]

@brandonhd

Tesla has begun to reach out to customers in the United States and is offering demo drives of the Cybertruck on an invite-only basis. @brandonhd on X shared the first invite image, and it looks like it's going out quite quickly to multiple locations that have Cybertrucks on display.

Up until now, display vehicles have been for just that – looking, but no touching. Some Tesla delivery centers and showrooms have also allowed viewers to take a seat inside and open it up, but most are still locked away behind the velvet rope.

It’s exciting to see that Tesla has begun to demo them – and it can only be so long until demo drives open up to everyone.

Advisor-led Demo

This Demo Drive is led by a Tesla Advisor – while you’re driving, the advisor will be in the passenger seat, walking you through the experience. They’ll explain steer-by-wire, off-road controls, and will introduce new-to-Tesla buyers to all the features that are currently available.

Once FSD V12.5 comes to the Cybertruck, we’re sure they’ll be demoing its capabilities FSD capabilities as well.

Locations

The list of locations so far for demo drives appears to be fairly limited, but we will hopefully see demo drives roll out throughout the United States, and eventually Canada too. Here is the current list of city/state locations that have seen demo drive invites.

• Manhasset, New York

• West Covina, California

• Los Angeles, California

• Houston, Texas

• Orlando, Florida

• Westmont, Illinois

• Tucson, Arizona

• Phoenix, Arizona

• Delaware

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Musk Confirms 'Actually Smart Summon' is Coming in a Revision of FSD V12.5

Not a Tesla App

Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.

Vision-based Improvements

ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.

Just recently, Tesla returned the Model X’s self-presenting doors, using Tesla Vision. Vision has seen some fantastic improvements, and many people are waiting for ASS to bring forth these improvements to Smart Summon.

Smart Summon Today

Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.

I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.

Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.

Actually Smart Summon

ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.

We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.

Park Seek and Banish Autopark

When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10^th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.

A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.

While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.

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