Tesla to Remove Window Auto-Close Features Due to New Regulations

Auto-close windows feature is being removed from Tesla vehicles

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An updated Federal regulation from the NHTSA no longer allows for auto-close windows via the car or an app, among other features.

Tesla owners took to social media to share their frustration of their vehicles missing the set-it-and-forget-it auto-close window features.

Twitter user and Tesla owner @Tommyf902 reached out to Tesla Service to get additional information about the issue. Tesla Service responded, “Due to recent federal regulations, certain automatic window features will not be available until further development.”

The features that Tesla Service are referring to include:

• Rolling window(s) up/down with physical switches unless the vehicle’s brake pedal has been pressed
• Venting/closing the windows via the Tesla mobile app
• Automatically closing the windows once the vehicle has locked
• Automatically closing the windows when the vehicle is in Car Wash Mode

Tesla service responds to @Tommyf902 about his window auto-close feature being unavailable

@Tommyf902/Twitter

Although not specifically mentioned by Tesla Service, this will likely limit the movement of the windows during Tesla's Light Show feature as well.

This updated safety guidance by the NHTSA isn’t just restricted to windows, either. It also applies to roof panel systems and partitions.

“This standard applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kilograms or less. This standard's inadvertent actuation performance requirements of S6(a) need not be met for vehicles manufactured before October 1, 2008. The standard's pull-to-close switch operability requirements of S6(c) need not be met for vehicles manufactured before October 1, 2010.”

The operation of a power-operated window, partition, or roof panel system may only be closed when the vehicle’s engine is set to “ON,” “START,” or “ACCESSORY” position; by “muscular force unassisted by vehicle supplied power”; or upon continuous activation of a locking system on the exterior of the vehicle, among others. In Tesla Service’s message to Tommy, the wording said “until further development.”

Availability in the Future

The code of federal regulation does state that a window can be opened remotely if the device is pressed continuously and is no more than 6 meters (19.5 feet) away from the vehicle, although it can not be capable of closing the window or partition. There are also some exceptions based on the window's ability to detect force. According to the regulation, the window would need to be capable of stopping and reversing direction if it exerts a force equal to 100 newtons or more.

New Teslas are already being delivered without the ability to remotely close windows, so it sounds like Tesla may not have a solution that meets regulations, at least not yet. Tesla may be working on a solution or waiting for updated guidance from the NHTSA. So while the feature may not currently be available now, Tesla may roll out a fix or workaround to the problem.

Update: As pointed out by one of our readers, it looks like the federal regulations that Tesla service is referring to may be different than those linked in this article. Those regulations do not appear to have changed in recent years. It's not clear whether this will affect current vehicles, but we should know more soon as Tesla is expected to release the next major update in the next two weeks.

Tesla Introduces Hands-Free Frunk Opening in Update 2024.32.3

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In Tesla’s upcoming update, 2024.32.3, Tesla has added hands-free support for opening the vehicle’s frunk. This follows the Spring Update (2024.14), which added Hands-Free Trunk support for certain vehicles.

When hands-free trunk support was added earlier this year, it was supported on vehicles that include an ultra wideband chip, which includes the refresh Model S, new Model X, and the 2024 Model 3. Due to the hardware requirement, these will be the same vehicles that support the new Hands-Free Frunk feature. Legacy vehicles without UWB will unfortunately not support either feature due to the hardware requirement. UWB enables far more accurate tracking of the phone key, allowing Tesla to pinpoint its exact location relative to the vehicle.

The Cybertruck interestingly also includes an ultra wideband chip, however, it didn’t include the automatic opening of the gate earlier this year. However, we expect the Cybertruck to also receive the hands-free frunk opening in this 2024.32.3 update or relatively soon afterward.

Update: The Cybertruck is receiving hands-free frunk support in the 2024.32 update as well.

Hands-Free Frunk

The Hands-Free Frunk works similarly to the trunk feature – with an iPhone 11+ and a recent version of the app, you’ll be able to stand in front of your vehicle, and the Frunk will unlatch after sounding a chime. On some vehicles, the frunk will immediately open after being unlatched, however, you’ll need to manually close it.

This new feature isn’t enabled by default – you’ll need to go to Settings > Locks > Hands-Free Frunk to enable it.

At this time, Tesla doesn’t support UWB on Android devices, though both the Hands-Free Trunk and Hands-Free Frunk support will come to Android users in a future app update, according to Tesla.

Exclude Home

With the addition of the hands-free frunk opening, Tesla has also added a new option. You can now choose to disable the automatic opening when your vehicle is located at home to prevent you from accidentally opening. This will apply to the automatic frunk and trunk. In addition, in the Model X, you’ll also be able to disable the self-presenting doors at home. This is a great addition as many people have kept the hands-free feature disabled due to it awkwardly opening in the garage.

In the 2024.32.3 update, Tesla also mentions that they’ve improved the detection of the phone key, which should make the feature more reliable and faster when approaching the vehicle from the front or rear.

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Tesla’s Referral Program Launches in Europe

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Following its recent launch in the United States and Canada, Tesla has launched their referral program in several European countries as well.

The program is available in Germany, Norway, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and possibly others. The program is almost the same as the one available today in North America, with rewards for each referral and a discount for those referred. The cap in Europe is also ten per year.

This program comes right on the heels of a 0% financing offer for the Model Y in Sweden and France. While referrals aren't currently available in Sweden, the 0% financing still is.

European Referrals

The European Referral program accounts for country and local currency, where applicable.

The referral reward program is comparable to the one available in North America. After exchange rates, there is only an approximately 10% difference between the available rewards in the US and EU.

Other Countries

We expect this program to start rolling out to other European countries over the next few days or weeks, as Tesla continues to expand its referral program.

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