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 FSD in Europe: June Update

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The road to bringing FSD to Europe has been a long and complex one and filled with regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles. Elon Musk, as well as other members of Tesla’s AI team, have previously voiced their grievances with the regulatory approval process on X.

However, it appears that there is finally some progress in getting things moving with recent changes to upcoming autonomy regulations, but the process still seems slow.

Waiting on the Dutch

Elon commented on X recently, stating that Tesla is waiting for approval from Dutch authorities and then the EU to start rolling out FSD in Europe. Tesla is focusing on acquiring approvals from the Dutch transportation authority, which will provide them with the platform they need to gain broader acceptance in Europe. Outside of the Netherlands, Tesla is also conducting testing in Norway, which provides a couple of avenues for them to obtain national-level approval.

The frustration has been ongoing, with multiple committee meetings bringing up autonomy regulation but always pulling back at the last second before approving anything. The last meeting on Regulation 157, which governs Automated Lane Keeping Systems, concluded with authorities from the UK and Spain requesting additional time to analyze the data before reaching a conclusion.

Tesla, as well as Elon, have motioned several times for owners to reach out to their elected representatives to move the process forward, as it seems that Tesla’s own efforts are being stymied. 

This can seem odd, especially since Tesla has previously demoed FSD working exceptionally smoothly on European roads - and just did it again in Rome when they shared the video below on X.

FSD Supervised testing in Rome, Italy

Pending regulatory approval pic.twitter.com/TXh3uQIfrx

— Tesla Europe & Middle East (@teslaeurope) June 12, 2025

DCAS Phase 3

While the approval process has been slow, Kees Roelandschap pointed out that there may be a different regulatory step that could allow FSD to gain a foothold in Europe.

According to Kees, the European Commission is now taking a new approach to approving ADAS systems under the new DCAS Phase 3 regulations. The Commission is now seeking data from systems currently operational in the United States that can perform System-Initiated Maneuvers and don’t require hands-on intervention for every request.

This is key because those are two of the core functionalities that make FSD so usable, and it also means that there may not be a need to wait years for proper regulations to be written from scratch. Now, the Commission will be looking at real-world data based on existing, deployed technology, which could speed up the process immensely.

What This Means

This new, data-driven regulatory approach could be the path for Tesla to reach its previous target of September for European FSD. While the cogs of bureaucracy are ever slow, sometimes all it takes is a little data to have them turn a bit faster in this case.

Alongside specific countries granting approval for limited field testing with employees, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for FSD in Europe, and hopes are that a release will occur by the end of 2025. With Europe now looking to North America for how FSD is performing, Tesla’s Robotaxi results could also play a role.

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Tesla Launches 'TeslaVision' Contest With Big Prizes — See Last Year’s Winner [VIDEO]

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Tesla’s marketing has always been relatively unconventional, relying on word-of-mouth rather than traditional advertising. The passion of the owner’s community is always massive, but it is especially high now with the launch of the Robotaxi network just around the corner.

Tesla is now tapping into that spring of fan creativity and announced the TeslaVision video contest, with some seriously impressive prizes up for grabs.

Announcing the TeslaVision fan video showcase

Tesla owners & supporters have always been able to see our products & mission for what they truly are.

Your word of mouth has made Tesla what it is today.

The OGs will remember that in 2017, we held our first video contest. 8 years… pic.twitter.com/6pPpkqmqOH

— Tesla (@Tesla) June 10, 2025

The Contest

The core of the contest is simple. Create a video that shows how your Tesla gives you more in life. Tesla is looking for submissions that highlight themes of freedom, safety, fun, and convenience.

Prizes

The prizes definitely make this contest worth entering if you’re good with a camera and have some basic video editing abilities.

For North America, the prizes include a brand new Model Y AWD Long Range, alongside an all-expenses-paid trip to Austin for a tour of Giga Texas. The grand prize winner will also be able to custom order their Model Y, allowing them to select their preferred wheels and color.

The two runners-up won’t get a Model Y, but they’ll also enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Giga Texas for a tour of the factory.

The travel and tour include lodging in Austin for 2 nights, as well as economy-class round-trip tickets from anywhere in North America. Tesla will also provide a vehicle for use during the trip.

Hopefully, these winners will also have the opportunity to experience the Robotaxi network while they’re in Austin, as it’s expected to be opened to the public later this month.

Project Loveday

For long-time followers of Tesla, this contest may feel familiar. The contest is a direct throwback to the 2017 Project Loveday contest, which was inspired by a letter to Tesla from a 10-year-old aspiring marketer. That contest was won by MKBHD, with his submission below:

How to Enter

If you’re ready to start filming, here are the key pieces of information you’ll need to know:

• Video must be 90 seconds or less

• Video must be uploaded to YouTube with a public URL

• Make a post on X and Instagram tagging “@Tesla” and include the words “TeslaVision contest” in the post.

• Provide links to both social media posts in your submission to Tesla’s form

• Provide your personal details in the form

• You have until July 17th, 2025, or until Tesla receives 10,000 entries, whichever comes first.

You can find the official submission form and all region-specific details on Tesla's website.

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