Auto-close windows feature is being removed from Tesla vehicles
Not a Tesla App
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.
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It has been a long wait for FSD for European customers, many of whom paid for the feature years ago on now legacy hardware. While the FSD transfer program has come and gone multiple times, there’s something to be said about having it available in North America, where it can be used, and in Europe or other countries, where it still just remains the same as Enhanced Autopilot (differences between Autopilot, EAP, and FSD).
FSD Transfer is a nice goodwill gesture from Tesla that in theory doesn’t cost them anything. Instead, it keeps customers, especially those who have been waiting for years, loyal and happy. It also incentivizes them to upgrade to a newer Tesla with HW4, where FSD will hopefully be achieved.
In a reply to a post on X, Elon agreed with the suggestion that offering FSD transfers in Europe would be a fair solution for those who have already purchased FSD but can’t use its capabilities.
FSD Transfer directly addresses a growing concern for many long-term European Tesla owners. Thousands of customers purchased the full package, often many years ago, with the expectation that FSD would eventually be capable and approved for use. However, the reality is that FSD, even as an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), continues to be pushed back in Europe.
Without the transfer program, it's a difficult choice: either throw away your original investment in FSD and pay for the package a second time (FSD price history), or subscribe to it in the future.
Offering FSD transfers is a good way for Tesla to meet them halfway. It's a difficult situation, and one that’s being hindered by processes beyond the control of both the customer and Tesla. However, a transfer helps both parties. Tesla sells another vehicle, and the customer gets to keep FSD.
When Will it Be Available?
Based on how FSD transfers have worked in the past following Elon’s announcements, this feature is likely to become available for a limited time period in the coming days or weeks. If it happens, we should expect an announcement from Tesla Europe on X and emails being sent out to Tesla customers.
Once the program is in place, all you need to do is complete your vehicle purchase and then inform your Tesla sales advisor that you’d like to transfer FSD. You don’t even have to sell or trade in your old Tesla; FSD will simply be removed from it as a feature.
Hopefully, Tesla enables FSD Transfers for everyone, regardless of region. It should be an ongoing offer until at least FSD is approved in the given country or region.
The introductory price for Tesla’s Robotaxi Network has finally been updated. In a post on X, Elon Musk confirmed that the new fare would be rolling out to complement the new Robotaxi geofence expansion.
This change marks the first adjustment to Tesla’s fares since the initial $4.20 launch price 23 days ago. While the price increase may seem significant in terms of percentages, when compared to other options in the ride-hailing area, it is still drastically cheaper.
But the price is now a princely $6.90, as foretold in the prophecy 😂
Robotaxi currently operates on a simple, flat-rate model. The new $6.90 fare gets you a ride to anywhere within the recently expanded geofence.
So far, this is the opposite approach compared to other services, such as Waymo or traditional ride-sharing options like Uber and Lyft. All these services use dynamic pricing based on distance, time of day, and demand. A comparable trip on any one of these services could cost anywhere from $30 to $65, and potentially even higher during peak hours.
That doesn’t even include the tip fees for human drivers either - another win for Robotaxi (can you tip a Robotaxi?).
Even with the adjustment, the flat $6.90 fare remains less than half the price of a typical competing ride, making Robotaxi the most affordable point-to-point transportation option in Austin, aside from mass transit, for now.
A “Maturing” Service
The price change, moving from one meme-worthy number to another, is a sign that Robotaxi is finally graduating from its initial pilot phase. Following the first major expansion of the service area, this adjustment is a logical next step towards finding a more sustainable flat price.
While the new fare is a 65% increase over the old fare, the key takeaway is that it is still far cheaper than other options, and still just as meme-worthy. Tesla is aiming to have its early access riders complete as many rides as possible during these early months, and this pricing is still very reflective of that.