Top Tesla News of the Week [Video]

By Not a Tesla App Staff
Not a Tesla App - Top news of the week
Not a Tesla App - Top news of the week

Join us as we take a look back at this week's top Tesla stories. From improvements to emergency braking to low mode regenerative braking, we've got you covered. So sit back, relax, and get ready to dive into the week's most talked-about topics.

View our week in review video below or scroll through the top stories of the week.

Tesla's 'Automatic Emergency Braking' Now Works in Reverse and at Speeds Over 100 MPH

Tesla's Automatic Emergency Braking now works in reverse and at higher speeds
Tesla's Automatic Emergency Braking now works in reverse and at higher speeds
Tesla (Edited by NATA)

Tesla has made some subtle but significant changes to its owner's manual for the 2023.12 software update, revealing improvements to the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system. These changes include the ability for AEB to function while the vehicle is in reverse and an increased operational speed range. The latest improvements reflect Tesla's continued commitment to enhancing the safety and performance of its vehicles.

Thanks to a reader named Randall, who brought the changes to our attention. The latest 2023.12 software update includes these improvements outlined in the updated Tesla owner's manual. Previously, the manual described AEB as being designed to reduce the impact of frontal collisions. But, as of the 2023.12 owner's manual, which was released a couple days ago, … Read More

Tesla Upgrades Automatic Emergency Braking to React to Perpendicular Dangers

Tesla has made improvements to automatic emergency braking
Tesla has made improvements to automatic emergency braking
Tesla

Tesla has introduced notable upgrades to its Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in a recent FSD Beta update. Initially, FSD Beta 11.3, which only went out to Tesla employees, included a significant update to Tesla's automatic emergency braking.

However, when FSD Beta 11.3.1 was released to public testers, the release notes significantly differed from the employee version, leaving some uncertainty regarding the status of AEB enhancements. Read More

A Closer Look at Tesla's Trip Planner Feature in the Tesla App

Tesla adds a Trip Planner to the Tesla app in version 4.20.69
Tesla adds a Trip Planner to the Tesla app in version 4.20.69
Not a Tesla App

Tesla has updated their app to version 4.20.69, introducing a much-anticipated trip-planning feature. With this addition, Tesla owners can plan a trip through the app and send it directly to their car. This guide will walk you through the new features, limitations, and other updates in this release.

To use the Trip Planner simply go to the location section of the Tesla app, tap on "navigate," and input your destination. The app will then find Superchargers along the route, give an ETA, show how much to charge at each charger, display the state of your car's battery, and plot the route on a map. Read More

Tesla to Revive Low Regen Mode in Upcoming Update

Tesla appears ready to reintroduce a 'low' regenerative braking option
Tesla appears ready to reintroduce a 'low' regenerative braking option
Not a Tesla App

We reported last week that one of our users temporarily saw release notes for what appears to be an upcoming release in their Tesla app.

One of the features the user saw was an upcoming UI change to the Power Meter in the vehicle.

Another change the user saw was the reintroduction of low regen mode. The low regen mode makes it easier for drivers to adapt to the regenerative braking system (RBS) unique to electric and hybrid cars. However, it may result in reduced range and increased brake usage. Read More

Tesla to Make Changes to the Power Meter in Their Cars

Tesla has improved the power meter in the vehicle through several updates
Tesla has improved the power meter in the vehicle through several updates
Tesla

Thanks to one of our readers, it looks like we have a look at an upcoming change to Tesla's power meter. The power meter, an essential element of the UI, provides drivers with real-time information on power usage and regenerative braking.

Tesla accidently displayed this feature in their app before fixing it a few hours later.

Over the years, Tesla has made several changes to the power meter's design to improve driver experience. Early versions of the meter featured a thin green and black line. However, recent updates increased the line's thickness to enhance visibility. Now, the latest UI update appears to strike a balance between these designs. Read More

Tesla Reveals FSD Beta Accident Rate for First Time; Compares It to Autopilot and National Average

Tesla reveals FSD Beta and Autopilot accident rates
Tesla reveals FSD Beta and Autopilot accident rates
Tesla

Tesla's latest Impact Report, which focuses on the company's sustainability and safety initiatives, has provided updated data on the performance of its Full Self Driving (FSD) Beta and Autopilot systems. The new numbers illustrate the significant improvements in road safety when these advanced technologies are utilized.

According to the Impact Report, FSD Beta users now have 0.31 accidents per 1 million miles, showcasing the effectiveness of Tesla's ADAS technology. In addition, Teslas with Autopilot engaged demonstrate even better safety performance, with only 0.18 accidents per 1 million miles. These impressive statistics highlight the potential for autonomous systems to drastically reduce accident rates compared to the industry average of 1.53 accidents per 1 million miles. Read More

Tesla Shares Battery Life Span Data: Just 12% Degradation After 200,000 Miles

Tesla says Model S and Model X batteries degrade about 12% after 200,000 miles
Tesla says Model S and Model X batteries degrade about 12% after 200,000 miles
Tesla

Tesla owners often are asked about the lifespan of their vehicle's battery and whether it will need to be replaced. However, based on over a decade of real-world data, Tesla confidently states that battery replacement is not a concern for most customers. On average, Tesla batteries degrade by a mere 12% after 200,000 miles (321,868 km) of usage, which outperforms many expectations.

The impressive durability of Tesla batteries has been demonstrated through the company's consistent investment in research and development. As a result, Tesla has consistently pushed the limits of battery technology, ensuring that their electric vehicles remain at the forefront of the industry regarding performance and sustainability. Read More

Tesla Achieves Impressive Sustainability Goals in 2022 Impact Report

Tesla started producing its Model 3 in 2017
Tesla started producing its Model 3 in 2017
Tesla

Tesla has released its 2022 impact report, more than 200 pages detailing the company's progress towards sustainability goals and environmental impact. The report showcases Tesla's impressive achievements in renewable energy, emissions reduction, and transparency.

According to the report, Tesla's global Supercharger network was powered by 100% renewable energy in 2022, achieved through on-site resources and annual renewable matching. This impressive feat demonstrates Tesla's commitment to reducing its environmental impact and promoting sustainability. Read More

The Ultimate Guide to Tesla Shortcuts and Tips You May Not Know

You can tap the speedometer or speed limit sign to set your Autopilot speed
You can tap the speedometer or speed limit sign to set your Autopilot speed
Not a Tesla App

Tesla vehicles are known for their cutting-edge technology, making the driving experience enjoyable and efficient. In this article, we will delve into Tesla tips and tricks that can further enhance your experience. While some of these tips may be specific to the Model 3 and Model Y, many are applicable across the Tesla lineup.

While on Autopilot, you can tap the speedometer to set the maximum Autopilot speed to your current speed. This is useful if you want to maintain your current speed without manually adjusting it. Read More

Tesla Offers Up Recommended Equalizer Settings for Your Vehicle

You now change Tesla's subwoofer level independently
You now change Tesla's subwoofer level independently
Not a Tesla App

Tesla's official Instagram account in Hong Kong recently posted their recommended audio settings for their electric vehicles, causing some confusion. Many wonder why these settings differ from the preprogrammed settings and why they vary between the Model 3, Model 3 Performance, and Model Y.

Tesla Hong Kong's post was to promote the vehicle's immersive ten speakers system. It outlined specific audio settings for different car models, which appear to diverge from the factory settings. This raised questions among users about the rationale behind this discrepancy and whether these new settings are "official" recommendations. Read More

Tesla Surpasses 150 Million Miles Driven with FSD Beta

Tesla FSD Beta has driven over 150 million miles
Tesla FSD Beta has driven over 150 million miles
Tesla

Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology continues to reach new heights, as the company announced during its latest earnings call that it has now crossed over 150 million miles driven using the FSD beta. CEO Elon Musk emphasized this number's exponential growth and data's importance in refining the technology. Read More

Tesla Updates Model S and Model X: Steering Choices and Price Adjustments

Tesla increases the price of the Model S and Model X in the U.S.
Tesla increases the price of the Model S and Model X in the U.S.
Oak

Tesla has made notable changes to its flagship Model S and Model X. The yoke is now a special order, and the prices have been adjusted again.

Tesla is well-known for pushing the boundaries of automotive design and technology. However, the company has demonstrated a willingness to listen to customer feedback and adapt to their preferences. The reintroduction of the traditional round steering wheel for the Model S and Model X is a prime example of this customer-centric approach. Read More

Tesla Woos New and Existing Customers with Extended Free Supercharging Offers

Tesla is offering six years of free Superchargers to some owners
Tesla is offering six years of free Superchargers to some owners
Tesla

Tesla has announced an enticing offer to both new and existing Model S and Model X owners, providing them with extended periods of free Supercharging at its expansive Supercharger network. This move aims to boost sales of the two models and maintain Tesla's dominance in the competitive EV market. Read More

Tesla's Pricing Strategy - A Modern-day Take on Henry Ford's Assembly Line Legacy?

Ford introduced the assembly line in 1913
Ford introduced the assembly line in 1913
Ford (edited by NATA)

In 1913, Henry Ford introduced the assembly line in Highland Park, Michigan, revolutionizing the automotive industry and drastically reducing the price of the Model T. This groundbreaking innovation led to the collapse of hundreds of rival car companies, unable to compete with Ford's cost-effective production methods. Fast forward to 2023, and we witness a similar dynamic unfolding in the electric vehicle (EV) market, with Tesla leading the charge. Read More

Tesla Unveils New Cybertruck Production Images and Remains on Track for Q3

A peek at the Tesla Cybertruck being built
A peek at the Tesla Cybertruck being built
Tesla

During Tesla's Q1 2023 earnings call, CEO Elon Musk gave an update on the Cybertruck's progress, revealing new images of the pilot production line at the Fremont factory and the permanent production line at Giga Texas. With anticipation mounting for the highly-anticipated electric vehicle, Musk assured that production remains on track for later this year and hinted at a Q3 delivery event. Read More

Tesla Debuts New Model 3 Variant With a 394-Mile Range for Businesses

Tesla now offers a Model 3 with almost a 400 mile range in the UK
Tesla now offers a Model 3 with almost a 400 mile range in the UK
Tesla

Tesla has introduced a new Model 3 variant designed exclusively for the UK business sector. The latest addition to Tesla's lineup features a Long Range battery pack and a single rear motor. This new offering comes as Tesla aims to accelerate the electrification of Europe's business-to-business fleet. Read More

Leaked Letter Shows Tesla Is Facing Pressure From Group of Investors

Tesla is facing pressure from a group of investors
Tesla is facing pressure from a group of investors
TED

Tesla is under pressure from a group of long-term investors holding over $1.5 billion in shares. These investors have voiced concerns over the company's governance and leadership and human rights issues within its operations and supply chain. They have called for changes in the composition of the Board of Directors, greater focus from CEO Elon Musk, and increased transparency in the company's practices. Read More

Tesla's Q1 2023 Earnings Show Lower Margins Amid Aggressive Price Cuts

Tesla released its Q1 2023 earnings report
Tesla released its Q1 2023 earnings report
Tesla

Tesla reported a lower-than-expected gross margin for the first quarter of 2023 as a series of aggressive price cuts aimed at spurring demand in a sagging economy and fending off rising competition took their toll. As a result, the company's total gross margin stood at 19.3%, compared to analysts' expectations of 22.4%, marking the lowest level since Q4 2020. Read More

Tesla's Social Media Domination Continues to Surge in 2023

Tesla's social media platforms have been growing at an impressive rate
Tesla's social media platforms have been growing at an impressive rate
Not a Tesla App

Tesla's innovative approach to the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors has been well-documented, but its exceptional success on social media platforms is another story worth telling. With a strong presence on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, Tesla has managed to create a powerful and influential online presence that captures the attention of millions worldwide. Read More

Tesla Launches Robotaxi: Features, Robotaxi App, Command Center and First Impressions [VIDEO]

By Karan Singh
@DBurkland on X

After years of anticipation, the wait is over. Tesla's Robotaxi network officially launched with its first public rides for early access users in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, June 22nd.

The launch was a veritable firehose of new information, revealing everything from the booking process and in-car experience to new FSD features expected in the next version of FSD. Here’s a complete recap of everything we learned from what is sure to be a historic first day.

The Robotaxi App

The experience begins in a new, dedicated Robotaxi app. For now, access is invite-only and that app is not available in the App Store. Invitees received a special link to download the Apple-only app onto their device. Once you’re in the app, you’re asked to log in with your Tesla account, which will then bring over all your settings from the Tesla app, such as your profile photo and payment details.

While the app is only available for iPhone users today, an Android version is already confirmed to be in the works.

Booking a Trip

Once you’re in the app, you can set your destination and hail a ride. Once you have a ride booked, the app provides live tracking of the approaching Robotaxi, including its exact location and the estimated time of arrival.

One limitation noted by early-access testers is that the pickup point is currently fixed, and you can’t change it. The pick-up location will be relatively close to where you requested the ride, but some users noted having to walk up to a block to get to the pick-up location chosen by the app.

After initiating a ride, your phone will display a Live Activity, providing an auto-updating view of your taxi's location and ETA. This is similar to the Supercharger Live Activity that Tesla launched recently.

The Live Activities on iOS for the Robotaxi App
The Live Activities on iOS for the Robotaxi App
Joe Tegtmeyer on X

In-App Tips

While many early Robotaxi users are expected to be Tesla owners, Tesla is creating a user-friendly experience by offering in-app tips, such as how to open the Model Y doors.

When your ride arrives, its exterior lights pulse, letting you know this vehicle is picking up a passenger at the given location. This helps it differentiate between other Tesla vehicles on the road and other Robotaxis potentially dropping someone off at the same location.

The helpful tip on how to open the door handles.
The helpful tip on how to open the door handles.
@DirtyTesLa on X
The exterior lights pulse prompt in the app.
The exterior lights pulse prompt in the app.
@DirtyTesLa on X

Information Synced to Robotaxi

To get that special Tesla touch of magic, once your vehicle arrives, it automatically syncs the rider’s personal vehicle details to the Robotaxi.

That means when you go to play Spotify, YouTube Music, or other media, you’re already signed in and it’s using the same account you use on your own personal Tesla. Even Netflix and other video services are signed in, so that you can start streaming them in the back seat.

Inside Robotaxi: UI & Controls

The hub of the passenger experience, for now, is the 8-inch rear touchscreen of the new Model Y. The UI is clean and simple, displaying the trip map, estimated arrival time, and controls for media and climate.

The screen also provides passengers with access to key safety features, including a large “Pull Over” and “Support” button. For the early access program, a human Safety Monitor sits in the front passenger seat and has access to one additional control on the main screen - Stop in Lane.

Once you’re inside the vehicle and have fastened your seatbelt, the ride doesn’t begin immediately. You must tap the “Start Ride” button on either the rear passenger screen or within the Robotaxi app for the vehicle to start moving.

@DBurkland on X

The Ride and Geofence

One of the most important questions is: How does it drive? The first impressions have been overwhelmingly positive. Early-access riders have mentioned that FSD’s performance is extremely smooth, noting that it handles turns, speed bumps, and stops with a new level of grace. While FSD V13 is already incredibly smooth, Tesla may have tweaked it for this Robotaxi version, or it could be taking things a little slower with the initial rollout.

The service operates within a defined geofence in Austin, which initial reports suggest takes about 30 minutes to go from one side to the other.

Interestingly, you can actually book a trip that has a destination or start point outside the geofenced area. In these cases, the Robotaxi will simply take you to the edge of the service area or choose a pickup location that’s within the service area.

The current service area for Robotaxi
The current service area for Robotaxi
@SawyerMerritt on X

Robotaxi Command Center

The significance of this day hasn’t been lost on Tesla’s teams. Ashok Elluswamy, VP of AI, shared a photo from what appeared to be a launch party at the Robotaxi operations center.

The command center features various TVs showing real-time information from the active Robotaxis. According to what Musk shared a couple of weeks ago, Tesla planned to have 10 Robotaxis on the first day, which aligns with what is displayed on the list on one of the TVs.

Other TVs are showing live views from the Robotaxis’ cameras, displaying six of the vehicle’s cameras, which appear to include the front camera, repeaters, B-pillar cameras, and rear camera. The only cameras excluded appear to be the front bumper camera, the front-facing wide-angle camera, and the cabin camera.

Another TV is displaying a weather radar, while another is displaying a live view of the Robotaxi vehicles on a map. However, one of the most interesting is one near the middle, which is displaying Robotaxi statistics. The display shows that there have been 112 rides across 499 miles as of the time the photo was taken. Another statistic shows a value of 35, but it’s unclear what this number represents. Given the 10 expected Robotaxis, this likely has to do with how many users are queued for a ride, or includes active riders plus users waiting for a ride.

Celebration

Many team members have also taken to X and commented on the significance and status of the launch, celebrating a decade’s worth of hard work finally coming to a culmination. While there’s still a lot of work to do, the launch is a huge first step to Tesla opening up its Robotaxi service to everyone and releasing FSD Unsupervised for customer-owned vehicles.

Check out this smooth start-to-finish ride from Sawyer Merritt:

Next up? We expect Tesla to open up rides to the general public and gradually expand its geofence area. There’s also a new FSD update coming that increases parameters by 4.5x, which should make the vehicles even smoother and more capable.

Tesla Outlines Rules for Using Its Robotaxi Service

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

With the first Tesla Robotaxi rides starting shortly for early access users in Austin, Tesla has published a detailed set of rules for its first passengers.

They outline everything from who can ride to how you can behave in a car with no driver, and are designed to ensure safety. Tesla is using a safety monitor during the initial rollout phases, so the front passenger seat will not be available for customers.

Who Can Ride

Tesla has laid out clear guidelines on who is eligible to be a passenger, as well as some expected in-car conduct.

You must be at least 18 years old to book a ride and to ride alone. Riders are permitted to bring one guest, provided that the guest is also over the age of 18. You cannot book a ride for another person; the account holder must be present for the entire trip. 

That’s all pretty straightforward, and we expect Tesla to relax some of the rules in the coming months. That means that once the safety monitor is gone, the number could increase to three or four.

How to Behave

All passengers must remain seated with their seatbelts fastened for the entire duration of the ride. There is a strict prohibition on smoking, vaping, or consuming alcohol or other drugs inside the vehicle.

Riders are also asked to be courteous and leave the Robotaxi in the same condition as they found it. Those who damage or dirty the vehicle may be charged an additional, currently unspecified fee after the ride.

Hands Off: Driverless Vehicle

This is where the rules get a bit more interesting, focusing on the unique fact that the Model Ys that Tesla is using still have driver controls.

Riders are prohibited from sitting in the front-left driver’s seat. Additionally, riders must not tamper with, modify, or attempt to physically manipulate any vehicle equipment, including the steering wheel and pedals.

Interestingly, Tesla also has a rule on reverse-engineering and intellectual property protection. While photos and videos of the experience are permitted, riders are prohibited from bringing onboard instruments or equipment intended to record, measure, or conduct surveillance on Robotaxi.

Service Animal Exception

For riders with disabilities, Tesla has outlined a specific policy. Only small service animals that are trained to work or perform tasks are permitted in the vehicle. No other pets are allowed. 

However, riders are not required to provide proof; however, support may ask you to confirm that the animal is required due to a disability and what task it is trained to perform.

At this point, we’re not sure whether Tesla will allow non-service animals in its Robotaxi Network in the near future. It would make sense if they did - many people travel with their pets, or need to take them from one location to another - but for now, only service animals will be allowed.

Tesla is definitely taking a safety-first approach in the initial launch, and with the presence of the Safety Monitor, they’re being very cautious. There is a long way to go before the average person becomes comfortable with an autonomous vehicle with no one in the driver’s seat, and building public trust is a good first step.

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