Tesla Update 2023.20: The Features You May Not Know About

By Kevin Armstrong
Parked cars are now displayed in a lighter gray color
Parked cars are now displayed in a lighter gray color
DirtyTesla/YouTube

While Tesla's software updates consistently attract attention for their headlining features, many more features are not mentioned but deserve some attention. These 'undocumented' enhancements of Tesla update 2023.20 subtly, yet surely, elevate the Tesla experience.

All-encompassing Camera Previews

This update has turned Tesla's omnipresent cameras into windows for owners. Drivers can tap into the vantage point of each, and every onboard camera, as it's no longer restricted to the cabin camera. This offers a fascinating glimpse into how Tesla's AI interprets the world around it. It's not just about making sure the cameras work; it's about gaining a deeper understanding of each camera's point of view.

Implementing 'PIN to Drive' via the Tesla App

You can now enable PIN to Drive through the Tesla app
You can now enable PIN to Drive through the Tesla app
Not a Tesla App

The ability to enable 'PIN to Drive' via the Tesla app amplifies security. It reinforces Tesla's mission to seamlessly merge vehicle ownership with the digital lifestyle of the modern driver. It's more than a remote lock feature; it's a step toward a future where vehicle security is as accessible as banking or home security, right from your smartphone. Having the ability to enable PIN to Drive remotely lets you enable the feature when you need it most — when you lose your keys.

Parked Cars

Parked vehicles are now displayed in a lighter gray in the visualization to help to distinguish them from other vehicles. Tesla will now display vehicles in dark gray for lead vehicles, blue for vehicles that are or may be in your vehicle's path, red for vehicles that require immediate attention and medium gray for other vehicles.

Better Named Bluetooth Keys

Tesla's Bluetooth keys now have more intuitive names
Tesla's Bluetooth keys now have more intuitive names
Not a Tesla App

Your Tesla phone key is now clearly prefixed with "Tesla," and a shorter identification number in Bluetooth settings, bringing a small yet meaningful improvement. Previously, phone keys included a 16-character name that made it challenging for some users to figure out what the Bluetooth device was for. Beyond eliminating unnecessary confusion, it represents Tesla's consistent pursuit of perfecting even the most minor aspects of user experience.

Navigation's New Informative Edge

Various locations will now display hours of operation when you search for them
Various locations will now display hours of operation when you search for them
Garth Schanock

The upgrade to Tesla's navigation system is a boon for drivers. The addition of real-time operation statuses of destinations seamlessly integrates essential information into the driving experience. In update 2023.26, Tesla goes one step further and will warn if you're navigating to a destination that is closed or may be closed by the time you arrive.

Changes to Trip Odometer

The 'Current Trip' odometer will now display minutes traveled
The 'Current Trip' odometer will now display minutes traveled
Not a Tesla App

The shift from kWh to minutes elapsed in the 'Current Trip' odometer provides a more user-friendly measure of journey duration and brings this feature back in line with how it worked before Tesla's 2022 holiday update.

Passenger Presence Recognition

The passenger climate temperature is now only displayed when a passenger is sitting in the front seat. The intelligent adjustment of displaying passenger climate settings underscores Tesla's focus on personalized comfort. It's not just an intelligent UI tweak; it's indicative of a broader vision where vehicles dynamically adapt to the needs of their occupants.

A Closer Look at Tesla's Updated Data-Sharing Policy

Tesla has updated its Data Sharing options
Tesla has updated its Data Sharing options
Not a Tesla App

The updated Data Sharing policy reflects Tesla's commitment to transparency, allowing owners to understand better and control how their data is used. It highlights Tesla's balancing act: gathering crucial data to enhance autonomous driving capabilities while respecting privacy. More so, it opens a dialogue about data ownership and its role in pushing the frontier of autonomous driving.

Windshield Wiper Control

You can now control your windshield wipers using the steering wheel customization feature
You can now control your windshield wipers using the steering wheel customization feature
Simon

Update: Another feature that Tesla has quietly added is the ability to control your windshield wipers directly from the steering wheel in the Model 3 and Model Y.

In Tesla update 2023.12, Tesla added the ability to control various settings using the scroll wheel on the steering wheel. Notably absent was the ability to control the windshield wipers. However, with update 2023.20, Tesla has now added Windshield Wipers to the list of featues that you can control with the new Steering Wheel Customization feature.

Each of these unheralded updates contributes to a broader narrative of innovation at Tesla. They may not make the headlines but embody the meticulous refinement that distinguishes the Tesla experience.

Ordering a New Tesla?

Consider using our referral code (karan29050) to get up to $1,000 off your new Tesla.

New Tesla Model Y Adds 4D Radar; Calls 911 If Child Left Behind, Increases Safety

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla’s refreshed Model Y is currently being manufactured as Tesla prepares for its first deliveries next month. While we’ve already seen quite a few cool new features, there’s more that has yet to be revealed. A recent video interview with Tesla’s engineering team hosted by Tesla Owners Silicon Valley reveals that the vehicle includes a new 4D cabin radar.

4D Radar

While Tesla has included an in-cabin radar since 2022, this appears to be a new, more capable radar. The current cabin radar is used to verify seat occupancy, but Tesla plans to add more functionality to this new system.

This updated radar will be used to provide a lot more detail than the current radar or cabin camera can provide today. The radar is located in the same location as the current version, directly above the rearview mirror.

Classify Passenger Size

This new radar has several new safety-focused features, and they’re all quite exceptional. First off, the radar will detect and classify passenger size to determine which airbags to deploy dynamically. That means that if a shorter individual is sitting up front, the dashboard airbag may not activate - but the curtain airbag will.

That will reduce injuries in impacts from airbag activation while also reducing repair costs by not activating unnecessary airbags. By having a better idea of the passenger’s size, height, and weight, the vehicle can also better determine when to activate the airbag.

Children Left in Car

But that’s not all - because of that classification system, the radar can differentiate an adult passenger from a baby or child sitting in the second row - and automatically make the necessary dynamic safety adjustments.

The cabin radar will also detect heart rate and breathing, and Tesla will automatically send a reminder through the Tesla app if it detects a child is left unattended in the vehicle. If this occurs, the vehicle will perform a variety of functions, the first being to turn on the HVAC system and send you a reminder. And if that’s not enough - in the case of an emergency, your vehicle will automatically call emergency services for you and report its location.

It’s important to note that while vehicles outside North America have eCall capabilities, in North America, they cannot call 911 unless a phone is connected to the vehicle via Bluetooth. We hope that Tesla can contact 911 via an alternative method or add eCall capabilities to these vehicles.

In late 2023, Tesla added the ability for the vehicle to call 911 over Bluetooth when the vehicle is involved in a crash.

The cabin radar in the 2024 Model Y
The cabin radar in the 2024 Model Y
Not a Tesla App

Coming Soon

While the refreshed Model Y will be shipping in March, this new radar and its associated features won’t be available immediately. Tesla intends to activate these new safety features in Q3 2025 - so sometime in late summer or early fall. We’ll dive into this new feature once it’s available later this year.

Tesla Confirms Update Issue for FSD V13.2.2; Fix Coming

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

A member of Tesla’s AI development team, Kalena Brown, took to X to mention that an update is on its way for AI 4 vehicles on older FSD V13.2 builds.

It seems that Tesla has caught an issue that has been preventing vehicles from safely updating from FSD V13.2.2 to newer builds such as FSD V13.2.4 or V13.2.6.

The Bug

Tesla usually catches these issues early in testing, but sometimes, they make their way out into the wild, necessitating a stop to a rollout. In this case, the rollout was likely halted to prevent this issue from spreading to other vehicles.

There have been a lot of comments on social media that users haven’t seen an update since late December or early January. While that’s not completely abnormal, this update, version 2024.45.25.5 includes an issue that prevents it from being updated.

The Fix

Brown says that Tesla is aware of the issue and is working hard to get a build with the fix released soon. It may be a couple of weeks before it’s ready, but you can expect Tesla to roll this one out slowly to make sure the issue is addressed.

The issue appears to be specific to FSD V13.2.2, so anyone on another update should not be affected. Keep an eye out on our feeds - and we’ll let you know once the update is released.

Latest Tesla Update

Confirmed by Elon

Take a look at features that Elon Musk has said will be coming soon.

Tesla Videos

Latest Tesla Update

Confirmed by Elon

Take a look at features that Elon Musk has said will be coming soon.

Subscribe

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter