Tesla Update 2023.20: The Features You May Not Know About

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Tesla Increases Price of Model S; Starts Offering Free Lifetime Supercharging

Not a Tesla App

For the first time in quite a while, Tesla has increased the price of one of its vehicle offerings. The Model S Long Range and the Model S Plaid have both received a hefty price increase. However, not all is bad - as Tesla also added a new benefit for buyers.

Price Increase

The price increase for the Model S is $5,000 - currently only in the United States. This price increase will likely impact other markets, including Canada, in the coming days.

The Model S Long Range now starts at $79,990, while the Model S Plaid now starts at $94,990. The Model S and Model X now have the same starting price. Interestingly, that’s also the same pricing point for the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast Trimotor non-Foundation Series. 

The vehicle configuration does not appear to have changed, so the new pricing is simply an increase rather than the addition or removal of features. Tesla previously cut the price of the Model S and Model X by 15% in 2023, so this could simply be an adjustment to ensure that the vehicle pricing stays in line with inflation and other factors.

Free Lifetime Supercharging

For those on the fence about ordering a Model S, Tesla has brought back Free Lifetime Supercharging when you order a new Model S on or after December 13, 2024. As always, Free Lifetime Supercharging is restricted to the buyer’s Tesla account and to that specific vehicle. It cannot be transferred to another vehicle or another owner after ownership transfer. It’s worth noting, that it also doesn’t exclude the owner from receiving Supercharger idle fees or congestion fees. There is currently no end date for this promotion.

There are currently no changes to the Model X, neither a price increase nor the addition of Lifetime Superchargering. However, when Tesla makes changes to one of their premium vehicles, it usually affects the other one as well. So be on the lookout for potential changes to the Model X offering in the coming days.

We’ve seen Tesla value Lifetime Supercharging at $5,000, so this falls in line with the price increase we’re seeing. It’s possible that Tesla will begin to bring back Lifetime Supercharging as a perk for buying into their more premium Model S and Model X cars, or this could be another temporary promotion to get buyers who are on the fence to go ahead and make their purchase while this promotion lasts.

Follow

Follow

Follow

Tesla’s Optimus Robot Learns to Walk Without Vision [VIDEO]

Optimus Falls - but catches itself!

Not a Tesla App

Tesla recently showed off a demo of Optimus, its humanoid robot, walking around in moderately challenging terrain—not on a flat surface but on dirt and slopes. These things can be difficult for a humanoid robot, especially during the training cycle.

Daily walks help clear your mind pic.twitter.com/dUsW58trS6

— Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) December 9, 2024

A Look Behind the Curtain

Most interestingly, Milan Kovac, VP of Engineering for Optimus, clarified what it takes to get Optimus to this stage. Let’s break down what he said.

Optimus is Blind

Optimus is getting seriously good at walking now - it can keep its balance over uneven ground - even while walking blind. Tesla is currently using just the sensors, all powered by a neural net running on the embedded computer. 

Essentially, Tesla is building Optimus from the ground up, relying on as much additional data as possible while it trains vision. This is similar to how they train FSD on vehicles, using LiDAR rigs to validate the vision system’s accuracy. While Optimus doesn’t have LiDAR, it relies on all those other sensors on board, many of which will likely become simplified as vision takes over as the primary sensor.

Today, Optimus is walking blind, but it’s able to react almost instantly to changes in the terrain underneath it, even if it falls or slips. 

What’s Next?

Next up, Tesla AI will be adding vision to Optimus - helping complete the neural net. Remember, Optimus runs on the same overall AI stack as FSD - in fact, Optimus uses an FSD computer and an offshoot of the FSD stack for vision-based tasks.

Milan mentions they’re planning on adding vision to help the robot plan ahead and improve its walking gait. While the zombie shuffle is iconic and a little bit amusing, getting humanoid robots to walk like humans is actually difficult.

There’s plenty more, too - including better responsiveness to velocity and direction commands and learning to fall and stand back up. Falling while protecting yourself to minimize damage is something natural to humans - but not exactly natural to something like a robot. Training it to do so is essential in keeping the robot, the environment around it, and the people it is interacting with safe.

We’re excited to see what’s coming with Optimus next because it is already getting started in some fashion in Tesla’s factories.

Follow

Follow

Follow