Tesla Launches Third Party App Support: Granular Sharing Options and Support for Tesla Solar

Tesla will allow you to chosoe which data to share

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It wasn't long ago when we spotted a seemingly innocuous addition to the Tesla account settings - a "Third Party Apps" option under Profile Settings. Though initially without functionality, this subtle hint sparked speculation about Tesla's plans to support third-party apps.

Fast forward to today, and the rumors have materialized into reality, marking a transformative chapter in Tesla's growth. Standard Fleet's integration is leading the charge, a milestone showcasing the promise and potential of such partnerships.

Standard Fleet: Offering Security and Functionality Like Never Before

Created by Apple veteran and Tesla enthusiast David Hodge, Standard Fleet is the first third-party service to be officially supported by Tesla, marking a turning point in Tesla's relationship with external developers.

Standard Fleet is an intelligent solution designed with Tesla owners in mind. It offers seamless management of Tesla ride-sharing and EV-sharing without additional hardware. Instead, users can sign in with Tesla, and they have the assurance that their passwords and accounts remain confidential, thanks to the OAuth protocol. It’s a new way to manage fleets, and it’s as simple as signing in with your Tesla account.

The platform has already won the trust of major players in the industry, including Revel in New York and MisterGreen Electric Lease in Europe. These businesses are leveraging Standard Fleet's features to effectively manage thousands of Tesla vehicles. Hodge briefly commented on this breakthrough to Teslarati, “Teslas are fantastic fleet vehicles. We have nearly 100,000 EVs connected and are thrilled to make this step to improve how we can support our innovative EV Fleet customers.”

Data Sharing With Privacy In Mind

Tesla's new Third-Party Apps management feature allows users to easily manage supported third-party services, letting owners view or discontinue use of any service at any time. Since authorization goes through Tesla, third-party services would lose access to the owner's data when the user removes the service from their account. However, more importantly, Tesla also allows granular control over what data is shared.

When granting access to a third-party service with 'Sign in with Tesla,' you'll be able to choose the data you want to share. Tesla breaks down the data for Tesla products in the following categories.

Profile Information

Contact information, home address, profile picture, and referral information

Vehicle Information

Vehicle live data, location, eligible upgrades, nearby superchargers, ownership, and service scheduling data

Vehicle Commands

Commands to access Sentry Cam, add or remove driver, unlock, wake up, remote start, and schedule software updates

Vehicle Charging Management

Vehicle charging history, billed amount, charging location, commands to schedule, start, and stop charging

Solar Energy Data Sharing

Tesla isn't limiting data sharing Tesla vehicles either. You'll be given the option to share and let third-party services manage your Tesla Energy products such as Tesla Solar and Powerwall as well. Similar to sharing data for your vehicle, you'll also be able to choose from two categories for solar.

Energy Product Information

Energy flow history, saving forecast, tariff rates, grid import, calendar, site status, time of use, and ownership

Energy Product Commands

Update storm mode

These new options bring a new layer of privacy and choice to Tesla owners, allowing them to limit whether third parties can unlock, wake up, or start their vehicles.

The Future Lies Ahead

Although Standard Fleet is the first and currently only third-party service to be supported, exciting possibilities such as Apple Maps EV routing and enhanced functionality on other services are now within reach. It's only a matter of time before Tesla opens up official support to more services.

Tesla Improves Wrap Services: Cuts Prices Drastically, Adds New Colors and Expands Availability

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After canceling the in-house wrap program for the Cybertruck last month, Tesla has reintroduced the program with a lot of changes. Let’s take a look at the original program, then we’ll dive into what’s changed.

Tesla began the wrap program for the Model 3 and Model Y in the fall of 2023. With the arrival of the Cybertruck, Tesla launched Matte Black and Satin White options for the Cybertruck and later added 11 more colors.

These are high-quality PPF (Paint Protection Film) wraps, which protect the paint in addition to changing the color of the vehicle. PPF is thicker, lasts longer, and is far superior to traditional vinyl wraps, but unfortunately, the service is only available if your vehicle is brand new.

When the program shuttered last month, many people were disappointed about the closing as it allowed owners to bundle the cost of the wrap service into the vehicle’s financing.

New Wrap Prices

First things first - the price of the wraps has dropped considerably, and Tesla does not appear to be using a different material - it is still PPF, not vinyl. These new prices are a lot more comparable to third-party offerings that normally use vinyl wraps.

Tesla initially offered 11 wrap colors, but that selection has now been reduced to eight per vehicle. Interestingly, the color options vary by model—Model 3 and Model Y owners have their own distinct palette. The Cybertruck also boasts its own unique set of colors, though unfortunately, the popular Satin White option is absent from its catalog.

Of course, the ever-popular Matte Black is still available, along with a fairly unique set of other vivid colors.

New Locations

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When the wrap program launched, it was limited to just three locations in California and one location in Texas. That meant that unless you were taking delivery at West Covina, Oceanside, Costa Mesa, or Santa Clara, you’d be unable to get a first-party wrap done by Tesla.

Now, under the new program, Tesla is offering wraps out of all the original locations and adding Seattle, Washington. What initially seemed like Tesla scaling back its wrap service has turned out to be to them making it more affordable and efficient.

New Purchases Only

For now, the wrap offers are still constrained to new vehicle purchases—you won’t be able to have Tesla wrap a vehicle that’s already been delivered. Paint damage and scuffs can impact the installation of PPF and require additional time to smooth out the vehicle surface.

Either way, with cheaper wrap options, Tesla is now directly competing against third-party wrap shops when it comes to wrapping vehicles in PPF. While it’s still a bit more expensive than you’d find elsewhere, it also comes with a level of care and precision from technicians intimately familiar with your vehicle.

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

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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.

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