Tesla Adds Service Mode Specific Release Notes in Software Update 2023.32

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla now has release notes for Service Mode
Tesla now has release notes for Service Mode
Max

Tesla has rolled out another set of improvements to its Service Mode; if you're a Tesla owner aiming to keep abreast of the latest features and optimizations available in Service Mode, the recent update is for you.

Service Mode provides essential details and diagnostic tools to ensure your Tesla is operating at its peak potential. Service Mode is a specialized function initially reserved for service technicians but accessible to Tesla vehicle owners.

Taking user convenience and information accessibility to a new echelon, the latest addition to Service Mode becomes your one-stop shop for everything that's new or improved in Service Mode. This mode avails critical data and facilitates diagnostic tests for various vehicle components, offering a deep dive into the vehicle's operational status.

Service Mode Release Notes

A spotlight feature in the 2023.32 update includes a new, separate section where users can access release notes that are specific to Service Mode. After entering Service Mode, you can tap Release Notes to open a new menu that outlines improvements made to Service Mode in this vehicle update.

The release notes breakdown all the new Service Mode features included in the current update, 2023.32, and previous updates as well. Each new feature is listed with a description and which vehicles it applies to. You can also tap the section name in blue to jump directly to that area in Service Mode.

One of the major changes in Service Mode in update 2023.32 is the ability to view the status of the vehicle's Electronic Control Unit (ECU) under Infotainment > ECU Update Status, which allows monitoring the status of various sensors and vehicle sub-systems.

Tesla now has release notes for Service Mode
Tesla now has release notes for Service Mode
Niner

Other Service Mode changes in 2023.32 include Enhanced Service Alerts, ability to Update Low Voltage Battery Type and Enhanced Heat Pump panels.

The last two Tesla vehicle updates have included significant Service Mode advancements that users may want to check out. The 2023.26 update introduced health checks including the much-appreciated 'Airbags Screen' where users can scrutinize the status and operational health of all vehicle airbags. The update also extended diagnostic options for steering wheel stalks, the low-voltage battery system, and a camera pitch verification feature, which could potentially aid in diagnosing issues such as misaligned front cameras, a problem noted in some 2023 vehicle models.

Use Caution in Service Mode

However, users have reported that exiting Service Mode is taking a notably long time, leaving some room for improvement.

It is advised that while exploring these features, owners should exercise caution, understanding the implications fully before making any adjustments to avoid potential repercussions on vehicle safety and performance.

Tesla continues to make the Service Mode a more robust tool, with each update. While primarily designed for technicians, the level of detail and insight provided in this mode is a boon for Tesla vehicle owners eager to understand and maintain their vehicles at optimal levels. It embodies Tesla vision of not just creating a car but offering a comprehensive vehicle experience that puts control and information right at the owners fingertips.

Tesla's 2024 Impact Report Shares Updated Timelines for Cybercab, Affordable Model and Semi

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla has finally released their 2024 Impact Report, and it's filled with impressive new data on the company’s environmental and safety progress. However, the biggest news is the clear and concrete roadmap it provides for the next generation of Tesla products.

For the first time, the report provides specific timelines for Tesla to begin volume production of the purpose-built Cybercab and the ramp-up of the Semi factory. This year’s report shifts from documenting past achievements to defining Tesla’s next phase, with a focus on autonomy and industrial transport.

Upcoming Vehicles

The most significant new items in the report are timelines for Tesla’s anticipated future vehicles.

First up is the Cybercab, who Tesla says will begin volume production in 2026. Tesla will be using their revolutionary unboxed production process to build it, which will help reduce costs and complexity. Cybercab will be heavily reliant on the approval of unified autonomy regulations that will enable vehicles to be deployed that do not have driver controls.

Next, Tesla is ramping up production of the Semi, following the completion of limited production runs used for testing. This development is closely tied to the ongoing construction of the new Semi Factory, which is nearing completion. Tesla expects this to be one of its largest markets going forward and one of the most impactful. Industrial trucks doing the last 200 miles of delivery account for 16.4% of US vehicle emissions, despite making up only 1.1% of vehicles on the road.

In terms of the Affordable Model, Tesla has mentioned that they intend to launch more affordable products in 2025 and address a key segment of the market. They did not elaborate on this further and seem to have missed the previously provided self-imposed deadline for the first half of 2025. 

At this point, we’re unsure whether Tesla will actually launch a distinct and more affordable model or whether it will introduce cut-down versions of the Model Y, as rumored.

Safety

The report supports Tesla’s future plans with some impressive new data points that demonstrate the impact their technology is having.

First, Autopilot (and FSD) has achieved a safety record nearly 10 times higher than the US national average in terms of miles per incident. The data shows one accident for every 6.77 million miles driven with Autopilot (or FSD) engaged, compared to the national average of one accident per 0.70 million miles.

The report also highlighted the Cybertruck’s recent 5-Star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, marking it one of the safest vehicles on the market, especially for a truck. The best part is that Cybertruck holds the lowest overall probability of injury and the lowest rollover risk of any pickup truck ever tested by the agency. Skeptics have always complained about lacking crumple zones, but the results prove otherwise, with Tesla building crumple zones as part of the gigacast.

Sustainability

In terms of sustainability, Tesla’s growing fleet helped to increase the amount of reduced and avoided emissions by 60% year over year, to 32 million metric tons of CO2e. While that’s a small number when you compare it to a full country, it is still a significant impact, especially in cities where pollutants have already decreased due to the ownership of EVs.

Tesla also mentioned that 99% of their recalls reported in 2024 were resolved using OTA updates, saving owners a trip to the Service Center or a trip by the Tesla Mobile Rangers, all in the name of sustainability and reduced costs.

Impactful Report

Tesla’s 2024 Impact Report is actually one of the most forward-looking publications to date. It puts a clear roadmap of Tesla’s future goals, while also tying them into the sustainability and safety goals achieved last year.

We can’t wait till 2025’s report - because it’ll be even better with this year’s deployment of Robotaxi. You can read all 200+ pages of the impact report here.

Tesla Begins Virtual Supercharger Queue Testing, Public Test Next

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Tesla has officially begun internal testing of its awaited virtual queueing system for Superchargers. The news was shared by Tesla’s Director of Charging, Max de Zegher on X.

The Tesla Charging team has begun pressure testing the new feature and is planning for public pilots as their next step. While most users won’t experience heavy congestion at Superchargers, for those who do, it could be a real pain point. Virtual queues are designed to make it easier to charge at congested Superchargers by having a digital queue, rather than relying on owners to remain in line with their vehicles.

Virtual Queues

When we originally delved into Tesla’s plans to introduce a virtual queue system, it seemed obvious that the virtual queue would replace the current “Wild West” first-come, first-served system of vehicles trying to get pulled into a stall. This process will likely have two key integrations.

First up is integration directly into the vehicle software for Tesla vehicles. This means that when you’re navigating to a Supercharger that’s busy and virtual queuing is enabled, you will be automatically placed into the virtual queue upon arrival. 

Then, your position in line is displayed on-screen and provides an estimated wait time, allowing you to relax, eat, or take a bathroom break without worrying about your place in line. Finally, once a stall becomes available and it’s your turn, you will receive a notification on your vehicle’s screen, as well as on the Tesla app, directing you to the open stall that will presumably only allow your vehicle to charge. We imagine that there will be a grace period for owners to pull up with their car. If that doesn’t happen within a certain period, the next car will likely be offered the charger.

Similar to the Supercharger live activity that Tesla recently added, we imagine Tesla will also include a live activity for Virtual Queues, allowing users to monitor their place in line on their lock screen.

The second integration is in the Tesla app for non-Tesla drivers. As Tesla continues to install Magic Docks and open Superchargers to non-Tesla EVs, more and more traffic comes to the world’s most reliable fast charging network. That means that Tesla also needs to manage expectations and queue times for non-Tesla vehicles, likely through a similar process, but done over the Tesla app instead.

The Devil’s in the Details

A simple “first-in, first-out” queue sounds great, but Max noted that it is easy to exploit things with bad actors. What prevents a driver from joining a queue remotely to reserve a spot, ignoring a notification, or trying to hop into an unreserved spot?

Well, Tesla should be able to manage these fairly easily, but they still require technical effort to implement. That means GPS geofencing for those attempting to join a queue, a short countdown timer for those late to take their spot, and a lockout for those who try to skip the queue are all needed.

What’s Next?

As Tesla has just started internal testing of this feature, it likely means that public-facing user interfaces and flows aren’t quite ready yet, but the underlying functionality is. It also means that Tesla is working to refine the little details to make the process as smooth and as easily accessible as possible. 

While no pilot locations have been announced yet, it seems likely that Tesla will launch the pilot at some of the most notoriously busy Supercharger sites to gather testing data in the near future, once internal testing is complete. That means holiday travel routes or major highways, likely in California first, before rolling out elsewhere.

Virtual Queuing is a fantastic tech-first solution for the Supercharger network that helps transform that experience into a more calm and orderly process. Additionally, establishing a fair system that allows both Tesla and non-Tesla EVs to access will likely improve the overall experience. Along with the pilot program for dynamic Supercharger pricing that incentivizes people to use less-congested Superchargers, these changes should improve the Supercharger experience.

While Max mentioned it was designed for “those rare cases with a wait”, that tends to be the experience in larger cities further North, especially in New York, Michigan, or within Canada, where the few smaller Supercharger sites in big cities tend to be heavily congested. These queues will make the experience smoother for everyone involved, so we’re looking forward to seeing this come to fruition.

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