Why Tesla Is Updating Stopping Modes for Model 3 and Y to Feature Hold Mode Exclusively

By Kevin Armstrong
New 2024 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles will eliminate the creep and roll options
New 2024 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles will eliminate the creep and roll options

Tesla is reportedly removing two of the three existing stopping modes - Creep and Roll - from the new Model 3 and Model Y. Existing Model 3 and Model Y owners won't see these modes removed via an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Additionally, Model S and Model X owners do not have the option to choose different stopping modes.

The latest change will see new Model 3 and Model Y cars manufactured after January 1, 2024, only featuring the Hold mode. As per internal communications obtained and reported by Drive Tesla Canada, this modification is specifically for vehicles destined for the U.S. market.

Tesla's Updated Range

Tesla updated the range estimates for the Model S, Model X, and Model Y, reflecting unspecified improvements that enhance battery utilization and adaptations to EPA testing methodologies, leading to higher consumption figures. These updates and removing Creep and Roll modes are part of Tesla's ongoing efforts to improve their electric vehicles' efficiency and user experience.

Since the EPA now requires manufacturers to average the different acceleration modes of a vehicle to determine the vehicle’s EPA estimate, Tesla has decided to eliminate the less efficient stopping modes in new models.

Electric vehicles, including Tesla's lineup, are known for their one-pedal driving capability. This feature allows drivers to primarily use the accelerator pedal to accelerate and slow down through regenerative braking. Tesla's stopping modes – Creep, Roll, and Hold – provide drivers with different behaviors as the car slows down.

The Dominance of Hold Mode: Why Tesla is Betting on It

Creep Mode mimics the automatic transmission of traditional vehicles, allowing the car to move slowly when in Drive or Reverse without pressing the accelerator. Roll Mode enables the car to freewheel near or at a complete stop, similar to a vehicle in Neutral. The Hold mode continues regenerative braking at lower speeds, allowing the vehicle to stop entirely without using the brake pedal. Not only does this save on brake wear, it also sends energy back into the battery.

Hold mode is reportedly the most popular and effective among the three, offering a superior driving experience compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. This mode is particularly beneficial for those new to Tesla's one-pedal driving. However, regenerative braking is the most significant change for new EV drivers and takes the most time to get used to. Newbies may start with Roll or Creep before trying Hold, but those training wheels are now gone.

First Look at New UI and Capabilities of Auto Shift in Tesla Update 2024.14.3 [Video]

By Not a Tesla App Staff

Tesla’s latest 2024.14.3 update will bring an updated UI and new capabilities to its Auto Shift feature.

Auto Shift, which is available on the 2021+ Model S, Model X, the 2024 Model 3 and the Cybertruck, allows the vehicle to automatically shift into Drive or Reverse when you get into the vehicle. Instead of having to tap on a stalk, you just sit in the vehicle, press the brake pedal, and then the accelerator to start moving in the right direction.

Smart Shift, as it was previously called, needs to be enabled in Controls > Pedals and Steering > Auto Shift Out of Park.

Improved User Interface

With update 2024.14, Tesla is adjusting the Auto Shift user interface to be more compact on the new Model 3.

On the new Model 3, there is now space at the top of the screen to fit in the gear indicator, instead of it having to be pushed off to the right. Auto Shift also no longer goes all the way to the bottom of the screen. It allows the media player to go edge to edge on the left side of the screen, giving Tesla room to add more options to the media player such as shuffle and repeat.

It’s a departure from the previous version where Auto Shift took up the entire left side of the screen, from top to bottom.

Additional Capabilities in Update 2024.14

With update 2024.14, Tesla will also expand the capabilities of Auto shift in the Model S and X to not only shift into the correct gear when coming out of park but also during other maneuvers. For example, during K turns, the vehicle will be capable of automatically shifting from Drive to Reverse and Reverse to Drive.

For now, the feature will be limited to the Model S and Model X, but we've already seen this feature available on development software for the new Model 3 Performance, so we know it'll eventually be available on the new Model 3 and presumably the Cybertruck as well.

Video of New Auto Shift

Coming to All Teslas?

Back in 2021, Musk tweeted that Tesla's new Smart Shift feature would eventually become available as an optional feature in all Teslas with FSD. That hasn't happened yet, but it'd be interesting to understand whether this is still Tesla's plan. All Tesla vehicles are technically capable of using Auto Shift since it's completely vision-based.

Newer vehicles do include backup buttons in case the screen fails for some reason in these vehicles, but other vehicles could continue to use the stalks as a backup if it was needed.

Update 2024.14.3

Installed on 0% of vehicles
86 Installs today
Last updated: Apr 29, 12:00 am

Tesla update 2024.14.3 has been tested by Tesla employees and has just started rolling out to customers today. Be sure to check out our release notes to see all the great additions in this spring update.

Musk Says FSD v12.4 Will Be a Major Improvement As Tesla Eyes China for FSD Expansion

By Cláudio Afonso

Less than ten days since the last FSD update, Tesla has started rolling out FSD v12.3.6. Not only does this update include improvements to FSD itself, but it also adds the new Autopark and High Fidelity Park Assist to vehicles with ultrasonic sensors.

As Tesla continues to ramp up its AI training capacity, the average number of miles driven on FSD continues to climb at an increased rate.

Computing Power

Last week, in the earnings call deck, Tesla revealed that it’s set to increase its core AI infrastructure capacity “in the coming months.” Tesla stated it has quadrupled its capacity since September 2023.

To further improve our end-to-end training capability, we will continue to increase our core AI infrastructure capacity in the coming months. - Tesla

Musk said on Sunday that the company will spend “around $10B” throughout 2024 in “combined training and inference AI, the latter being primarily in car”. “Any company not spending at this level, and doing so efficiently, cannot compete,” he added.

Tesla's computing power has drastically increased
Tesla's computing power has drastically increased

Expansion to China

In an unexpected 24-hour trip to China, Elon Musk visited Beijing to meet with Premier Li Qiang to discuss the rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and permission to transfer driving data overseas. Since Tesla uses fleet data to continuously improve FSD, being able to use data gathered in and outside of China will be crucial to its continued improvement.

On the same day, Tesla models produced at Giga Shanghai were listed among the EVs that meet China's data security requirements for smart cars, an important hurdle for Tesla to surpass.

When Musk was asked on X about Tesla releasing FSD in China, Musk simply said “It may be possible very soon.”

Regarding additional markets such as Europe and Australia, Musk said he believes that v12 is “ready for supervised FSD in LHD countries” while RHD like the UK or Australia “will take a bit longer”.

Internal FSD Is 3 to 6 Months Ahead

Earlier this month, Tesla disclosed that the team knows “roughly” how the software will perform in “3 to 6 months”. He added that it takes “a few months to fix those bugs and complete safety tests” before releasing the version to the Tesla employees and then to the general public.

Major FSD Updates Coming

On X, Musk teased that the next major update to FSD will be v12.4, saying “it’s awesome,” and that it’s “another big jump in capabilities.” Musk said that Tesla’s computing constraint has been much improved, and likely may be a factor in this further being another big improvement.

In mid-March, Elon Musk announced that Tesla will reintroduce Smart Summon and Autopark to its vehicles. Tesla has now delivered on the Autopark promise, but we’re still waiting on the improved Smart Summon feature. It’s possible we’ll see in FSD v12.4.

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