Older Model S Unlimited Supercharging can be transferred
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In a strategic move to bolster customer loyalty and stimulate sales, Tesla has reintroduced two significant incentives: the Full Self-Driving transfer and lifetime Supercharging transfer. These offers come at a crucial time as Tesla faces a predicted slowdown in sales growth, as outlined by Elon Musk during the last earnings call.
Revitalizing Sales with Strategic Incentives
On Sunday, Tesla’s unofficial spokesperson, @sawyermerrit, announced the news on X. Tesla's decision to allow the transfer of FSD beta software to new vehicles, including the Model 3, Model S, Model X, and Model Y, is not merely an extension of customer benefits but a strategic effort to invigorate sales. This limited-time offer, necessitating delivery by March 31, 2024, aims to attract existing customers to upgrade or purchase new models by providing added value without additional costs.
Reintroducing free lifetime Supercharging for new vehicle purchases, now expanded to include the Model 3, is another facet of Tesla's strategy to entice current owners to upgrade. This would go after the early adopters who have cashed in on this incentive for years, and a rarity to find in the used vehicle market. The program mirrors what was once called a one-time-only deal that allowed transfers of products to new cars,
Challenging Sales Environment
Musk's warning of a "notably lower" sales growth trajectory for the year reflects the EV industry's broader challenges, including heightened competition, margin pressures from price cuts, and the anticipation of a next-generation vehicle expected to rejuvenate delivery numbers in 2025. This caution has led to investor concerns, evident from a significant drop in Tesla's market value following the announcement.
Musk stated, “There's a lot to look forward to in 2024. Tesla is currently between two major growth waves. We're focused on making sure that our next growth wave, driven by next-gen vehicle, energy storage, full self-driving, other projects, is executed as well as possible.”
Faced with these challenges, Tesla's reintroduction of FSD and supercharging transfers can be seen as an innovative response to sustain interest among potential buyers and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market. With FSD capability priced at $12,000 USD, the option to transfer this advanced software at no extra cost is a compelling incentive for customers contemplating vehicle upgrades or new purchases. However, the ultimate impact of these strategies on sales figures and market position remains to be seen, especially as the company prepares to launch its next-generation vehicle in 2025.
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Tesla has begun to reach out to customers in the United States and is offering demo drives of the Cybertruck on an invite-only basis. @brandonhd on X shared the first invite image, and it looks like it's going out quite quickly to multiple locations that have Cybertrucks on display.
Up until now, display vehicles have been for just that – looking, but no touching. Some Tesla delivery centers and showrooms have also allowed viewers to take a seat inside and open it up, but most are still locked away behind the velvet rope.
It’s exciting to see that Tesla has begun to demo them – and it can only be so long until demo drives open up to everyone.
Advisor-led Demo
This Demo Drive is led by a Tesla Advisor – while you’re driving, the advisor will be in the passenger seat, walking you through the experience. They’ll explain steer-by-wire, off-road controls, and will introduce new-to-Tesla buyers to all the features that are currently available.
The list of locations so far for demo drives appears to be fairly limited, but we will hopefully see demo drives roll out throughout the United States, and eventually Canada too. Here is the current list of city/state locations that have seen demo drive invites.
Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.
We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.
Vision-based Improvements
ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.
Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.
I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.
Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.
Actually Smart Summon
ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.
We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.
We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.
Park Seek and Banish Autopark
When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.
A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.
While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.
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