Tesla is improving its phone key with ultra-wideband support
Maxim
In Tesla update 2024.2.3, Tesla is rolling out support for ultra-wideband, a wireless protocol that will drastically improve how Tesla phone keys work.
Ultra-wideband (UWB) requires hardware support on the user's phone and the vehicle, so only some of the most recent models will be supported.
What is Ultra-Wide
Ultra-wideband is similar to Bluetooth in that it uses short-range radio waves to enable devices to communicate, although it’s a separate protocol all together. It uses less energy than Bluetooth while providing high-precision location tracking beyond what can be achieved with Bluetooth. The technology is often used to accurately locate devices and determine the precise distance between multiple UWB devices.
Improved Phone Keys
Tesla phone keys are fantastic and give you a way to lock and unlock your vehicle without having to carry a key. They also let you share temporary or permanent keys with others without ever having to hand something over physically. It's one of the ways Tesla can now offer self-serve demo drives without any staff on hand.
While phone keys are great and work reliably most of the time, occasionally the car doesn't recognize that the phone is nearby, requiring you to take out your phone and unlock it or even open the Tesla app before it recognizes that the phone is nearby.
The addition of support for ultra-wideband should solve these issues almost completely by precisely knowing where the phone is in relation to the vehicle. UWB support is also expected to improve other features that rely on knowing your phone’s location, such as selecting the correct driver profile depending on which phone key is closest to the driver’s side.
Enabling UWB Phone Key
The new phone key won’t work out of the box. To use the improved UWB phone key, you’ll need to set it up in the Tesla app. The app will prompt you to “Upgrade Your Phone Key,” and you’ll then need to grant the app access to UWB, which the iPhones call Nearby Interactions. You can remove or check on whether the app has access at any time by navigating to iPhone Settings > Privacy & Security > Nearby Interactions.
Release Notes
Tesla states that its new feature "Ultra-Wideband Phone Key" will improve your phone key due to greater accuracy and better responsibleness.
The release notes read:
"Ultrawide band (UWB) technology is now available for Phone Key. So your vehicle and Phone Key can communicate with greater accuracy to more responsively lock, unlock, and open Automatic Doors.”
“In the Tesla app, choose Phone Key > Upgrade and follow the instructions. After setup, keep your iPhone Settings for Nearby Interactions on for Tesla. Requires iPhone 11+ and Tesla app 4.29.5+."
Cars Supported
Since ultra-wideband requires specific hardware, it can’t be added in a software update unless the hardware is already in the vehicle. Only some of the latest Tesla vehicles appear to support the new wireless protocol.
We have confirmed that the new Model 3 is supported, as well as the 2023 Model X. All refreshed Model S and Model X vehicles include the new UWB frequencies in the certificate of conformity and are likely to receive this feature, but it doesn’t appear to be going out to all new S/X models yet. The Cybertruck is expected to be supported as well.
The first-gen Model 3 and current Model Y unfortunately do not have UWB support.
Phones Support
In addition to the vehicle having support for UWB, the phone must also support it. All models since the iPhone 11 have included support for ultra-wideband. This spans across all models and sizes.
While some Android phones also include UWB hardware, Tesla is launching support for the iPhone first, but we can expect supported Android phones running Android 13 or later to be added at some point in the future as well.
On the Android side, the Pixel 6 and above have support for UWB on the Pro models, while the Galaxy S series phones support the protocol since the S21, but only on the Plus and Ultra models. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 and above also include support as well as other flagship Android phones.
Tesla App Support
Tesla started adding support for ultra-wideband back in July 2023 when Tesla updated their app to v4.23.5 and included references to ultra-wideband. Tesla says that you’ll require the latest Tesla app, v4.29.5 or higher to use the new feature.
Ultra wide-band will bring greater accuracy and reliability to Tesla's phone keys. The phone key is already great and the only thing holding it back is its ability to work reliably 100% of the time, but it looks like that is about to be fixed if you own a new Tesla model.
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The greatly anticipated FSD v12.4 is around the corner, with Elon Musk mentioning that it will be going to employees this weekend, with limited external testers next week.
Several significant improvements are coming with V12.4, which is being compared to the leap in performance that was previously seen between V12 and V11.
Improved Comfort and Reduced Interventions
There are quite a few improvements expected with V12.4, which Musk has said will be focused on user comfort by reducing hard accelerations and sudden braking. According to Musk, FSD v12.4 is also expected to have a 5-10x improvement in time between user interventions, which means that Tesla is rapidly approaching its goal for the Robotaxi announcement on August 8, 2024.
Steering Wheel Nag Removal
FSD V12.4 is expected to eliminate the steering wheel nag, as Musk confirmed its removal last week. The camera-based driver monitoring system will be taking over, providing a hands-free experience. These improvements will most likely benefit owners who have cabin cameras with infrared lights the most, while Tesla may continue to use steering wheel nag as a fallback mechanism.
Driverless Autopark
The second key feature that may be included in v12.4 will be Banish Autopark, previously known as Reverse Summon, allowing you to choose a parking spot, exit the vehicle and have the car park itself. Whether this feature makes it in v12.4 is yet to be seen, but Musk has mentioned that parking without a driver is coming soon.
Automatically Seek Parking Spot at Destination
Finally, your Tesla will now traverse a parking lot and automatically enter Autopark mode when arriving at a destination, according to a post from Musk.
Eligibility and Branch
Tesla recently added FSD v12.3.6 to the 2024.14 branch with updates 2024.14.5 and 2024.14.6. This makes it very likely that Tesla’s next FSD version will also be based on 2024.14, meaning that it will be available to any vehicle on 2024.14.x.
For users on update 2024.3.25, this means that they’ll receive all of the features included in updates 2024.8 and 2024.14, which should make it a massive update.
Release Date
Musk has mentioned that FSD V12.4 is going out to employee vehicles for internal testing this weekend, with external testing starting next week. The rollouts typically go slower than predicted but looks like we may see this begin shipping to customers by the end of the month.
Today, as part of a broader change of tariff rates on Chinese goods, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that he’ll raise tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, increasing the rate from 25% to 100%, effective this year.
This increase won’t just impact the import of vehicles, but also the rate for lithium-ion batteries produced in China, which will be moving from 7.5% to 25%.
Impact on Competition
The immediate impact of this new regulation is significant for Chinese manufacturers, who have been regarded as Tesla’s largest and greatest competition. Given the tariff hike, this means that new Chinese manufacturers, such as Nio, XPeng, or BYD, will either need to set up production in North America, or be subject to the increased import tariff.
Nio’s vehicles cost between $40,000 USD to $70,000 USD in China based on today’s conversion rates, and with an import tariff of 100%, an imported vehicle’s price would be doubled to $80,000 USD to $140,000 USD, not including other fees. Chinese manufacturers will have to closely weigh the advantages and disadvantages of opening up the North American market, with challenges including vehicle homologation, new tariffs, and a difficult EV market.
Tesla and Chinese Tariffs
Elon Musk recently visited China, engaging with officials to build a foundation for what is currently the world’s largest electric vehicle market. With the potential import of Chinese EVs becoming restricted to the United States, this places Tesla in an advantageous position over its Chinese competitors who have yet to establish their brands in North America.
On the other hand, this could also impact Tesla, as they import Chinese batteries for usage in some vehicles in the United States.
Tesla does not import Gigafactory Shanghai vehicles to the US, but has been increasing North American battery production lately, with expansions in Lathrop, California and a new facility in Sparks, Nevada.
Canadian Tariffs
In Canada, the Model 3 and Model Y are currently being imported from Gigafactory Shanghai. Given Canada’s close following of US foreign policy, this could impact either the prices of Tesla vehicles in Canada or have Tesla shipping vehicles from Fremont and Texas to the United States once again, should Canada also adopt a similar tariff policy.
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The official Tesla app only notifies you if your car is broken into. By installing Sentry Pro on your phone, you will be notified for all Sentry Mode events. Stay connected and avoid potential surprises by receiving notifications. Stop constantly checking the cameras to ensure safety. Check only when necessary, save battery and get peace of mind. Get a 7 day free trial here!
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