Tesla Adds Beautiful New 3D Maps in Chinese New Year Update

Tesla has added 3D navigation maps in China

Not a Tesla App

Tesla Adds Beautiful New 3D Maps in Chinese New Year Update

Tesla recently released a new update in China for the Chinese New Year. The update is version 2023.44.32 and introduces several new features that are debuting in China first. While some of the features may remain exclusive to the Chinese market, we're hopeful others will be adapted for use outside of China.

3D Maps

One of the biggest additions in the New Year update is the inclusion of new 3D maps. While Tesla relies on Google for a lot of map information that is used in most of the world, in China, Tesla leverages map data from the Chinese tech company Baidu.

The new 3D maps use a more zoomed-in view and include more detail such as the number of lanes on a road, lane markers, speed limit information, and 3D buildings. At the top corner of the display, the driver can switch between the traditional overhead map view or the new 3D format.

The 3D maps mimic the FSD visualizations in a lot of ways. While FSD visualizations are less detailed, they are rendered in real-time and display information such as pedestrians and vehicles, while the 3D maps offer stunning, detailed views of the surrounding roads.

We're unlikely to see these Baidu-powered maps outside of China, but Google and Apple do offer similar 3D maps in many parts of the world that include lane information, 3D buildings, and more.

Tesla has added a new 3D map view in update 2023.44.32 for China.

Instead of an image-based, overhead map view, these new maps show your vehicle as it moves through a 3D environment that visualizes lanes, buildings, trees and more.

It’s very similar to FSD visualizations… pic.twitter.com/Qke0uP3Wcy

— Not a Tesla App (@NotATeslaApp) January 25, 2024

Future Maps

While the new 3D maps almost look duplicative of the FSD visualizations, they may provide a hint at where Tesla is headed next.

If we look back at the original Cybertruck UI, we see that Tesla was experimenting with blending map data with FSD visualizations. In the prototype UI, Tesla added vehicle visualizations directly onto a 3D map and merged real-time information such as vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic lights with map data. The map data allowed the UI to include detailed views of the roads, 3D buildings and the navigation’ suggested path.

Number of Superchargers

In addition to the new 3D maps, Tesla also added another feature that aims to reduce range anxiety and offer more information about charging.

A module on the screen will now display the number of charging stations available at the next two service areas.

Zone Limit Speed Reminder

In China, there are road sections that have speed limits that are automatically measured. However, instead of determining the vehicle's speed at a given point in time, they measure the vehicle's average speed over that section of road.

If the vehicle's average speed is higher than the stated speed then the owner could be issued a ticket. To help make drivers aware of their average speed on these road, Tesla added a vehicle module that will display:

1. Speed limit of the section of the road

2. Your Tesla’s average speed in that particular section, and

3. How much distance is remaining for this section to end.

You need to have the Online Route Planning feature under Controls > Navigation enabled for this to work. This feature makes it clearer whether your average speed is over the limit.

Lower Volume Reversing

Next up in Tesla's Chinese New Year update is a feature that may be added globally. This new feature automatically lowers all media volume while the vehicle is reversing, letting the driver focus on the road.

The media volume automatically goes back to the previous level when the car is moved out of reverse. This new feature is optional and can be enabled under Controls > Safety > Lower volume while reversing.

Tesla Adds Beautiful New 3D Maps in Chinese New Year Update

Details:https://t.co/rg2OoLIPZF pic.twitter.com/MbII86Cqrz

— Not a Tesla App (@NotATeslaApp) February 9, 2024

Unlock Supercharger Parking Spots

In China, Tesla has physical ground locks on certain Superchargers that prevent vehicles from parking there unless they're charging. While this prevents things like ICEing, it adds the inconvenience of the Tesla driver having to open the Tesla app and choose a parking spot to unlock.

Tesla is now building this functionality directly into the vehicle, preventing the driver from having to pull out their phone at all.

Improved Voice Commands

In China, users have also received additional voice commands, including the ability to control windows, control light and dark mode in the vehicle, and show/hide song lyrics. China also recently added a smart voice assistant.

Chinese users also received apps that have been available in other regions for some time such as the newer Energy app, the synchronized light show as well as improvements to existing China-exclusive apps such as QQ Music.

While the majority of these features will remain exclusive to China, we may see a couple of them added to all vehicles in the future.

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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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Tesla’s Optimus Robot Learns to Walk Without Vision [VIDEO]

Optimus Falls - but catches itself!

Not a Tesla App

Tesla recently showed off a demo of Optimus, its humanoid robot, walking around in moderately challenging terrain—not on a flat surface but on dirt and slopes. These things can be difficult for a humanoid robot, especially during the training cycle.

Daily walks help clear your mind pic.twitter.com/dUsW58trS6

— Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) December 9, 2024

A Look Behind the Curtain

Most interestingly, Milan Kovac, VP of Engineering for Optimus, clarified what it takes to get Optimus to this stage. Let’s break down what he said.

Optimus is Blind

Optimus is getting seriously good at walking now - it can keep its balance over uneven ground - even while walking blind. Tesla is currently using just the sensors, all powered by a neural net running on the embedded computer. 

Essentially, Tesla is building Optimus from the ground up, relying on as much additional data as possible while it trains vision. This is similar to how they train FSD on vehicles, using LiDAR rigs to validate the vision system’s accuracy. While Optimus doesn’t have LiDAR, it relies on all those other sensors on board, many of which will likely become simplified as vision takes over as the primary sensor.

Today, Optimus is walking blind, but it’s able to react almost instantly to changes in the terrain underneath it, even if it falls or slips. 

What’s Next?

Next up, Tesla AI will be adding vision to Optimus - helping complete the neural net. Remember, Optimus runs on the same overall AI stack as FSD - in fact, Optimus uses an FSD computer and an offshoot of the FSD stack for vision-based tasks.

Milan mentions they’re planning on adding vision to help the robot plan ahead and improve its walking gait. While the zombie shuffle is iconic and a little bit amusing, getting humanoid robots to walk like humans is actually difficult.

There’s plenty more, too - including better responsiveness to velocity and direction commands and learning to fall and stand back up. Falling while protecting yourself to minimize damage is something natural to humans - but not exactly natural to something like a robot. Training it to do so is essential in keeping the robot, the environment around it, and the people it is interacting with safe.

We’re excited to see what’s coming with Optimus next because it is already getting started in some fashion in Tesla’s factories.

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