In the Software tab of the vehicle’s settings, there’s an option for the owner to choose their software update preference. You can pick between Standard and Advanced, which is suppose to determine your preference for receiving updates. Tesla describes the feature as:
“[Car name] will regularly receive over-the-air software updates that add new features and enhance existing functionality. Select ADVANCED if you’d like [car name] to receive new software updates as soon as they become available for its configuration.
Note: The latest software version will vary based on vehicle configurations including hardware and geography.”
Essentially, you’re supposed to pick whether you want to receive updates more often and get features earlier, or would you prefer to receive new features later and receive a more stable build of the software.
This button has long been thought to be useless nowadays with many thinking it was just left over from public Early Access programs Tesla had back in 2018.
However, in a recent post Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla is still using this option to determine when to send some updates.
In a post on X, Musk said that Tesla is still seeing some issues with FSD v12.5, but that Tesla will push the update out to those who have selected ‘Advanced’ releases. We’re not sure if Tesla has always been using this preference or just recently started again, but if you’d like to receive the latest updates sooner, then it’s a good idea to have it set to advanced.
Still some issues with this release, but you can see the magic already.
We’re pushing it out only to those who have requested advanced releases (setting on screen that is defaulted off).
For regular users, ~V12.5.3 is probably suitable for wide release.
The Software Update Preference option is located under Controls > Software, and then there is an Advanced or Standard option, with Standard being the default. It appears that Tesla has the ability to send out updates to users not only based on configuration, region and model, but also based on their software update preference. If you have Advanced enable, you may receive updates sooner and receive more frequent bug fix updates.
We’re glad to see that this option is still in use – but it’d be nice if Tesla provided a a little more clarity around their release process.
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In a move that’s sure to excite those with larger families, Tesla has started teasing the return of the seven-seat configuration for the Model Y. In a new marketing email sent out to customers recently, Tesla explicitly highlights the vehicle’s spaciousness.
“Ready for anything with long range, seating for up to seven, and enough room for everyone’s gear.”
The seven-seat Model Y was initially offered in late 2021, but it hasn’t been available since Spring 2023. The return of the new variant will be an addition that many have been waiting for, as the next vehicle with that much passenger space in the line-up is the Model X, starting at almost double the price.
First-Gen Model Y Third Row
The original seven-seat Model Y was extremely popular in the Asia-Pacific and European markets, and it still sold fairly well in North America despite differences in preferred vehicle sizing and spaciousness. It offers additional seats for larger families with young children, but space in the third row is minimal.
The seven-seat variant makes the Model Y more competitive against other three-row SUVs on the market. The video below features the seven-seater, first-generation Model Y.
Power Reclining Third Row?
The refreshed Model Y was launched with power-reclining second-row seats, a huge plus for practicality and ease of use. The power-reclining second-row seats are extremely popular with families and are very helpful, as you can control them from the front screen rather than needing to open the rear doors.
Tesla is likely to integrate power-reclining seats into the third row and potentially keep them for the second row as well. With the second row sliding forward and backward for easy entry, as well as allowing the second and third rows to fold flat for additional cargo room when needed.
Launch Date and Price
Tesla’s tease of the seven-seat variant is likely just the start. With recent sightings of the Model Y Performance variant hitting the Nürburgring, it seems Tesla has a lot in store for this summer. If you’ve been waiting for the seven-seat variant, it seems like it’ll be just a few short months away at this rate.
While we haven’t seen any production samples or other details regarding dates yet, Tesla previously priced the seven-seat option at an additional $2,000 USD ($3,000 CAD). The seven-seat option will likely only be available on the Long Range AWD and Long Range RWD variants, not the Performance model, similar to the first-generation Model Y.
In Elon’s flurry of posts on X about FSD yesterday, he also revealed the date that another moment of peak science fiction would be occurring — June 28th. Tesla expects to conduct the first-ever self-delivery, where a brand-new Model Y will depart from the production line and arrive directly at its new owner’s home without any human intervention.
Imagine ordering a vehicle, and a few days later, rather than needing to pick it up, it simply arrives in your driveway and notifies you via an app that it has arrived. That’s no longer the talk of science fiction; it is quite literally something that is likely to happen this month.
Expect a Model Y Delivery in Austin
Considering everything Tesla has done so far, we’re fairly certain that the first self-delivered vehicle will be a Model Y in Austin, in the same geo-fenced area where Tesla’s Robotaxi will operate. FSD is highly optimized for the Model Y, and it’ll take some time for those optimizations to trickle down to the rest of the fleet. It’s not clear if FSD performs better on the Model Y because it’s the most popular vehicle and, therefore, Tesla has the most data for it or if Tesla explicitly chose to focus more on their most popular vehicle.
Tentatively, June 22.
We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.
First Tesla that drives itself from factory end of line all the way to a customer house is June 28.
While a car driving itself is something truly different from what other manufacturers offer, there are also numerous strategic advantages for Tesla to do so. This includes drastically reducing last-mile delivery costs by minimizing the need for car carriers, delivery drivers, and even delivery personnel at your local Tesla center. For customers, it could mean a faster, more flexible delivery method - and one absolutely unforgettable welcome to Tesla ownership.
We recently took a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of vehicles delivering themselves to customers. While it’s all positive for Tesla, there are some potentially negative sides to it as well.
A Futuristic Glimpse
When you step back and look at it, Self-Delivery is a logical extension of Unsupervised FSD and the Robotaxi network in general. Self-deliveries are expected to run on the same software stack that powers the Model Ys currently roaming Austin’s streets autonomously, which means there is little for Tesla to do other than enable specific instructions for self-delivery during the final vehicle configuration steps.
Given Elon’s note that the dates could shift, this could easily be moved to early July; however, either way, it seems like we’re just weeks away from this monumental event, which will further reduce the cost of Tesla vehicles.
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