The refreshed Model Y brought with it lots of changes to the exterior and interior - but there’s more to it than just that. Tesla is doing something completely different than its other vehicles with the new Model Y and that’s how regenerative braking works.
The new Model Y has an updated Dynamics Control menu that has a new deceleration option. At quick glance this appears to be a renamed regenerative braking label, but it’s much more than that.
Tesla has also added two additional options in the Traction Control Mode that aren’t available in the previous-gen Model Y.
Let’s dig into what each of these features does, as we believe many people will be pleased with the way regenerative braking now works in the new Model Y.
Deceleration - Not Just Low Regen
Just below the Acceleration category, where you’ll find the familiar Chill and Standard Modes, Tesla has introduced a new Deceleration category for the new Model Y.
This category offers two options: Standard (the default setting) and Reduced. The Reduced setting adjusts how quickly the vehicle slows down when you release the accelerator pedal.
However, this isn’t just another name for regenerative braking. Tesla has changed how they apply regenerative braking in the new Model Y.
Two Levels of Regen
Tesla previously offered two levels of regenerative braking, Normal or Low, which determined how much regen would be applied when you lifted your foot off the accelerator. Some new EV drivers struggled with the normal regenerative braking mode due to the amount of deceleration, but ultimately, Tesla removed the low regen option because it negatively impacted range and increased wear on the vehicle’s brakes unnecessarily.
Unlike other EVs, Tesla has only applied regenerative braking when the accelerator is released, and tapping the brake pedal would always activate the physical brakes. That is, until now.
Apply Regen With the Brake Pedal
With the new Model Y, Tesla has made changes that allow regenerative braking to activate either when the accelerator pedal is released or when the brake pedal is pressed. That means that sometimes the vehicle’s physical brakes won’t activate when you tap the brake pedal — instead, the vehicle may use regenerative braking.
Drivers now have the option to choose between normal or reduced deceleration when lifting off the accelerator pedal, which essentially means high or low levels of regenerative braking are being applied. However, now, when the brake pedal is tapped, the vehicle decides whether to continue using regenerative braking or use the vehicle’s physical brakes, depending on how hard the pedal is pressed.
This change removes the efficiency loss associated with low-level regenerative braking in older models because regen can again be applied when the driver uses the vehicle’s brake pedal. It’s really the best of both worlds. Drivers can now have the vehicle apply low levels of regen when the accelerator is lifted and still benefit from full regen because it is enabled again when the brake pedal is used.
We still recommend drivers get used to normal regen using just the accelerator pedal since it introduces the ability to mostly drive with just one pedal, but there is a learning curve.
Unfortunately, this new feature is exclusive to the latest Model Y, as it required changes to the vehicle, so we won’t see this feature coming in a future update. The Model Y is the first Tesla to apply regenerative braking when the brake pedal is used, but given how much it eases the transition to EVs, we expect it to roll out in future models as well.
Brake system in New Model Y has the freedom to use either electric motor or mechanical brake when you push the brake pedal
This brings you maximum efficiency, consistency in pedal behavior & improved stability pic.twitter.com/rIwOUxwpXU
Tesla has also made some changes to the new Model Y’s traction control. The Model Y used to have the option to enable Off-Road Assist and Slip Start. However, they’re adding two new options, Auto and Slippery Surface modes.
Slippery Surface
The new Slippery Surface mode debuted with the Cybertruck. It’s designed to improve the vehicle's handling on roads or surfaces that are slick with water, ice, or other snow, which can reduce traction. In this mode, your vehicle will closely monitor each wheel sensor for slippage and automatically apply additional torque where needed—essentially, very fancy torque vectoring to maintain control.
It is a more active approach to how Tesla normally handles active traction control - and it does consume additional energy to keep this active. On the Cybertruck, I’ve personally noticed about 10% additional energy usage when Slippery Surfaces is active, but the truck does handle far better. We’d expect a similar exchange with the Model Y, where you trade a bit of efficiency for better and more precise handling when Slippery Surface is activated.
Off-Road Assist
Off-Road Assist meanwhile, keeps the same overall package from the previous-Gen Model Y. This allows wheels to spin and also balances torque between the front and rear motors, which helps to optimize traction. It’s quite effective in rough and soft surfaces where one side of the vehicle may lose traction, while the other still has it.
Off-Road Assist also provides more gradual torque control, which can help when trying to crawl the vehicle over rocky surfaces. As usual, Off-Road Assist will disable automatically at higher speeds and also disables Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Avoidance, and Autopilot and FSD are disabled while it is active.
Where is Slip Start?
The Slip Start option was available on all variants of the Model Y, which helps to dislodge it if you manage to get it stuck in mud, snow, or ice - enabling the wheels to spin. It seems likely that Slip Start is probably further down in the menu - rather than being removed completely.
These changes to the new Model Y should please a ton of drivers, especially if they’re new to Tesla.
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After years of anticipation, the wait is over. Tesla's Robotaxi network officially launched with its first public rides for early access users in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, June 22nd.
The launch was a veritable firehose of new information, revealing everything from the booking process and in-car experience to new FSD features expected in the next version of FSD. Here’s a complete recap of everything we learned from what is sure to be a historic first day.
The Robotaxi App
The experience begins in a new, dedicated Robotaxi app. For now, access is invite-only and that app is not available in the App Store. Invitees received a special link to download the Apple-only app onto their device. Once you’re in the app, you’re asked to log in with your Tesla account, which will then bring over all your settings from the Tesla app, such as your profile photo and payment details.
While the app is only available for iPhone users today, an Android version is already confirmed to be in the works.
Booking a Trip
Once you’re in the app, you can set your destination and hail a ride. Once you have a ride booked, the app provides live tracking of the approaching Robotaxi, including its exact location and the estimated time of arrival.
One limitation noted by early-access testers is that the pickup point is currently fixed, and you can’t change it. The pick-up location will be relatively close to where you requested the ride, but some users noted having to walk up to a block to get to the pick-up location chosen by the app.
After initiating a ride, your phone will display a Live Activity, providing an auto-updating view of your taxi's location and ETA. This is similar to the Supercharger Live Activity that Tesla launched recently.
The Live Activities on iOS for the Robotaxi App
Joe Tegtmeyer on X
In-App Tips
While many early Robotaxi users are expected to be Tesla owners, Tesla is creating a user-friendly experience by offering in-app tips, such as how to open the Model Y doors.
When your ride arrives, its exterior lights pulse, letting you know this vehicle is picking up a passenger at the given location. This helps it differentiate between other Tesla vehicles on the road and other Robotaxis potentially dropping someone off at the same location.
The helpful tip on how to open the door handles.
@DirtyTesLa on X
The exterior lights pulse prompt in the app.
@DirtyTesLa on X
Information Synced to Robotaxi
To get that special Tesla touch of magic, once your vehicle arrives, it automatically syncs the rider’s personal vehicle details to the Robotaxi.
That means when you go to play Spotify, YouTube Music, or other media, you’re already signed in and it’s using the same account you use on your own personal Tesla. Even Netflix and other video services are signed in, so that you can start streaming them in the back seat.
The hub of the passenger experience, for now, is the 8-inch rear touchscreen of the new Model Y. The UI is clean and simple, displaying the trip map, estimated arrival time, and controls for media and climate.
The screen also provides passengers with access to key safety features, including a large “Pull Over” and “Support” button. For the early access program, a human Safety Monitor sits in the front passenger seat and has access to one additional control on the main screen - Stop in Lane.
Once you’re inside the vehicle and have fastened your seatbelt, the ride doesn’t begin immediately. You must tap the “Start Ride” button on either the rear passenger screen or within the Robotaxi app for the vehicle to start moving.
@DBurkland on X
The Ride and Geofence
One of the most important questions is: How does it drive? The first impressions have been overwhelmingly positive. Early-access riders have mentioned that FSD’s performance is extremely smooth, noting that it handles turns, speed bumps, and stops with a new level of grace. While FSD V13 is already incredibly smooth, Tesla may have tweaked it for this Robotaxi version, or it could be taking things a little slower with the initial rollout.
Robotaxi slows down really nice for speed bumps. Extremely smooth stops as well pic.twitter.com/H8R2pXllWB
The service operates within a defined geofence in Austin, which initial reports suggest takes about 30 minutes to go from one side to the other.
Interestingly, you can actually book a trip that has a destination or start point outside the geofenced area. In these cases, the Robotaxi will simply take you to the edge of the service area or choose a pickup location that’s within the service area.
The current service area for Robotaxi
@SawyerMerritt on X
Robotaxi Command Center
The significance of this day hasn’t been lost on Tesla’s teams. Ashok Elluswamy, VP of AI, shared a photo from what appeared to be a launch party at the Robotaxi operations center.
The command center features various TVs showing real-time information from the active Robotaxis. According to what Musk shared a couple of weeks ago, Tesla planned to have 10 Robotaxis on the first day, which aligns with what is displayed on the list on one of the TVs.
Other TVs are showing live views from the Robotaxis’ cameras, displaying six of the vehicle’s cameras, which appear to include the front camera, repeaters, B-pillar cameras, and rear camera. The only cameras excluded appear to be the front bumper camera, the front-facing wide-angle camera, and the cabin camera.
Another TV is displaying a weather radar, while another is displaying a live view of the Robotaxi vehicles on a map. However, one of the most interesting is one near the middle, which is displaying Robotaxi statistics. The display shows that there have been 112 rides across 499 miles as of the time the photo was taken. Another statistic shows a value of 35, but it’s unclear what this number represents. Given the 10 expected Robotaxis, this likely has to do with how many users are queued for a ride, or includes active riders plus users waiting for a ride.
Many team members have also taken to X and commented on the significance and status of the launch, celebrating a decade’s worth of hard work finally coming to a culmination. While there’s still a lot of work to do, the launch is a huge first step to Tesla opening up its Robotaxi service to everyone and releasing FSD Unsupervised for customer-owned vehicles.
Check out this smooth start-to-finish ride from Sawyer Merritt:
Here is my experience (in 4K) from earlier today in one of the world's first ever public Tesla Robotaxi rides in Austin, Texas with FSD Unsupervised! No-one is in the driver seat and the safety monitor in the passenger seat does not have a steering or pedals.
Next up? We expect Tesla to open up rides to the general public and gradually expand its geofence area. There’s also a new FSD update coming that increases parameters by 4.5x, which should make the vehicles even smoother and more capable.
With the first Tesla Robotaxi rides starting shortly for early access users in Austin, Tesla has published a detailed set of rules for its first passengers.
They outline everything from who can ride to how you can behave in a car with no driver, and are designed to ensure safety. Tesla is using a safety monitor during the initial rollout phases, so the front passenger seat will not be available for customers.
Who Can Ride
Tesla has laid out clear guidelines on who is eligible to be a passenger, as well as some expected in-car conduct.
You must be at least 18 years old to book a ride and to ride alone. Riders are permitted to bring one guest, provided that the guest is also over the age of 18. You cannot book a ride for another person; the account holder must be present for the entire trip.
That’s all pretty straightforward, and we expect Tesla to relax some of the rules in the coming months. That means that once the safety monitor is gone, the number could increase to three or four.
How to Behave
All passengers must remain seated with their seatbelts fastened for the entire duration of the ride. There is a strict prohibition on smoking, vaping, or consuming alcohol or other drugs inside the vehicle.
Riders are also asked to be courteous and leave the Robotaxi in the same condition as they found it. Those who damage or dirty the vehicle may be charged an additional, currently unspecified fee after the ride.
Hands Off: Driverless Vehicle
This is where the rules get a bit more interesting, focusing on the unique fact that the Model Ys that Tesla is using still have driver controls.
Riders are prohibited from sitting in the front-left driver’s seat. Additionally, riders must not tamper with, modify, or attempt to physically manipulate any vehicle equipment, including the steering wheel and pedals.
Interestingly, Tesla also has a rule on reverse-engineering and intellectual property protection. While photos and videos of the experience are permitted, riders are prohibited from bringing onboard instruments or equipment intended to record, measure, or conduct surveillance on Robotaxi.
Service Animal Exception
For riders with disabilities, Tesla has outlined a specific policy. Only small service animals that are trained to work or perform tasks are permitted in the vehicle. No other pets are allowed.
However, riders are not required to provide proof; however, support may ask you to confirm that the animal is required due to a disability and what task it is trained to perform.
At this point, we’re not sure whether Tesla will allow non-service animals in its Robotaxi Network in the near future. It would make sense if they did - many people travel with their pets, or need to take them from one location to another - but for now, only service animals will be allowed.
Tesla is definitely taking a safety-first approach in the initial launch, and with the presence of the Safety Monitor, they’re being very cautious. There is a long way to go before the average person becomes comfortable with an autonomous vehicle with no one in the driver’s seat, and building public trust is a good first step.
![Tesla Launches Robotaxi: Features, Robotaxi App, Command Center and First Impressions [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/2025/robotaxi_rear_screen.jpg/bf5ea088bdebda8ca7e0aa1503b69f4e/robotaxi_rear_screen.jpg)
