Tesla shows off what could be part of v11 in update 2021.4.5 for the Chinese market

Tesla has shown off what may be part of Tesla's v11 software. This morning Tesla posted a video to weibo.cn that shows off new features that will be available in China as part of the 20214.5 release.

Tesla highlights three major new features that will be available in the Chinese market. However, they may not necessarily be available to everyone outside of China. For example, we don't believe the updates to QQ Music would be available outside of China, much like some entertainment apps that are exclusive to certain markets.

TikTok

The first major feature that Tesla shows off is the addition of the entertainment app TikTok. The app will be added alongside the other apps currently available in the market and maintains the features popular in the mobile app such as 'Following' and 'For You' tabs, the ability to favorite and view comments on the videos. Although it's unclear whether they will allow you to comment on videos.

The layout of the app is particularly interesting as the design appears to take a cue from the Model S/X redesign videos we've seen recently where there is a black navigation bar on the left side.

QQ Music Lyrics

The second feature the video goes into is QQ Music. QQ Music is a streaming service in China and it has been available since 2019 on Tesla vehicles. With this update they're adding karaoke-like support to the service where users will be able to view song lyrics as the song plays in a very similar fashion to Caraoke.

Improved Voice Recognition

Speech recognition improvements are being highlighted as much improved in 2021.4.5 as well. The voice commands in the vehicle are great but you often have to phrase them in a very specific way to get them to work. It looks like Tesla has tried to improve their understanding of commands in this release.

In the video Tesla shows examples of a driver issuing commands like navigate to, calling someone or playing songs but in various new ways. It's not clear whether these improvements are specific to Mandarin Chinese or will be available more widely.

As Tesla is showing off the new commands and particularly the call command, we can see a slightly new call interface. When calling someone through the voice interface, it appears that the call will be automatically placed after a certain time. A progress bar "count down" will appear on top and a 'Cancel' button at the top giving the user a chance to cancel the command before the call is automatically dialed.

Tesla shows off these three major features as part of 2021.4.5, but there may be other improvements as well. These features are targeted specifically targeted the Chinese market and would not include other features that be only be available in the U.S. or other markets.

The full video is below for those interested in watching.

Follow

Follow

Follow

Tesla Improves Wrap Services: Switches to Vinyl, Cuts Prices Drastically, Adds New Colors and Expands Availability

Not a Tesla App

After canceling the in-house wrap program for the Cybertruck last month, Tesla has reintroduced the program with a lot of changes. Let’s take a look at the original program, then we’ll dive into what’s changed.

Tesla began the wrap program for the Model 3 and Model Y in the fall of 2023. With the arrival of the Cybertruck, Tesla launched Matte Black and Satin White options for the Cybertruck and later added 11 more colors.

Tesla initially offered high-quality PPF (Paint Protection Film) wraps, which protect the paint in addition to changing the color of the vehicle. PPF is thicker than traditional vinyl wraps, but the material costs more and is more time-consuming to apply.

Tesla’s updated program switches away from PPF wraps and now offers traditional vinyl wraps at a cheaper price. This makes Tesla’s wrap service more comparable to third-party installers.

Correction: We initially reported that the new wrap program offered PPF rather than vinyl and that the program was only available for new deliveries.

New Wrap Prices

First things first - the price of the wraps has dropped considerably, mostly due to the change away from PPF. While these prices are still a little more expensive than what you could find at a third-party location, you have the advantage of getting it directly from Tesla.

Tesla initially offered 11 wrap colors, but that selection has now been reduced to eight per vehicle. Interestingly, the color options vary by model—Model 3 and Model Y owners have their own distinct palette. The Cybertruck also boasts its own unique set of colors, though unfortunately, the popular Satin White option is absent from its catalog.

Of course, the ever-popular Matte Black is still available, along with a fairly unique set of other vivid colors.

New Locations

Not a Tesla App

When the wrap program launched, it was limited to just three locations in California and one location in Texas. That meant that unless you were taking delivery at West Covina, Oceanside, Costa Mesa, or Santa Clara, you’d be unable to get a first-party wrap done by Tesla.

Under the new program, Tesla is offering wraps out of all the original locations and adding Seattle, Washington. What initially seemed like Tesla scaling back its wrap service has turned out to be them making it more affordable and efficient. While the switch to vinyl may disappoint some owners, in reality, a lot of owners probably didn’t know the difference between PPF and vinyl, making Tesla’s service seem disproportionally more expensive.

No Longer New Purchases Only

While the original wrap program was constrained to new vehicle purchases—you can now have Tesla wrap a vehicle that’s already been delivered. Paint damage and scuffs can impact the installation of wraps and require additional time to smooth out the vehicle surface, and most third-party installers charge additional fees to prepare the surface.

Tesla doesn’t appear to be charging any additional surface prep fees at this time and is able to install on any Model 3, Model Y, or Cybertruck that’s been delivered after 2023.

Either way, with cheaper wrap options, Tesla is now directly competing against third-party wrap shops. While it’s still a bit more expensive than you’d find elsewhere, it also comes with a level of care and precision from technicians intimately familiar with your vehicle.

Follow

Follow

Follow

Tesla Increases Price of Model S; Starts Offering Free Lifetime Supercharging

Not a Tesla App

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.

Follow

Follow

Follow