Tesla's Alternate Routes: Who's receiving it and why

By Lennon Cihak
Tesla Alternate Routes is seen available in Spain for this user
Tesla Alternate Routes seen available in Span for this user
Twitter/@TeslaRedThunder

Tesla is beginning to roll out an update with a welcomed feature in version 2022.28.1: Alternate routes. However, Tesla appears to be testing the alternate routes feature as it's only available on some vehicles.

This feature was previously available in Japan and China in prior updates, but in version 2022.28.1 Tesla has expanded it to the U.S. and many other countries including all countries in North America and Europe.

Tesla is being quite selective on which vehicles receive this feature, though. The feature is available across North America and Europe, but the automotive company is only turning it on remotely on select vehicles, and it’s unclear as to how they’re selecting these vehicles.

Tesla's Alternate Routes has also been seen available in Germany
Tesla's Alternate Routes has also been seen available in Germany
GBerlin

This means that two cars in the same country could be seeing different features. For example, in Germany most users appear to not have access to Alternate Routes, although several owners have reported as receiving Alternate Routes.

The same can be said for Spain, Switzerland and various other countries. We've seen numerous reports where users are reporting the Alternate Routes feature as unavailable in their country, while others users are then commenting that they do have it available in the same country. It's causing some confusion and leading to several discussions of what's happen.

The answer is that although the feature is available to all users in a given country, Tesla is remotely enabling it on only select vehicles. So not everyone is being given access to the feature right away. Tesla will likely enable it on additional vehicles without the need for a software update.

This owner in Belgium also has the new Alternate Routes feature
This owner in Belgium also has the new Alternate Routes feature
Twitter/Junni

The way Tesla’s navigation currently works is that when the driver inputs their destination, the vehicle will route through the most efficient or fastest path and, if necessary, add Supercharger stops along the way.

However, that’s not always ideal because sometimes you may want to take a more scenic route. And while there is a little bit of control with avoiding highways, tolls, and ferries, the vehicle doesn’t give you the option to select a route.

In version 2022.28.1, the alternate routes feature will display up to three routes after you add a destination. The total travel time for each route will be shown and you’ll be able to select the route that you’d like to take. Each route will provide the total time that journey will take.

Countries Where It's Been Seen Available

We've seen the feature available in various countries including the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland. Do you have it available in another country? Speak up in our forums.

Update: Some users are now also reporting that they're able to see Alternate Routes when entering a GPS location, but the feature was not included in their release notes.

It's possible that Tesla has already started turning on the feature remotely for additional users.

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Tesla Disables 12V Power Sockets and USB Ports While Sentry Mode is Active in Update 2024.32

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

In Tesla software update 2024.32 and onwards, Tesla has made a big—and unexpected—change to how its vehicles handle power sockets. This change impacts every vehicle except the Cybertruck, where you can already adjust how power sockets are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Power Socket Change

This change to the power sockets means that in 2024.32, Tesla vehicles will have their 12v sockets and USB ports turned off while in Sentry Mode. Previously, while the car was awake or Sentry Mode was active, the 12v sockets in the rear of the vehicle and any of the USB ports would all remain powered.

Now, owners will no longer be able to operate devices that rely on these ports once the vehicle falls asleep. This change renders some accessories almost useless, such as vehicle fridges. Owners previously relied on Sentry Mode coming on when their vehicle was parked, which kept the fridge in the vehicle’s sub-trunk powered. This change will also prevent owners from using Sentry Mode to keep USB ports powered to charge laptops and other devices.

Until further changes are made, owners will have to use Camp Mode to keep 12v sockets and USB ports powered. However, Camp Mode leaves the vehicle unlocked, making it insecure and unsuitable for things like sub-trunk fridges.

Cybertruck Power Interface

Tesla may be planning to integrate the Outlets & Accessories menu from the Cybertruck into the rest of its vehicles. The outlets menu in the Cybertruck allows you to keep the cabin (and bed) outlets in the vehicle active, even when the vehicle isn’t in use. These outlets remain powered for up to 12 hours after the Cybertruck is exited.

The Power Menu in the Cybertruck
The Power Menu in the Cybertruck
Not a Tesla App

Sentry Mode Improvements

Drew Baglino, Tesla’s now former SVP of powertrains and energy, said back in February of this year that Tesla was looking at reducing the amount of power that Sentry Mode used. He stated that Sentry Mode power consumption needs to be improved and that the team was working on an update to reduce power by about 40%. According to Baglino, the improvements were expected to come in the second quarter of this year, but it’s not clear if this change in update 2024.32 is part of those changes that will lower Sentry Mode’s power consumption.

Even if these are planned changes, we hope Tesla makes them optional, and lets owners choose when to keep outlets powered and when to conserve energy.

NHTSA Reveals Tesla Cybertruck Sales Number in OTA Recall Filing

By Karan Singh
DirtyTesla

Tesla has issued an OTA recall for the Cybertruck – unsurprisingly, one that has already been fixed for customer vehicles. We’ll expand on the recall a little later, but more importantly, the recall filing revealed that Tesla has now built and sold 27,185 Foundation-Series Cybertrucks for customers.

OTA Recall

The OTA recall – which was issued in update 2024.32.5.2 and above, covered an issue that could delay the rearview camera being displayed on the dashboard.

This would occur if the Cybertruck was powered on, and then quickly shifted to reverse. The rearview camera would not come up on screen within the prescribed 2-second timeframe.

According to the NHTSA filing, Tesla has already fixed this via the OTA update, and the rearview camera will now display within that 2-second timeframe as required going forward. This was another easy OTA fix for Tesla.

Not a Tesla App

27k Cybertrucks

The filing also revealed that Tesla has produced and delivered approximately 27 thousand Foundation-Series Cybertrucks through September 14th. Tesla has been producing the Cybertruck for approximately 11 months now, with the 12-month anniversary coming up on November 13th.

Elon Musk previously mentioned that Tesla intends to produce approximately 375,000 trucks per year to compete with the ICE pickup market. Today, Tesla produces 1.7 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles per year, and about 80,000 Model S and Model X vehicles a year.

Overall, that 27 thousand over a year is only the start of production, and as Tesla expands and improves its production lines, we can expect that number to continue growing at a rapid pace. With the Foundation Series ending and Tesla opening up invites for reservation holders to configure their non-FS Cybertruck, that number is only expected to increase. The non-FS Cybertruck is priced at $79,990, $20k less than the Foundation Series. The Cybertruck will also become eligible for the Canadian iZEV Heavy EV Rebate.

This puts the Cybertruck in an excellent spot in the future—and it has already outsold its EV competitors in the same market. We’re looking forward to seeing how fast Tesla meets the upcoming demand for non-Foundation Series Cybertrucks.

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