Tesla Update 2023.12: A look at Steering Wheel Customization and Text Size Adjustments

You will now be able to switch settings from the steering wheel

Drill/TFF Forum (Edited by NATA)

Tesla's 2023.12 software update introduces a range of exciting new features designed to improve the driving experience for Tesla owners. In this overview, we delve into the details of some key updates, focusing on the Text Size feature, steering wheel customization, and more.

Text Size: Normal and Large

The new Text Size feature allows drivers to choose between Normal and Large text sizes for the touchscreen display. This user-friendly update makes it easier for drivers to read and navigate the interface. The comparison photos showcase the difference between Normal and Large text sizes, demonstrating the improved readability offered by the larger option.

The text size will not only affect menus but most text across the entire UI. For example, the labels on the visualization screen that let you lock the vehicle or open the trunk will also be made larger, as well as the climate temperature in the vehicle's launcher.

With Tesla update 2023.12 you can adjust the text size

Drill/TFF Forum (Edited by NATA)

Steering Wheel Customization: A Game Changer

Tesla's steering wheel customization now offers even more functionality, making it simpler than ever for drivers to access popular settings. By long pressing the left scroll wheel, a menu opens in the bottom left corner of the screen. Drivers can then scroll the wheel up and down buttons to move through the available options. Tilting the wheel left will exit or go back, and tilting it to the right will select the desired option.

The available options include glovebox, defrost, dome lights, climate temperature, HVAC fan speed, display brightness, save Dashcam video, acceleration mode (i.e., chill, normal), steering wheel heat, and the backup camera. Unfortunately, windshield wipers are not included in the list of customizable options. However, drivers can customize the list of options from the available choices by going to Controls > Display, ensuring a personalized and streamlined driving experience.

Answer Phone from Steering Wheel

Phone Call Controls are now integrated with the steering wheel, allowing drivers to answer or decline calls, mute/unmute themselves, or hang up with the left scroll button.

Charging Menu

Finally, the charging menu has been updated. The car visualization has been removed, which allowed Tesla to enlarge the slider, making it easier to set your charging threshold.

Passenger Seat Controls and Manual App

In the Model S and Model X, you can now move the passenger seat via the rear touchscreen. This allows passengers in the back to move the passenger seat forward or back while the vehicle is in park, making it easier for them to get in or out of the vehicle.

The new Manual app we saw Tesla testing in update 2023.6 is now widely available in this update. The app not only gives you quick access to the owner's manual but also offers visual guides and relevant links to topics like creating Driver Profiles and using regenerative braking.

British English Voice Recognition

British English is now available as a voice-recognition language option, which should improve voice recognition for a large part of English-speaking users.

Tesla's 2023.12 software update continues the company's commitment to enhancing the user experience by introducing innovative and practical features. With improvements like the Text Size feature and steering wheel customization, Tesla owners can enjoy a more convenient and efficient driving experience. As we receive more information about the remaining features in the update, we'll inform you about the latest features, and which vehicles they apply to. We expect that most of these features will be available for the Model S and Mode X as well, although some may be specific to the Model 3 and Y. For now, be sure to check out the release notes for update 2023.12.

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Tesla Update 2025.20 Tear Down Reveals Grok Personalities and Icons

@greentheonly on X

While most automakers are adding basic and un-integrated AI assistants to their vehicles, Tesla appears to be working hand-in-hand with xAI to build out an entire cast of characters for in-vehicle Grok. In the latest dive into Tesla’s firmware, Tesla hacker @greentheonly uncovered a few new details about the upcoming Grok feature.

This discovery, part of a larger batch of changes found in Tesla update 2025.20, also offers a hint at the hardware required for the Grok.

A Dozen Groks

While we knew from previous firmware teardowns that Tesla was adding various Grok personalities to the vehicle UI, this update introduces a new one called Language Tutor, which may allow users to learn and practice a new language. 

These are the different personas that will be included in Grok:

• Argumentative

• Assistant

• Conspiracy

• Doctor

• Kids’ Stories

• Kids’ Trivia Games

• Meditation

• Motivation

• Romantic

• Sexy

• Storyteller

• Therapist

• Language Tutor

• and the Grok Classic - Unhinged Mode

Release Date

Icons for these personalities have been added to the firmware for the first time, leading us to think Tesla is getting close to releasing the feature. However, even after the feature is developed and included in vehicle software, Tesla may only enable it selectively — such as for select employees for testing.

Grok is expected to be one of the largest vehicle features added via a software update, so it’ll be a big deal when it’s finally released. While we know more or less what to expect from Grok, what we don’t know is about vehicle requirements or whether it’ll require a subscription beyond Premium Connectivity.

Grok Requirements

While subscriptions required are anyone’s guess, vehicle requirements may be a little clearer now, thanks to Green’s discovery that Grok is only being added to AMD-based vehicle software builds.

Unfortunately, this likely means that older, Intel-based vehicles will not receive Grok support, at least for the time being. When Tesla introduced a voice assistant in China, they also started off with AMD-only support but later added Intel support, so it’s possible that the same could happen with Grok.

Energy Saving

Green also found a new undocumented navigation feature in 2025.20.3. This one focuses on leveraging Tesla’s vast amounts of data in an interesting way and offers drivers proactive advice to save energy on a well-traveled route. 

In the Energy App, your vehicle will display, “This route is typically driven at X mph. Slow down by Y mph to save Z% for the rest of this trip.’ 

As you can see in the photo below, Tesla recognizes that vehicles typically drive at 66 mph on the route being driven and offers the driver the option to go five mph slower to save 1% of range. While this example doesn’t provide much incentive to slow down, it could be useful for someone with a low state of charge or if the savings are more significant.

The new line in the Energy App

Not a Tesla App

In the future, Tesla could even use this, alongside the road surface data they’re gathering, to help plan routes for Robotaxi and Unsupervised FSD.

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NHTSA to Streamline Approvals for Control-Free Vehicles Like Tesla’s Cybercab

Not a Tesla App

In a letter to industry, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that it is overhauling its approvals process for vehicles designed without human controls.

The change addresses a regulatory bottleneck that has slowed down American companies like Tesla from deploying purpose-built Robotaxis, rather than relying on using traditional vehicles with steering wheels and pedals. The policy shift is outlined in a letter posted to the NHTSA’s website, which you can find here.

Reducing Approvals From Years to Months

Under the existing rules today, any vehicle that is built without a steering wheel or brake pedals must receive a special exemption from federal safety standards.

Obtaining exemptions for a particular vehicle was a time-consuming process for both the companies requesting exemptions and the NHTSA. The process was often a black box—nobody knew when an exemption might be granted, and approvals could take years.

The NHTSA, under the new administration’s guidelines for autonomous vehicle development, is now committed to streamlining this process. The agency will be implementing a new, faster approach immediately for receiving exemptions for autonomous vehicles without standard controls. The NHTSA expects decisions on exemption requests to be determined within months rather than years. 

Accelerating the Cybercab

This change has massive implications for Tesla, which is banking on the production of the simplified and easy-to-maintain purpose-built Cybercab. The Cybercab is developed from the ground up as an autonomous Robotaxi and will be one of the key beneficiaries of this move by the NHTSA.

Knowing that a final design won't be caught in a multi-year regulatory limbo provides a level of certainty that has been missing. It allows Tesla to confidently plan the manufacturing, development, and deployment processes without worrying whether the project will get stuck in regulatory approvals.

According to the letter, the agency will publish its improved instructions for the streamlined process "shortly." With Tesla already having begun Cybercab pre-production and the goals for its deployment as soon as late 2026, there’s still a lot to be done to make autonomy a part of Tesla’s new sustainable abundance mission statement.

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