Tesla App Now Lets You Set a 'PIN to Drive' With the New 2023.20 Update

With Tesla update 2023.20 you'll be able to set PIN to Drive from the Tesla app

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Tesla has enabled another feature in its app, but it's only available with the latest vehicle update. Thanks to the 2023.20 update, the 'PIN to Drive' feature can now be set right from the Tesla app.

This is a great addition that helps keep your vehicle safer. By having the ability to set the PIN to Drive feature remotely, you can now choose to enable it only if you lose your key fob, key card, or phone. This gives you an additional level of security, knowing no one can start your vehicle, even if they have the key.

Tesla recently also added the ability to turn off 'Passive Authentication,' which disables the auto-locking/unlocking of your vehicle when your phone is nearby.

How to Turn on 'PIN to Drive' on Your App and Car

Before this update, you could only set up 'PIN to Drive' in your Tesla car. Now, you can do it from your phone too. When you turn on this feature, you must punch in a secure four-digit PIN before you can drive.

To set it up in your car, tap 'Controls,' then 'Safety & Security,' then 'PIN to Drive.' You'll then be asked to pick your four-digit PIN. To set it up from the Tesla app, tap on 'Security & Drivers' and scroll down to 'PIN to Drive.'

Why is 'PIN to Drive' So Important?

We live in a world where tech-savvy thieves are always trying to find a way to outsmart car security systems. This is where 'PIN to Drive' comes into play. By requiring a code to start the vehicle, it adds an extra layer of protection that is difficult to circumvent. PIN to Drive has always made your vehicle safer, but it came with the inconvenience of requiring you to enter the PIN every time you went for a drive. However, by being able to set PIN to Drive directly from the Tesla app, you can now use it in those rare cases when you lose your cell phone or keys.

How to Change Your PIN

Decided to change your 'PIN to Drive'? It's super easy. Just go back to where you set it up. You'll simply want to toggle PIN to Drive off, and when you toggle it back on, it'll ask you for a new PIN code.

Forgot PIN Code

So you've forgotten your 'PIN to Drive'? No worries! You can start the vehicle directly from the Tesla app. Simply navigate to Controls and tap on 'Start' at the bottom of the screen.

You can also reset PIN to Drive by tapping the link on the vehicle's PIN entry screen and entering your Tesla account credentials.

Creating a Secure PIN

When picking your PIN, make sure it's not something easily guessable like '1234' or your birthday. You want a secure PIN but also one that you can remember. If you have a hard time remembering numbers, try a memory trick. For example, link each digit to a particular date or event in your life. Just don't make it too obvious!

Tesla Starts Offering Enhanced Autopilot Subscription in China, FSD Coming Soon?

Tesla has started offering Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) in China via a subscription starting at 699 yuan per month — equivalent to about $98.5 USD. It’s the first time Tesla owners in the country will have access to features such as auto lane change, Autopark, Smart Summon, and others.

It’s not clear whether Tesla will begin to offer EAP as a subscription in other regions as well.

The move is seen as the first step towards the expansion of Tesla’s full self driving to China as other markets outside North America wait for the arrival of the FSD software. Yesterday, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said the version 12 is “ready for supervised FSD in LHD countries” while RHD countries such as Australia, UK or Japan “will take a bit longer”.

FSD in China

China giant Baidu announced last Monday that it will provide all Tesla vehicles in China its latest version of Baidu Maps starting in May.

This week, Tesla celebrated its 10th anniversary in the Chinese Market where it has a total of 1.7 million owners — Tesla’s second largest market. Elon Musk recently tweeted that Tesla may soon offer full self-driving in China by saying “It may be possible very soon”.

FSD in Europe

On Friday, the Senior Advisor of the Swedish Transport Transportation, Rikard Fredriksson, shared on LinkedIn that he had been demoed the FSD technology in Germany with a Tesla employee. The moment marks the first official use of the assisted driving software in Europe. 

Impressive smooth and natural driving

LinkedIn Post by Rikard Fredriksson after the FSD Demo in Germany

In the recent earnings call, Elon Musk said Tesla has over 300 million miles that has been driven with FSD v12 since it was launched just last month. He added that it's becoming “very clear that the vision-based approach with end-to-end neural networks is the right solution for scalable autonomy”.

Tesla said it has been investing in the hardware and software ecosystems necessary to achieve vehicle autonomy and a ride-hailing service. The company is confident that it can establish a scalable and profitable autonomous driving business by employing a vision-only architecture.

Tesla has recently reduced the pricing of its “Full Self-Driving” software in the US, from $12,000 to $8,000, and in Canada from CA$16,000 to $11,000. This price reduction follows a 50% cut in the subscription fee announced earlier this month.

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Rivian Follows Suit, Will Open Up Charging Network to Teslas

Electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive has announced that it will open up its Rivian Adventure Network (RAN) chargers to Teslas and other EVs later this year.

The Rivian Adventure Network is a comprehensive network of fast-charging sites very similar to Tesla’s own Superchargers. According to Rivian, the Rivian Adventure Network is powered by 100% renewable energy.

New Rivian Chargers

In a post on X, Rivian added that it would introduce new chargers with a tap-to-pay experience to support “a wide range of EVs across a variety of battery voltages.”

Expanding RAN chargers and introducing new tap-to-pay chargers is a clear indication that Rivian is trying to increase customer convenience while ratcheting up its brand value.

All Rivian vehicles and most other EVs still use the CCS connector until they transition to NACS in the next few years. These new chargers will likely include a combination of NACS and CCS connectors to support Rivian’s current and future vehicles that will come equipped with an NACS port.

Charging a Tesla at a Rivian Charge

With over 50,000 Supercharger stalls, Tesla operates the biggest fast-charging network in the world. And 25,000 of these are located in the United States alone. The simplicity of charging at a Supercharger is part of the appeal. Tesla takes care of everything from initiating charging to billing. It ends up being no different than charging at home.

Tesla’s Supercharger network has a stellar reputation, mostly due to its high charging speed and reliability, which Tesla closely monitors in real-time. Major electric vehicle makers will start switching to NACS in the next few years and considering that the Supercharger network is highly trusted, one can see more non-Tesla EVs lining up at Superchargers soon. Giving Tesla owners more choice of where to charge may be crucial to combat congestion.

Rivian currently has over 400 charging stalls across 22 states but plans to expand to more than 600 chargers.

Making Rivian Chargers Just as Simple

While Rivian plans to add a tap-to-pay terminal to its new chargers, it’ll be difficult to beat the convenience of Superchargers for Tesla owners. After Rivian opens up its chargers to other EVs, Tesla owners would need to buy and use CCS to NACS adapters to charge at these networks, although not every Tesla supports the adapter. You can check if your vehicle supports the Tesla adapter.

To simplify the process for Tesla owners, Tesla would also need to interface with Rivian’s chargers to make billing as seamless as it is on its own Supercharger network.

Rivians Charging at Superchargers

Rivian has already begun shipping its customers NACS-to-CCS adapters to charge their vehicles at Tesla Supercharger.

Rivian officially got access to Tesla’s Supercharger network in March 2024. For now, only two companies–Ford and Rivian–have received access to charge at more than 15,000 Tesla Supercharger stalls. More companies like GM, Polestar, and Volvo will get access the following spring.

But Rivian is not stopping at NACS-to-CCS connectors. The Tesla rival plans to switch completely to the NACS port in 2025, at which point they’ll provide their owners a CCS to NACS adapter.

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