Tesla has a secret 'Elon Mode' that removes nagging
MKBHD/Twitter
Well-known Tesla hacker and a treasure trove of undiscovered Tesla secrets, @GreenTheOnly has once again made waves in the Tesla community. His recent Twitter revelation uncovers a hidden gem in Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta software - a unique feature named 'Elon Mode'.
@GreenTheOnly's tweets give the world a peek into this under-the-radar feature that is yet to see public release. His deep dive into the hidden depths of Tesla's software brings to light an interesting twist to how Tesla's FSD Beta monitors driver attentiveness.
'Elon Mode' - Redefining Driver Monitoring
The driver monitoring system in Tesla vehicles is known for its 'nag' feature. This alerts drivers to maintain their focus on the road and requires them to exert resistance on the steering wheel, signifying their attentiveness. 'Elon Mode' brings a paradigm shift to this system.
In 'Elon Mode', featured above, the car switches from steering wheel 'nags' to a more advanced driver monitoring method. It employs only the internal camera to keep a watchful eye on the driver, ensuring they are not distracted. This is a significant stride towards enabling hands-off driving, a promising prospect for Tesla's global user base.
Green’s Intriguing Experience with 'Elon Mode'
Taking us on a virtual ride spanning nearly 1,000km, Green shares his firsthand experience with 'Elon Mode'. During this journey, Green enjoyed the luxury of a nag-free ride, thanks to Tesla's computer vision-based driver monitoring.
Green observed that the irritating nuisances of the FSD, such as random lane changes and slower driving speed, become less noticeable if he doesn't have to watch the car continually. He even entertained the idea of reading a book or browsing a website, suggesting that the mild, non-human driving choices made during the journey go virtually unnoticed.
He commended the FSD's performance on divided highways and revealed that there's a fair chance the car can navigate between two points without needing any human input. He even ventured that if this technology were offered as Level 3 automation, where the driver doesn't need to pay attention constantly, it would be a "solid deal at $15k" (historical FSD prices).
Despite the benefits, Green also highlights the downside of 'Elon Mode'. Giving the car free rein to make unnecessary lane changes could incite road rage from other drivers. This suggests there's still room for refinement before 'Elon Mode' is ready for public release.
Green's journey in Elon Mode offers a promising glimpse into the future of autonomous driving. While it's not clear when this hidden mode will be publicly accessible, one thing is certain - the future of driving is closer than we think.
After a post on X, Tesla has confirmed that it recently exported its 1 millionth car from Giga Shanghai. That’s a massive number of vehicles from a factory that only opened in December 2019.
Since Q3 2021, Giga Shanghai has been responsible for producing over 50% of global EV production – with the single exception of Q2 2022 – where production fell to about 40% while the factory was retooling. That’s a jaw-dropping figure for a single factory.
1 Million Exports
Giga Shanghai produces Teslas for practically the entire world, including the European, Australian, Chinese, and other Southeast Asian markets. For now, it also produces cars for Canada; however, an upcoming tariff could change this.
Giga Shanghai also celebrated the shipping of 100,000 vehicles to Australia with the 1 million vehicles exported mark. While the majority of vehicles end up in Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia are still massive markets for Tesla.
Going forward, Giga Shanghai, with its continued expansions, will be at or above 1 million vehicles produced per year. A good chunk of these vehicles stay within China, while the rest are exported. Tesla sells on average 40 to 80,000 cars per month in China, depending on the season, with an average of 90,000 cars produced per month in 2024 so far.
Automated Production
This is all thanks to Giga Shanghai’s 95% automated production line. Giga Shanghai is likely one of the most automated and advanced factories in the world, a testament to Tesla’s manufacturing and engineering expertise. Giga Shanghai produces one vehicle every 40 seconds.
We’re looking forward to seeing how Tesla’s expansions and factory innovations continue in the coming months and years.
Giga Shanghai operates a 95% automated production line, enabling a cycle time of less than 40 seconds! From taking 2.5 years for the first million cars to be produced, the second million was done in just 12 months 🚘🪄 pic.twitter.com/IF1w27AFPr
Tesla’s last app update, version 4.37.1, introduces support for critical alerts on the iPhone. These alerts are designed for emergency situations and will override standard notification settings, including the mute switch, Focus modes, and Do Not Disturb. This ensures that owners are notified when immediate action is required, even if their phone is set to silent.
How to Enable Critical Alerts
Activate Dog Mode: Open the Tesla app and turn on Dog Mode.
Main App Screen: After activating Dog Mode, go back to the main section of the app.
Enable Critical Alerts: A new option called Critical Alerts will appear under Live Camera and the quick action icons (Tip: You can add up to 5 quick actions). It’ll state, “Grant permissions to receive critical notifications.” Tap it, and you’ll see a system dialog asking for permission to allow critical alerts for the Tesla app.
Confirm Permission: Choose to allow the Tesla app to send critical notifications, which will grant the app special privileges for sending urgent alerts.
This new feature is likely intended for situations where Dog Mode needs to be turned off unexpectedly. For example, if the vehicle’s battery drops below 20% or if the temperature inside the cabin rises or falls drastically outside of your set temperature, the Tesla app is expected to send a critical alert to the owner, ensuring they are informed right away.
What Are Critical Alerts?
Critical Alerts are a type of iOS notification available only to approved apps, which must meet specific criteria set by Apple. These alerts are designed to be used in emergencies and bypass all standard notification restrictions. This means that regardless of whether your phone is silenced or in Do Not Disturb mode, the alert will play a sound and appear prominently.
By adding support for Critical Alerts, Tesla is prioritizing the safety of pets who may be left inside the vehicle with the expectation that Dog Mode will keep conditions safe. This change makes the app more reliable for alerting owners when immediate attention is needed, ensuring they are always kept informed—even when their phone’s settings would typically prevent other notifications from coming through.
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