Tesla has introduced an innovative feature called 'Driver Drowsiness Warning'. This new safety uses the vehice's internal camera to detect and warn potentially fatigued drivers.
Beyond Autopilot
Tesla's driver's monitoring systems have thus far been limited to Autopilot and FSD use, warning users to pay attention to the road while Autopiot is engaged. However, this is the first time Tesla is monitoring drivers while Autoilot is off. Driver Drowsiness Warning is expected to be Tesla's next active safety feature.
Tracking Metrics
Renowned Tesla hacker @greentheonly shed light on the forthcoming feature back in May. By decompiling Tesla's firmware, he unveiled that Tesla plans to utilize its camera-based monitoring system to gauge signs of driver fatigue. This includes tracking metrics such as the number of yawns and blinks, alongside evaluating driving patterns that are associated with drowsiness.
How Does It Work?
The Driver Drowsiness Warning system is only activated when vehicles have been driving for at least 10 minutes and the vehicle is traveling over 40 mph (65 km/h). Autopilot must also be disengaged. If the system recognizes symptoms of drowsiness, a visual alert flashes on the screen, matched by an audible warning. The notification prompts drivers to consider pulling over for a break before continuing to drive. However, Tesla will not prevent the driver from operating the vehicle.
Drawing data from the cabin camera and studying driving behaviors, Tesla's new feature employs a multifaceted methodology. It observes the driver's facial characteristics, such as yawning and blinking frequencies and driving patterns, such as lane warnings, to discern drowsiness. Once flagged, the alert remains on the screen until the driver is alert or slows down below 40 mph.
Turning Off the Warning
Tesla's new Driver Drowsiness Warning is sort of optional. Although you can disable it in the vehicle's settings by navigating to Controls > Safety > Driver Drowsiness, it is automatically re-enabled at the start of each drive.
Tesla will now monitor drivers for drowsiness
Not a Tesla App
Is this the Nag?
For anyone who has driven a Tesla with Full Self Driving enabled, you are well aware of the nag. For those who have not had the pleasure, it's a visual and audible warning to "apply slight pressure to the wheel" or to pay attention to the road. Tesla has considered removal of the nag before but quickly met resistance.
However, this kind of new nag could've played a role in preventing the crash where the FSD system warned the driver to take control 150 times over 45 minutes before the impact with emergency vehicles.
Evolving Monitoring Capabilities
Tesla's journey in driver monitoring has witnessed significant evolution. While initial systems were limited to detecting torque on the steering wheel, advancements post-2021 included the cabin-facing camera to ascertain driver attention. This shift marked Tesla's venture into comprehensive driver observation, ensuring the driver's gaze remains fixed on the road and is devoid of handheld device distractions.
Release Date
The feature's unveiling in Tesla's European owner's manual points to an imminent release. However, the feature doesn't appear to be active yet. Tesla's release notes have made no mention of this significant change so far, but it could be in an upcoming update. When the feature is released, we expect it to be available in select regions. Tesla will typically release a new feature such as this one in specific regions to gather additional data before making it available more widely.
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest Tesla news, upcoming features and software updates.
Tesla has begun rolling out some map updates, including a brand new geographic area. These updates include two regional map updates, with one confirming Tesla’s entry into India and the other improving the maps in Europe.
Indian Launch
The biggest addition is a new map region for India, which was discovered by Tesla hacker Greentheonly. This move, while seemingly minor, is a prerequisite for Tesla launching vehicles in the region.
For years, discussions about Tesla’s arrival in India have focused on manufacturing plans, import duties, and retail store plans. However, the vehicles themselves must all be technically ready for the region.
This is more than just data entry; it involves integrating local points of interest, Tesla’s internal routing logic, and displaying regional road information correctly. In past market entries, Tesla has activated the necessary navigation regions in its software shortly before officially launching in a country, and just this morning, news broke that Tesla will open its first showroom in India.
On July 15th, Tesla will open its first showroom in Mumbai, marking its entry into the Indian market.
For those who have imported Tesla vehicles in advance of the official market entry, this means they will finally receive official maps and navigation support, and will likely begin receiving official software updates in the near future.
European Maps Update
In addition to the India map update, Tesla has also starting roll out a map update for Europe. The new map update for Europe is version EU-2025.14, bringing users up from EU-2025.2.
You’ll need to connect to WiFi in order to download map updates and similar to software updats, Tesla will roll them out gradually. If you want to learn more about map updates, be sure to check out our Tesla maps and navigaiton guide.
This map update will likely be fairly minor, but it should include newer roads, speed limits and more details. It could also include additional information that’s required for launching FSD in Europe.
While map updates aren’t as exciting as FSD updates or major software updates like the upcoming Grok AI update, they’re especially useful for Tesla owners who travel on new roads that may not be in Tesla’s current map version.
Tesla has officially scheduled its 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting for Thursday, November 6, 2025. The date was confirmed in an 8-K form filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission this week. Shareholders can expect to begin receiving official notifications by email or letter this week.
While we don’t know what, if anything, is up for vote this year, shareholders should ensure their investment accounts are linked up at ir.tesla.com if they plan to vote on upcoming proposals.
While these meetings cover standard corporate governance, they’ve also become a key venue for Tesla to share updates on its future projects.
Let’s take a look back at Tesla’s 2024 shareholder meeting to see what we can expect for 2025.
A Look Back: Shareholder Meeting 2024
The 2024 Shareholder Meeting was packed with news and updates. Some of the highlights included details on Cybercab, the first mentions of AI5, and the move of Tesla’s incorporation to Texas following the re-ratification of Elon’s 2018 compensation plan.
The 2025 meeting may provide progress updates on several key items.
First up is the final status of Elon Musk’s pay package. While it was successfully re-ratified following the 2024 Meeting, the Court of Delaware ruled against it, creating a legal situation that resulted in Tesla amending its letter of incorporation and moving to Texas.
While the messy legal situation hasn’t been completely sorted out yet, there’s a chance we could see more on this at the 2025 Meeting.
Next up is a status update on the Robotaxi Network pilot, as well as progress for Tesla’s Cybercab program. We’ve seen early prototype castings for the Cybercab outside Giga Texas, and they recently provided an updated timeline in their 2024 Impact Report. This is going to be the next big step for Tesla’s growth as it starts its Robotaxi service business.
The Tesla Semi and Tesla Energy are also two massive programs undergoing upgrades and revamps. The volume production of Semi is supposed to begin by the end of 2025, and Tesla is constantly working on expanding Tesla Energy’s manufacturing footprint to meet the never-ending demand for Megapack and Powerwall. We’re anticipating some major updates here, along with some updates on Tesla’s next-generation battery tech, including the Gen 3 Cybercell that includes dry-cathode manufacturing.
There’s a lot to be excited about - and November 6th is the day we may find out a lot about Tesla’s future products. The meeting will be a big event that we’ll cover in detail, so don’t worry, even if you miss it. We’ll have a full set of recap notes and longer in-depth articles following the event, as usual.
