This year's Holiday Update was building up to be an exciting one. After last year's disappointment, Tesla was certainly not planning to repeat it again this year.
The Holiday Update was expected to be released to the first individuals on Tuesday, and just a few hours before, we're now seeing many of the new features in this year's Holiday Update.
Let's just say it's a good one. If you're the kind of person that prefers to be surprised, you may not want to scroll any further.
The Holiday Update comes in as version 2021.44.25.
Light Show
Tesla Light Show
Emulsifide/Reddit
Just as the rumor showed yesterday, the former Model X exclusive Light Show easter egg will now be available on all Teslas.
This easter egg will have your car use its headlights, fog lights, turn signals, mirrors, and speakers to perform a coordinated light show.
The Model X's version of the easter egg plays the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It's not clear whether this easter egg will play the same song or offer a variety of songs to pick from.
Customizable App Launcher
Customize your app launcher
Emulsifide/Reddit
This one is huge. Tesla is bringing some of the "v11" software features to the Model 3 and Model Y. Technically, the new Model S is not on v11, but its new interface is often referred to as v11 or the new UI.
It's not the entire Model S UI that is being brought over to the Model 3 and Model Y, but instead some of its most functional features.
Some features such as window docking, Auto Shift, the music mini-player, and other features will remain only on the new Model S, at least for now.
This feature brings over one of the most useful features of the new UI, a customizable app launcher.
The car's bottom navigation will now feature three areas. A fixed area of icons that you can't change, a customizable area where you can put your favorite Tesla apps such as the web browser, energy graph, or Spotify, and a Recents section that will show any recent apps you've used.
For better or worse, the app icons are now also the same ones from the Model S, featuring more detailed, colorful icons.
Simplified Controls
Simplified Controls
Emulsifide/Reddit
The Model 3 and Model Y feature swipeable cards underneath the car's visualization that shows important information such as the odometer, tire pressure readings, active call information, wiper settings, and more.
The idea of the cards is good, but some crucial information was only available in these cards, which wasn't intuitive. Tesla is fixing that in this update.
Tesla is keeping some of the cards such as wiper controls, but moving most of the other information into the car's main Controls menu.
For example, to access the odometer, you will now go to Controls > Trips, much like the Model S.
For tire pressure, you can go to Controls then choose Service.
Blind Spot Camera
Blind Spot Camera
Emulsifide/Reddit
You can now choose to have your car's fender camera feed displayed directly on the screen when you activate your turn signal.
This is the same camera view that can be displayed when you put your car into reverse.
It will be an option for those that prefer not to use it.
Tesla introduced Waypoints just a few weeks ago. So many owners were excited to receive the update, but now, even before many owners have received waypoints, Tesla has a major update to it.
When waypoints was introduced, you needed to add destinations starting with your final destination first, as there was no way to reorder the destinations.
With this update Tesla is making waypoints more flexible, you will now be able to add, remove or reorder waypoints.
TikTok
TikTok
Emulsifide/Reddit
TikTok will now be the latest video service added to your Tesla. It will require Tesla's Premium Connectivity plan unless you're on WiFi and it will be available alongside other streaming services in Tesla Theater.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog
Emulsifide/Reddit
This was another suspected feature in this year's holiday update. Elon and Sega both confirmed that the original Sonic game will be playable inside of Teslas in the near future.
Like many of Tesla's other games, this one will also support a controller. Check our list of all controllers compatible with your Tesla, as you may already have one that works.
The Battle of Polytopia - Multiplayer Support
Multiplayer Support
Emulsifide/Reddit
Tesla added The Battle of Polytopia, a civilization-type game late last year. Tesla has now expanded the game to include multiplayer support.
Sudoku
Sudoku game
Emulsifide/Reddit
Late last year Elon was asked on Twitter whether the game Sudoku could be added to Teslas. Elon responded with one of his typical, "sure" replies.
And a year later, we have Sudoku.
It looks like the game will have various difficulty levels and hints. Like most Tesla games, it should also save your progress so that you can continue your puzzle next time.
Cold Weather Improvements
Cold Weather Improvements
Emulsifide/Reddit
Honestly, I'm not sure why Tesla is still using this term. I feel like we're all tired of seeing it and it causes an unintentional eye roll for many.
However, it looks like there is something worth mentioning here. You will now be able to precondition your car even if you have a low battery.
Previously if your battery had less than a 20% charge, you would not be able to precondition the car. It looks like Tesla will now let you precondition your car unless your car's battery is very low.
This was another feature that Elon said was coming soon earlier this year.
Tesla is simplifying the seat heater controls by turning the seat heater button into a single on/off button, instead of having four different settings (off, level 1, 2, and 3).
The temperature of your seat will instead vary based on the temperature of the cabin and what the climate system is set to.
You will continue to be able to set your seat heater manually if you don't have your HVAC system set to auto.
Manage Dashcam Clips
Delete all events
Emulsifide/Reddit
Tesla's dashcam is a fantastic feature, but it's easy to accrue a bunch of clips that later need to be deleted one by one.
With this update, Tesla will now let you delete all dashcam clips with a single tap in the main Controls menu.
Many users would have preferred to be able to manually select multiple Dashcam or Sentry Mode clips directly from the Dashcam Viewer and delete them that way, but this is a nice feature to have nonetheless.
Dark Mode
Dark Mode
Emulsifide/Reddit
Tesla already supported light and night modes that would automatically switch based on the time of day.
However, Tesla is now introducing a new Dark Mode that will presumably be more usable during the day.
Tesla's previous night display was often difficult to see in bright situations. This mode is expected to use darker colors and increased contrast instead of the grays used in night mode.
Hide Map Details
Hide pins
Emulsifide/Reddit
Continuing with Tesla's theme of simplifying the display and controls, Tesla will now let you hide unneeded map information.
This new feature allows you to hide nearby locations that normally appear as a pin on the map.
It looks like these are the majority of the features in this year's holiday update.
These features are based on what an owner has received in their Model 3. There may be some additional features for other Model 3 configurations or features that may be exclusive to the Model S or Model X.
It’s that exciting time again when a major Tesla software update is on the verge of being released. Tesla update 2025.20 is now being tested on employee vehicles, but since Tesla is very strict about sharing updates early, it’s anyone’s guess as to what’s in it.
This update is now reaching employee vehicles, which means it will still be a few weeks before it reaches customers. However, there’s plenty to be excited about. Given the trail of breadcrumbs found in Tesla’s code recently and from recent announcements of upcoming features, there are plenty of hints about what could be in it.
Let’s break it down and see what may be included in Tesla update 2025.20.
Grok
The existing voice command system gets the job done for basic controls, but it’s far from an intelligent, conversational assistant that many have come to expect from their cell phones or other smart devices. The integration of Grok is expected to change that.
Not only is Grok expected to bring a much more reliable system that’s able to parse commands from conversational phrases, but it’ll also drastically expand what the vehicle is capable of understanding and responding to through its voice system.
If you haven’t used Grok, you have several articles on what you can expect. It’ll be a drastic improvement that will reshape the way many of us drive. That may sound like we’re blowing the feature out of proportion, but if you spend a lot of time by yourself in your vehicle, this could have a huge impact on your commute.
Grok could be used as a conversational assistant, a sort of virtual friend who knows a whole lot just about any topic. Sure, you’ll be able to ask it for the weather or stock quotes or when Tesla is holding its next event, but the real power of it is just to be able to carry on conversations about a specific topic.
So here’s what we can expect. A virtual assistant who can execute vehicle commands like opening the glove box, which will be a direct replacement for the voice command system. You’ll also be able to ask general knowledge questions and carry on a conversation about any topic.
The responses won’t be limited to text like they are in the voice command system. Grok will have its voice, just like it does in the Grok app, so you’ll be able to hear your responses, letting you stay focused on the road. However, there likely won’t be a way for Grok to respond with anything except text or voice, for example, it likely won’t be able to display a photo.
Since Grok is replacing the vehicle’s command system and it’s mostly a backend change, we expect it to be available on older vehicles as well, such as those with Intel MCUs.
Grok is close to being released, so if it isn’t included in update 2025.20, it’s expected to be soon afterward, as Grok code has already been found in the previous Tesla update. The code discovered includes UI elements and a personality button like the Grok app.
New Vehicle Keys
With the Robotaxi Network launching as soon as June 12th in Austin and Elon confirming the project is well ahead of schedule, we’re anticipating Tesla will unveil the Robotaxi half of the Tesla app and the in-car interface sometime soon. While we don’t expect to see the in-car interface for both the front and rear screens for vehicles just yet, we could start seeing some other aspects, such as new virtual keys.
Two new keys were found: “Rider Keys,” which allow other drivers to access your vehicle when it is in “Fleet Mode,” and a new type of key called “Pre-delivery.” These keys will presumably let you unlock a vehicle but have limited capabilities. They could allow you to open and inspect your new vehicle, but not start it.
This could remove another human component when picking up your new Tesla.
Trailer Visualizations
Trailer visualizations could be added soon following confirmation from Wes Morril, Cybertruck’s Lead Engineer. Trailers are typically depicted as an additional vehicle or a truck. While the vehicle can accurately detect the trailer, the visualization leaves something to be desired.
Tesla already renders a series of objects in the visualizations, but trailers, along with trains and gates are some of the most requested additions.
Wes Morril also mentioned that Tesla may start rendering Cybertrucks in the visualization. It’s not clear whether he meant that Tesla was updating the truck's 3D model to be a Cybertruck, or if Tesla would display a special Cybertruck model specifically when the vehicle detects a Cybertruck.
While the Cybertruck has a polarizing design, this could be a fun addition. Years ago, Musk commented that Tesla would eventually render other Tesla vehicles as themselves in the visualization, even in their same real-life color, but it seems that Tesla dropped that idea and decided to keep the visualizations simpler.
The feature allows users to create their own custom wrap designs using a Tesla-provided template. It also allows them to create a custom license plate that is displayed in the visualization, letting you create a fun vanity plate or display your actual license plate.
Child Left Behind Detection
Tesla recently launched Child Left Behind support in Europe on the new Model 3. This feature uses the cabin radar to detect if a child has been left behind in a vehicle, and then takes some critical emergency steps. If an unattended child is detected, the vehicle will flash its exterior indicator lights, play an alert tone, and send a notification to your Tesla App. This repeats at regular intervals until you return.
We’re also expecting Tesla to improve this feature by automatically enabling the climate system in the vehicle when it detects a child left alone in the vehicle. In a critical scenario, Tesla previously stated that it would also automatically call emergency services if the driver doesn’t respond to prompts to return to the vehicle.
Since this feature was just added to a single model in select countries in update 2025.14.12, it appears that Tesla wants to collect data before expanding it further to reduce false positives. Since the feature was just rolled out to the public a few days ago, it may be too soon to expand it to other vehicles in update 2025.20, but it’s possible we may see it included in a few more regions or see another model supported.
Smart Child Seats
Rendering of what Tesla's integration could look like
@dkrasniy
Back in 2024, we found some code and preview images for Smart Child Seats, which would let the vehicle communicate with smart child seats that are already available. The seats could communicate with the vehicle about being properly installed and confirming the child is buckled.
They could also provide warnings if the child has been left in the seat too long or if the car seat belt has been unbuckled.Quality of Life Improvements
Emergency Vehicle Alert
Tesla has recently started processing audio data, enabling it to not only detect emergency vehicles through its cameras but also through audio. This capability could allow the vehicle to detect an emergency vehicle much sooner.
Supercharger Dynamic Pricing Support
Not a Tesla App
Tesla recently announced that some Superchargers are transitioning to a new dynamic pricing model, which sets the price based on the number of vehicles charging rather than the time of day.
This new pricing model would adjust the price of these Superchargers based on their actual real-time usage when you begin Supercharging. Your price is locked in when you begin Supercharging and won’t change halfway through, so you know exactly how much you’ll be paying.
This change means that a Supercharger could now potentially be cheapest during the day if few vehicles are using it. However, it could also be more expensive at night if it’s under high usage.
These changes make the charging price a little more fair and should help Supercharger congestion, incentivizing drivers to spread out to other nearby Superchargers that may have lower usage and, therefore, lower costs.
Tesla already showed off what the new interface will look like in the vehicle, so we expect that to be implemented in this upcoming 2025.20 update. The updated Supercharger UI will display an arrow next to the Supercharger price, indicating whether the price is higher or lower than anticipated based on historical usage. It’ll also include a “Low Price” or “High Price” label to help consumers decide.
There will also be a new “Find Lower Price Charging” button that will display nearby Superchargers that have lower prices and are less congested.
The Tesla app recently added support for this new charging model in app update 4.44.5.
Quality of Live Improvements
We could also see some other smaller, quality-of-life improvements from Tesla. First up are some improvements to Car Wash Mode, which will provide an alert for anyone who inadvertently lowers their window during a car wash.
We’re also hoping to see Tire Fill Assist, which will likely check the Bluetooth TPMS while you’re filling your tires. It could also give you audible feedback through the vehicle’s internal speakers or outside speaker (PWS) when the tire is approaching the set limit.
Last, but not least, we’re continuing to hold onto the hope that Tesla adds Steam Support to its entire lineup of vehicles. Ever since removing the additional RAM from the Model S and Model X, Tesla has quietly killed Steam Support - but oddly enough, it has still provided updates for it. We’d love to see SteamOS make an appearance on Tesla vehicles - what’s more futuristic than having your vehicle running Unsupervised FSD while you take a break and do some gaming?
When Is It Coming?
This update just started rolling out to employees, so it usually takes two to three weeks before it starts rolling out to the first public vehicles. Expect this update to start rolling out sometime in June, which just so happens to coincide with Tesla’s Robotaxi rollout.
Following yesterday’s news that the Tesla Robotaxi network is ahead of schedule and set to launch on June 12th, overnight, Elon confirmed that the Robotaxi network is far ahead of expectations.
With Elon back and working full-time at Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, we’ll likely receive a lot more updates on what these companies are working on. In this case, Elon confirmed that Tesla has been running autonomous Model Ys with no one in the driver’s seat on Austin’s public streets, with no incidents. According to yesterday’s report, there is still someone in the passenger seat just in case something comes up, but essentially “driverless.”
Elon also confirmed that Tesla’s ambitious plans to have a Model Y deliver itself directly from the factory to a customer, presumably in Austin, will also occur next month.
For the past several days, Tesla has been testing self-driving Model Y cars (no one in driver’s seat) on Austin public streets with no incidents.
A month ahead of schedule.
Next month, first self-delivery from factory to customer.
While this will likely be geographically limited to the areas around Giga Texas, and potentially, Tesla’s Fremont factory in the future, it is still a great step toward reducing the cost of vehicles.
Public Access by End of June
In a reply, Elon also confirmed that anyone would be able to test out the Robotaxi network by the end of June. While in typical Elon fashion, he didn’t answer the question of whether the network will be invite-only at first, we expect this will likely be the case and it won’t just be anyone who can open the Tesla app and summon a robotaxi.
At the Q1 2025 Earnings Call, Elon stated that the Robotaxi service would only be available to the public in late June or early July, giving Tesla enough time to test with internal audiences, as well as invited testers. This timeline seems to be fairly concrete, but if you’re planning a trip to Austin to check out Robotaxi, we suggest looking at early July, as timelines can still shift.
![Tesla’s Optimus Is Now Learning by Watching — First Person Today, Third Person Tomorrow [VIDEO]](https://www.notateslaapp.com/img/containers/article_images/2025/optimus_cleaning.png/bd519f7f31d9c3e7e25c2736ee284efb/optimus_cleaning.jpg)
_300w.png)
