Today Tesla updated its app to version 4.6 for iOS. This update contains additional features such as actionable notifications, which allow you to perform certain actions by interacting with the notification.
Tesla to offer annual subscriptions
Tesla_app_iOS/Twitter
For example, when preheating your vehicle, you'll be given the option to turn off the climate system directly from the notification.
In addition to actionable notifications, Tesla also made some underlying changes that set them up for two upcoming features.
Annual Subscriptions
Tesla currently offers monthly subscription plans for their Premium Connectivity service and for Full Self-Driving. However, there is currently no way to subscribe for a longer period of time.
However, it looks like Tesla will soon offer annual subscriptions that are cheaper than their monthly counterparts. Tesla currently offers monthly subscription plans for FSD and Premium Connectivity, but it looks like Tesla will soon offer you a discount if you choose to pay annually instead.
In late December Elon was asked on Twitter whether Tesla could introduce a cheaper yearly plan for Premium Connectivity instead of having to pay $10/month. Elon replied to Zack saying it was a 'Good idea.'
Twitter user Tesla_App_iOS uncovered these additional details in Tesla's latest app update.
The additional language doesn't specify whether Tesla would only offer annual plans for their Premium Connectivity plan or on FSD, but it's likely that Tesla would offer an annual plan on all their plans.
There's no indication on the amount of the discount for annual plans but annual plans are usually about 10-15% cheaper than their monthly counterparts.
Climate Keeper
In app update 4.6, Tesla also made some changes that suggest they will soon offer the ability to turn on Climate Keeper directly from the app.
Climate Keeper allows you to keep the car at a certain temperature for an extended period of time. Climate Keeper currently can only be turned on from within the vehicle.
You can view all the release notes for Tesla app 4.6 on our app updates section.
Update: Tesla has now launched the annual plan for Premium Connectivity in the US. The annual plan costs $99/year, a savings of about 20% compared to paying monthly.
You can sign up for the annual plan, or switch from the monthly plan to the annual plan by navigiating to Upgrades > Manage in the Tesla mobile app.
There's no word yet whether Tesla will expand the annual plan to FSD.
In Tesla software update 2024.32 and onwards, Tesla has made a big—and unexpected—change to how its vehicles handle power sockets. This change impacts every vehicle except the Cybertruck, where you can already adjust how power sockets are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Power Socket Change
This change to the power sockets means that in 2024.32, Tesla vehicles will have their 12v sockets and USB ports turned off while in Sentry Mode. Previously, while the car was awake or Sentry Mode was active, the 12v sockets in the rear of the vehicle and any of the USB ports would all remain powered.
Now, owners will no longer be able to operate devices that rely on these ports once the vehicle falls asleep. This change renders some accessories almost useless, such as vehicle fridges. Owners previously relied on Sentry Mode coming on when their vehicle was parked, which kept the fridge in the vehicle’s sub-trunk powered. This change will also prevent owners from using Sentry Mode to keep USB ports powered to charge laptops and other devices.
Until further changes are made, owners will have to use Camp Mode to keep 12v sockets and USB ports powered. However, Camp Mode leaves the vehicle unlocked, making it insecure and unsuitable for things like sub-trunk fridges.
Cybertruck Power Interface
Tesla may be planning to integrate the Outlets & Accessories menu from the Cybertruck into the rest of its vehicles. The outlets menu in the Cybertruck allows you to keep the cabin (and bed) outlets in the vehicle active, even when the vehicle isn’t in use. These outlets remain powered for up to 12 hours after the Cybertruck is exited.
The Power Menu in the Cybertruck
Not a Tesla App
Sentry Mode Improvements
Drew Baglino, Tesla’s now former SVP of powertrains and energy, said back in February of this year that Tesla was looking at reducing the amount of power that Sentry Mode used. He stated that Sentry Mode power consumption needs to be improved and that the team was working on an update to reduce power by about 40%. According to Baglino, the improvements were expected to come in the second quarter of this year, but it’s not clear if this change in update 2024.32 is part of those changes that will lower Sentry Mode’s power consumption.
Even if these are planned changes, we hope Tesla makes them optional, and lets owners choose when to keep outlets powered and when to conserve energy.
Tesla has issued an OTA recall for the Cybertruck – unsurprisingly, one that has already been fixed for customer vehicles. We’ll expand on the recall a little later, but more importantly, the recall filing revealed that Tesla has now built and sold 27,185 Foundation-Series Cybertrucks for customers.
OTA Recall
The OTA recall – which was issued in update 2024.32.5.2 and above, covered an issue that could delay the rearview camera being displayed on the dashboard.
This would occur if the Cybertruck was powered on, and then quickly shifted to reverse. The rearview camera would not come up on screen within the prescribed 2-second timeframe.
According to the NHTSA filing, Tesla has already fixed this via the OTA update, and the rearview camera will now display within that 2-second timeframe as required going forward. This was another easy OTA fix for Tesla.
Not a Tesla App
27k Cybertrucks
The filing also revealed that Tesla has produced and delivered approximately 27 thousand Foundation-Series Cybertrucks through September 14th. Tesla has been producing the Cybertruck for approximately 11 months now, with the 12-month anniversary coming up on November 13th.
Elon Musk previously mentioned that Tesla intends to produce approximately 375,000 trucks per year to compete with the ICE pickup market. Today, Tesla produces 1.7 million Model 3 and Model Y vehicles per year, and about 80,000 Model S and Model X vehicles a year.
Overall, that 27 thousand over a year is only the start of production, and as Tesla expands and improves its production lines, we can expect that number to continue growing at a rapid pace. With the Foundation Series ending and Tesla opening up invites for reservation holders to configure their non-FS Cybertruck, that number is only expected to increase. The non-FS Cybertruck is priced at $79,990, $20k less than the Foundation Series. The Cybertruck will also become eligible for the Canadian iZEV Heavy EV Rebate.
This puts the Cybertruck in an excellent spot in the future—and it has already outsold its EV competitors in the same market. We’re looking forward to seeing how fast Tesla meets the upcoming demand for non-Foundation Series Cybertrucks.