Tesla app may load vehicle data instantly in an upcoming update

By Nuno Cristovao
You may soon be able to view your vehicle's range instantly
You may soon be able to view your vehicle's range instantly

Today Tesla updated their iOS app to version 4.8. In this update Tesla added back the ability to manage your vehicle's lease.

Tesla also introduced the ability to view the status and updates for service requests related to Tesla energy services.

Features Under Development

However, there were several other underlying changes to the app for features that are currently in development.

Tesla now allows the ability to charge compatible non-Tesla vehicles at select Superchargers in some regions (why this is a smart move).

However, the Superchargers list displayed in the app currently doesn't offer a way to filter by non-Tesla compatible stations. It appears that Tesla will soon offer this as a feature in the app.

Another feature that Tesla is working on is the ability to transfer car ownership directly in the app. This feature will arrive in a future update, but some of the underlying code is already there.

Instant Vehicle Data

However, agruably one of the biggest features to the Tesla app appears to now be under development.

In the future, the Tesla app may be able to instantly display information about your vehicle. If this development comes to fruition, you will no longer have to wait for your vehicle to wake up before being able to view the car's range or state of charge. This information will be displayed almost once you open the app.

New cached API may allow Tesla to reduce waiting time when opening the app
New cached API may allow Tesla to reduce waiting time when opening the app

A new API found in this update will allow the app to retrieve cached vehicle data. Your car will send information to Tesla in the same manner it does today, but it will now do it automatically before falling asleep.

This change could allow for several big improvements.

Instant Data

The app could use this new API to display the latest vehicle data without having to wake up the vehicle first.

This means that once you open the Tesla app, you'll instantly have the latest battery state of charge, vehicle range, open door/window information, odometer reading and everything else, all without having to wait for the vehicle to wake up first.

Less Phantom Drain

This change will allow the vehicle to sleep longer, therefore reducing the vehicle's energy consumption, often referred to as phantom drain.

When this feature is ready to go live, Tesla will likely not wake up the vehicle every time the app is opened.

Today the Tesla app is used for much more than just vehicle information. We have charging statistics, insurance informaiton, Tesla Solar, Tesla service and more.

Waking up the vehicle every time the app is opened causes unnecessary energy lose.

Since the latest vehicle data will be displayed in the app without the need to wake up your vehicle, Tesla will likely wait for the owner to issue a command, such as turning on the climate system, before waking up the car.

Having your car data appear as soon as you open the app will be a huge improvement. It's very much a first world problem, but the instant access to your car's information will make the app much more useful.

Is Tesla’s Giga Texas Shutdown a Cover for Affordable Model Prep?

By Karan Singh
A concept of Tesla's 'Model Q'
A concept of Tesla's 'Model Q'
@DominicBRNKMN on X

According to a new report from Business Insider, Tesla is planning a week-long production pause for the Cybertruck and Model Y lines at Giga Texas. On the surface, the reason seems pretty straightforward: maintenance and line upgrades.

But Tesla has been infamous for never shutting down lines unless it's an absolute production necessity. Given that this is the third production pause in the last 12 months, this suggests that Tesla is planning something other than routine maintenance.

Official Story

The facts, as reported by BI, are fairly straightforward. Tesla will be shutting down the Model Y and Cybertruck lines from June 30th to July 4th. In a staff meeting at Giga Texas, Tesla stated that the pause would enable maintenance and upgrades to help ramp up production.

While this could seem odd for the recently updated Model Y and Cybertruck lines, it also makes sense as Tesla continuously makes production improvements, rather than waiting for model year updates.

There definitely feels like there’s more to this story than a simple pause, but the timing and context suggest this pause is far more significant.

The Affordable Model

The key to this shutdown is Tesla’s strategy for its more affordable model. Tesla has pivoted away from building Giga Mexico, and is instead planning to build both the Cybercab with its unboxed assembly process, as well as the next-gen affordable vehicle at Giga Texas.

For now, Tesla plans to build the affordable model based on existing production lines within Giga Texas, rather than build a standalone line. This is mostly because Tesla intends for the affordable model to have a high part familiarity with the Model 3 and Model Y.

The Model Y line, in particular, is the prime candidate for this retooling. It is Tesla's most refined high-volume production line, and the tooling and equipment on the line are perfectly suited to enable Tesla’s quick transition to producing the new model.

A week-long shutdown is not enough time for a complete overhaul, but it is the perfect window to begin preparatory work. This could include installing new mounting points for future robotics, rerouting utilities, or even running initial trials for new assembly processes in a portion of the line.

Timing is Everything

This theory makes even more sense in the context of recent events. The cheaper model was initially planned for the first half of 2025, but following reported delays, the timing seems right for Tesla to start incorporating changes to support the new vehicle. While Tesla initially planned for a cheaper model to be based on the Cybercab with its unboxed assembly, they decided to produce one based on the current assembly line to get to market sooner. This isn’t the cheaper, “$25k” vehicle we were all hoping for, but instead a more affordable version of the Model 3 or Model Y.

While the Cybertruck line is likely undergoing standard ramp-up tweaks, the shutdown of the Model Y line likely presents something more. While it could also include maintenance and incorporate updated tools, it may include changes required for the newer model.

More Than Maintenance

While the official reason reported by Business Insider seems fairly plausible, there’s always more under the surface when it comes to major decisions like this with Tesla. Using the planned maintenance window to quietly begin the process of retooling is the kind of move we expect from Tesla.

Some Texas Lawmakers Try to Slowdown Tesla Robotaxi Rollout -- Here's Why It Won't Work

By Karan Singh
@TerrapinTerpene

Just days before Tesla’s planned launch of the Robotaxi network in Austin, a group of local lawmakers has sent a letter to Tesla, urging them to delay the launch. Citing a new state law set to take effect on September 1st, the letter asks Tesla to pause its launch until it can formally comply with the new framework.

On the surface, this could sound like a significant roadblock. However, upon closer examination of the lawmaker’s concerns, the requirements of the new law, and the upcoming unified federal autonomy regulations, the request may be more political theater than a genuine obstacle.

In fact, Tesla’s Robotaxi service appears to already meet the spirit—and likely the letter—of the upcoming regulatory framework.

The Letter and the Law

The letter, penned by State Senator Sarah Eckhardt, formally requests that Tesla postpone its planned Robotaxi launch this month until the new and more comprehensive autonomous vehicle law is in effect on September 1st. It's important to note that this isn’t a legal injunction; it doesn’t have any power, and Tesla is under no obligation to comply or even reply. The letter is a formal request, a piece of political pressure intended to encourage proactive compliance.

So, what does this new law demand? It has five key requirements for autonomous vehicle operation in Texas.

Barely A Speed Bump

A detailed look reveals that Tesla's existing technology and practices likely already meet every single requirement of the upcoming regulations, so let’s dive in.

1) Capable of operating in compliance with state traffic laws.

This is the fundamental purpose of FSD - complying with traffic laws to get a passenger from Point A to Point B. The system is designed to adhere to traffic laws, and in fact, sometimes sticks to them too closely (like the NHTSA stop).

2) Equipped with a recording device.

This is probably the easiest requirement when you look at a Tesla. Every vehicle is a rolling 360-degree security suite, equipped with multiple cameras and internal sensors that document every action taken by the vehicle.

3) Compliant with federal law, including federal motor vehicle safety standards.

Tesla is currently deploying Model Ys for its Robotaxi network pilot, which means that they are fully compliant with FMVSS standards. This will likely change once Cybercab begins to deploy, but the NHTSA is working on accelerating federal regulation for vehicles without driver controls in the near future.

4) Capable of achieving a “minimal risk condition” if the automated system is rendered inoperable.

When the system detects a critical fault or issue it cannot handle, it must slow down, activate hazard lights, and pull over to a safe location at the side of the road. That is very doable, and likely within Tesla’s calculations for how they will handle system aborts and other incidents. In fact, the Model Y robotaxis with a safety driver in the passenger seat have been spotted with buttons on the screen that say “Emergency Stop” and “Pullover.”

5) Registered, Titled, and Insured under Texas law.

This is a bog-standard requirement. Every vehicle operator must meet those three requirements, and as Tesla’s Model Ys currently driving the roads in Austin are sporting manufacturer plates, this is likely already done.

Government Confusion

This letter highlights exactly the regulatory confusion that Tesla has been lobbying recently to avoid. Tesla is a major backer of the creation of unified federal rules for autonomy to prevent a messy patchwork of state and local laws.

While these Texas lawmakers are asking for a pause, the NHTSA is actively working to make it easier for companies like Tesla to deploy autonomous vehicles. This state-level scrutiny, while perhaps well-intentioned, is a clear example of the challenge of deploying a national network under fragmented regulations.

Ultimately, this letter is unlikely to be anything more than a political statement. It will be logged and acknowledged, but it presents no new technical or legal hurdles for Tesla to clear before its planned launch. For an autonomous future, this isn't even a bump in the road.

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