Tesla to make Joe Mode even quieter in a future update

By Gabe Rodriguez Morrison
Joe Mode reduces the sound of the vehicle's chimes
Joe Mode reduces the sound of the vehicle's chimes
Not a Tesla App

In 2019, Tesla introduced Joe Mode, a volume setting that helps ensure that sleeping passengers in the rear seats are not disturbed by the vehicle's chimes and alerts. This volume setting is practical for those who have young children who may be sleeping and could be disturbed by loud noises.

In a recent tweet, Elon Musk said that Tesla could make the Joe Mode volume setting even quieter. Elon responded to a tweet from Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, in which they asked if Joe Mode’s alerts could be made quieter.

Joe Mode is a feature that ensures passengers in the back seat (especially kids) are not disturbed in their sleep by reducing the volume of sounds by 50%. Joe Mode reduces the sound volume from turn signals, ultra-sonic sensors and Autopilot chimes in order to minimize disruption, while maintaining an effective alert volume for the driver. Since this feature was introduced with the V10 software update, Tesla owners have repeatedly shared requests in the past to make Joe Mode even quieter.

For many owners, the alerts and chimes from the car are still loud enough to disturb or wake up kids even with the Joe Mode feature enabled. The inside of a Tesla is already fairly quiet, so any loud sounds like Autopilot/TACC chimes can seem even louder and easily wake someone up. To enable Joe Mode, tap Controls > Safety & Security > Joe Mode.

The feature Joe Mode is named after a guy named Joe, who asked Elon Musk if Tesla could reduce the Autopilot chimes in the vehicle because they kept waking up his baby.

Tesla listened to Joe and added the feature via a software update. Tesla honored Joe by naming the feature 'Joe Mode.'

Back in 2020 Tesla Owners Silicon Valley asked Elon Musk on Twitter whether Tesla could add a volume slider to Joe Mode so that owners could set their own preferred volume.

At the time Elon Musk responded with 'Yes,' but it's now been a couple years since that interaction, so it's not clear whether Tesla still plans on adding a volumne slider to Joe Mode, or simply reduce its volume.

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Tesla Introduces Hands-Free Frunk Opening in Update 2024.32.3

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

In Tesla’s upcoming update, 2024.32.3, Tesla has added hands-free support for opening the vehicle’s frunk. This follows the Spring Update (2024.14), which added Hands-Free Trunk support for certain vehicles.

When hands-free trunk support was added earlier this year, it was supported on vehicles that include an ultra wideband chip, which includes the refresh Model S, new Model X, and the 2024 Model 3. Due to the hardware requirement, these will be the same vehicles that support the new Hands-Free Frunk feature. Legacy vehicles without UWB will unfortunately not support either feature due to the hardware requirement. UWB enables far more accurate tracking of the phone key, allowing Tesla to pinpoint its exact location relative to the vehicle.

The Cybertruck interestingly also includes an ultra wideband chip, however, it didn’t include the automatic opening of the gate earlier this year. However, we expect the Cybertruck to also receive the hands-free frunk opening in this 2024.32.3 update or relatively soon afterward.

Update: The Cybertruck is receiving hands-free frunk support in the 2024.32 update as well.

Hands-Free Frunk

The Hands-Free Frunk works similarly to the trunk feature – with an iPhone 11+ and a recent version of the app, you’ll be able to stand in front of your vehicle, and the Frunk will unlatch after sounding a chime. On some vehicles, the frunk will immediately open after being unlatched, however, you’ll need to manually close it.

This new feature isn’t enabled by default – you’ll need to go to Settings > Locks > Hands-Free Frunk to enable it.

At this time, Tesla doesn’t support UWB on Android devices, though both the Hands-Free Trunk and Hands-Free Frunk support will come to Android users in a future app update, according to Tesla.

Exclude Home

With the addition of the hands-free frunk opening, Tesla has also added a new option. You can now choose to disable the automatic opening when your vehicle is located at home to prevent you from accidentally opening. This will apply to the automatic frunk and trunk. In addition, in the Model X, you’ll also be able to disable the self-presenting doors at home. This is a great addition as many people have kept the hands-free feature disabled due to it awkwardly opening in the garage.

In the 2024.32.3 update, Tesla also mentions that they’ve improved the detection of the phone key, which should make the feature more reliable and faster when approaching the vehicle from the front or rear.

Tesla’s Referral Program Launches in Europe

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Following its recent launch in the United States and Canada, Tesla has launched their referral program in several European countries as well.

The program is available in Germany, Norway, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and possibly others. The program is almost the same as the one available today in North America, with rewards for each referral and a discount for those referred. The cap in Europe is also ten per year.

This program comes right on the heels of a 0% financing offer for the Model Y in Sweden and France. While referrals aren't currently available in Sweden, the 0% financing still is.

European Referrals

The European Referral program accounts for country and local currency, where applicable.

Country

Referral Discount

Referral Award

UK

£1,000

£500

Germany, France, Netherlands

€1,000

€500

Norway

kr11,500

kr5,750

The referral reward program is comparable to the one available in North America. After exchange rates, there is only an approximately 10% difference between the available rewards in the US and EU.

Other Countries

We expect this program to start rolling out to other European countries over the next few days or weeks, as Tesla continues to expand its referral program.

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