Tesla to add 'Alternate Routes' in update 2022.28

You will soon have the ability to choose from multiple routes when navigating to a destination (map has been edited to hide certain information)

Not a Tesla App

Tesla has arguably the best navigation maps available in a vehicle. The maps are displayed on a large, beautiful screen and they're fast and fluid, especially on the latest hardware (MCU 3).

Tesla also makes it quick and easy to set a destination by either using the on-screen keyboard, recent destinations, or sharing a destination from your Tesla app.

Tesla's mapping solution is custom-made that not only takes traffic into account but also your vehicle's state of charge.

However, one feature that has been popular in navigation apps over the past few years that has remained absent in Teslas is the ability to choose from multiple routes.

The preferred route to a destination can sometimes be a personal preference. Some drivers may prefer traveling on the highway, while others could prefer taking back roads.

According to our source, Tesla is now bringing alternate routes to their navigation system. Tesla is introducing 'Alternate Routes,' in the U.S. in update 2022.28.1.

The feature will display up to three routes after you add a destination. The total travel time for each route will be displayed allowing you to pick your preferred route.

In addition to the total travel time, Tesla will also display traffic information if you subscribe to Premium Connectivity. The traffic information visualization will be displayed in a similar method to the 'Traffic Along Route' feature, where the route is highlighted in different colors depending on the traffic density for that section of the route.

Tesla's Traffic Along Route feature

Alternate routes won't always appear upon choosing a destination. In situations where there are no known alternate routes or the alternate route is too similar to the primary route, Tesla will simply show the primary route and start navigating.

Tesla's release notes for the feature state:

View up to three routes when navigating to a destination. Quickly compare the total travel time and traffic information for each route.

Note: Traffic information is only displayed with Premium Connectivity.

Although Alternate Routes is expected to become available to everyone in supported regions, this isn't the first time we're seeing this feature in Tesla's navigation system.

In update 2022.12 Tesla added alternate routes in Japan, and it was previously available in China.

We can't confirm whether the alternate routes feature will be available in additional regions outside of the U.S. in 2022.28.

Tesla has been working on alternate routes for some time now. Tesla hacker @greentheonly was able to get alternate routes working on his vehicle earlier this year, while other owners claim to have seen the feature occasionally appear on their screen. Tesla may have been testing this feature for a while now.

Tesla has recently been making improvements to its in-vehicle navigation. In 2022.24 Tesla added 'Traffic Along Route,' a feature that lets you more easily see the traffic visualization along your route, which is normally a blue line.

Another navigation feature that has recently been added in 2022.16 is the ability to reroute to a less busy Supercharger. If the Supercharger you selected becomes too congested, the navigation system will now reroute you to another Supercharger location that's within range.

The addition of alternate routes in the U.S. is expected to be available in Tesla update 2022.28, but as with anything else in testing, it's subject to change.

Tesla Is Now Offering Cybertruck Test Drives [List of Locations]

@brandonhd

Tesla has begun to reach out to customers in the United States and is offering demo drives of the Cybertruck on an invite-only basis. @brandonhd on X shared the first invite image, and it looks like it's going out quite quickly to multiple locations that have Cybertrucks on display.

Up until now, display vehicles have been for just that – looking, but no touching. Some Tesla delivery centers and showrooms have also allowed viewers to take a seat inside and open it up, but most are still locked away behind the velvet rope.

It’s exciting to see that Tesla has begun to demo them – and it can only be so long until demo drives open up to everyone.

Advisor-led Demo

This Demo Drive is led by a Tesla Advisor – while you’re driving, the advisor will be in the passenger seat, walking you through the experience. They’ll explain steer-by-wire, off-road controls, and will introduce new-to-Tesla buyers to all the features that are currently available.

Once FSD V12.5 comes to the Cybertruck, we’re sure they’ll be demoing its capabilities FSD capabilities as well.

Locations

The list of locations so far for demo drives appears to be fairly limited, but we will hopefully see demo drives roll out throughout the United States, and eventually Canada too. Here is the current list of city/state locations that have seen demo drive invites.

• Manhasset, New York

• West Covina, California

• Los Angeles, California

• Houston, Texas

• Orlando, Florida

• Westmont, Illinois

• Tucson, Arizona

• Phoenix, Arizona

• Delaware

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Musk Confirms 'Actually Smart Summon' is Coming in a Revision of FSD V12.5

Not a Tesla App

Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.

Vision-based Improvements

ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.

Just recently, Tesla returned the Model X’s self-presenting doors, using Tesla Vision. Vision has seen some fantastic improvements, and many people are waiting for ASS to bring forth these improvements to Smart Summon.

Smart Summon Today

Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.

I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.

Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.

Actually Smart Summon

ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.

We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.

Park Seek and Banish Autopark

When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10^th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.

A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.

While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.

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