How To Open a Tesla Glove Box With Button or Voice Command and Protect With a PIN Number

September 10, 2021

By Nuno Cristovao

Most Tesla cars include a discrete glove box without a handle. You’ll need to open it using a control on the touchscreen.

Opening the Glove box

Model 3 & Model Y:

To open the glove box, tap the car icon (Controls) at the corner of the screen and then tap the Glove box button on the screen. The glove box automatically opens and the light turns on.

Model S & Model X (2021+):

To open the glove box, tap Controls or Quick Actions, then tap the Glove box button on the touchscreen. The glove box automatically opens and the light turns on.

Model S & Model X (2012-2020):

To open the glove box, push the triangular glove box button to the right of the touchscreen.

To close the glove box, push it upward until it clicks closed.

Glove Box PIN

If you have any sensitive information in your glove box, such as your USB drive for Sentry Mode, you may want to consider adding a glove box PIN. The PIN number will be required anytime someone tries to open the glove box.

Keep in mind the glove box is not meant to be used as a safe. It’s possible to manually open the glove box by accessing the side panel of the dashboard and manually releasing the latch. This requires someone to have access to unlock and open the passenger side door.

To set a PIN number go to Controls > Safety & Security > Glovebox PIN. Follow the instructions to set your PIN number.

To remove a PIN number, tap Disable and enter your PIN number.

Forgot Glove Box PIN

If you forget your glove box PIN, you can reset the PIN by entering your Tesla account credentials at the bottom of the glove box PIN screen.

Voice Commands

One of the easiest ways to open the glove box is through the use of a Tesla voice command. Simply press the voice command button on the steering wheel and say "open glove box." If your glove box requires a PIN number to open, it’ll bring up the PIN number display on the screen, otherwise it’ll open the glove box immediately.

Is the glove box locked when the car is locked?

When the vehicle is locked, the glove box is also locked, unless the vehicle is locked through the touchscreen. Using your keyfob, phone, keycard or the app to lock your car, will also lock your glove box. When Valet Mode is enabled on the vehicle, the glove box is automatically locked.

Glove Box Won’t Stay Closed

If you have a glove box that won’t stay closed, this means that the trigger no longer springs back. You can see if this is the problem by manually pulling out the round triggers on the left and right side of the glove box, and trying to close the glove box. If it stays closed then this is likely your problem and they’ll need to be replaced. This is an item that is covered under Tesla’s warranty.

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

July 26, 2024

By Karan Singh

@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

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

July 26, 2024

By Karan Singh

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.