Like every year, Tesla gives us its traditional Christmas update. But in 2024, the car manufacturer has not focused on quality. However, there are some interesting new features.
Tesla has just announced its traditional end-of-year update, a moment always eagerly awaited by owners.
However, the 2024 edition seems to focus more on quantity than quality, with a collection of small improvements rather than really interesting new features. There are nevertheless some welcome new functions.
Practical new features, but not revolutionary
The first notable improvement concerns the integration of the Apple Watch, which now allows you to use the watch as a key and control certain basic functions of the vehicle.
A welcome feature, certainly, but which comes very late when we know that other manufacturers have been offering this option for years.
Another practical new feature concerns the management of Dashcam videos and Sentinel mode: it is now possible to view clips directly from the Tesla application on your smartphone, without needing to plug in a USB key or use the screen of the vehicle.
This feature, highly anticipated by the community, also allows you to save these videos on your phone to modify or share them easily, particularly useful in the event of an incident or to share unusual moments captured by the vehicle's cameras.
For Model 3 owners without a shift lever, Tesla is introducing an Autoshift feature that allows the vehicle to automatically shift from forward to reverse (and vice versa) when parking or shifting. complex U-turns.
This intelligent shift automation aims to simplify maneuvering in tight spaces, although some drivers might prefer to retain manual control of these transitions for greater precision.
The addition of SiriusXM for the Model 3, Y and Cybertruck enriches the entertainment offering, but it's not interesting for us. The service is not available in France or Europe.
Improved power management with the ability to set a desired battery level upon arrival is probably the most relevant addition.
This function addresses a real problem of autonomy and journey planning, particularly for long journeys.
Safety and comfort in focus
Rear cross-traffic alerts are a welcome advancement in safety, even if the technology has been around for a long time among competitors. Tesla is catching up by finally implementing this essential feature for daily safety.
Tesla's Rear Cross Traffic Alerts use radar sensors in the rear bumper, or cameras depending on your Tesla model, to detect vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists approaching perpendicularly when reversing, with a range of approximately 20 meters on each side.
The system emits visual alerts on the central screen and audible warnings, to show in real time what is happening in the blind spot, but this is limited to low speeds (less than 10 km/h).
Improved search along the route with estimation of detour times is also a practical feature that will make life easier for drivers.
The precipitation map integrated into the navigation adds a useful layer of information for route planning.
From gadget to program
Some new features seem more anecdotal, such as “Santa Mode” for the Cybertruck or the “Fart on Contact” function.
If these additions correspond well to Tesla's offbeat spirit, we still wonder about their relevance.
Among the “minor updates” there are some interesting improvements: automatic volume reduction when reversing, dynamic routing around closed roads, or even notification of out-of-service charging stations upon arrival.
However, we must take a step back and recognize that Tesla remains one of the few automakers to offer such regular and significant updates to its cars.
Where most traditional manufacturers are content with bug fixes or minor adjustments to the infotainment system, Tesla continues to enrich the user experience with new concrete features, whether practical or fun.
This update will be deployed, like every year, gradually throughout the month of December.
