Tesla Holiday Software Update Adds Apple Watch, SiriusXM Apps, Usual Silliness
Tesla’s annual holiday software update for its vehicles will begin rolling out next week with an official Apple Watch app, SiriusXM support, and more than a dozen other features.
The Apple Watch app is one of the highlights and will let owners perform some basic functions offline while in Bluetooth range, like locking and unlocking their car, adjusting the climate, and popping open the front trunk. Tesla’s iOS app leaked the Apple Watch news back in October, so while it is a welcome addition, it may be less of a surprise than some of the other features.
SiriusXM joins Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music as the latest Tesla-supported music app. Native SiriusXM support gives Tesla Premium Connectivity and SiriusXM subscribers the ability to stream the music and talk radio service in the car without a phone connected via Bluetooth.
Weather map in a Tesla showing precipitation (Credit: Tesla)
It’s not all new features; the holiday software update will also include software refinements, such as being able to set a battery charge level for arrival at a destination. An extension of the weather will overlay a map to show precipitation at a destination. The most meaningful tweak might be the ability for non-premium subscribers to see traffic along the navigation route. Previously, Tesla’s routing accounted for traffic but wouldn’t show it to non-subscribers.
In-car display turns a Cybertruck into Santa’s sleigh. (Credit: Tesla)
The metal box on wheels isn’t left out of the update. Cybertruck-only features include the ability to set a custom wrap image and license plate for the on-screen vehicle. Cybertruck owners can also now pinch and zoom to increase the size of the rear video feed.
Rear cross-traffic alert shown on a Tesla. (Credit: Tesla)
Although there are silly software features included, like the ability to make fart sounds when people sit on the seats and new light show options, there are also some safety features being added to the vehicles in this bundled release. A new cross-traffic warning in reverse will be implemented along with the ability for the music volume to automatically lower while reversing.
Owners will be alerted via the Tesla app or on the in-screen display when an update is available, but they can also preemptively check if they get antsy.
Here is the full list of features as mentioned by Tesla in its announcemet.
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SiriusXM
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Tesla App on Apple Watch
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Save Dashcam & Sentry Mode clips to phone
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Autoshift between Drive & Reverse on stalkless Model 3
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Save Dashcam & Sentry Mode clips to phone
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Set Arrival Energy at Destination
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Search Along Route with Estimated Detour Times
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Precipitation Map & Weather at Destination
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Rear Cross Traffic Alert
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Cybertruck Custom Wraps and License Plate Customization
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Cybertruck Rear Camera Improvements
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Cybertruck Rear Arcade
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Cybertruck Santa Mode
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TuneIn (improved app)
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Schedule Light Show from the Tesla App
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Tesla Arcade: Boomerang Fu
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Fart On Contact
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Adjust Passenger Seat from Controls
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Maintenance Summary
And listed under minor updates
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Rear screen remote now allows video playback controls in Drive
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Find Nearby Parking at your destination or at any point of interest
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When reversing, music volume can automatically lower to reduce distractions
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Navigation will dynamically route around road closures
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Sentry Mode – mobile app notification if door handle is pulled
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Energy App Consumption page for Model S & X and CT
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Vehicles without premium connectivity can now see traffic on their navigation route
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When navigating to a Supercharger, upon arrival you will be notified on the touchscreen of any stalls that are currently out of service
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