Tesla has announced its 2023 holiday software update will begin rolling out to cars next week. While we wait the company has, for the first time, published the release notes early, one day after they were leaked online, but adding a few new features that weren’t included in the early employee releases.
For several years now Tesla has released a holiday update. When the tradition first began it included not only a large number of features and enhancements, but also significant ones at that, like a completely new user interface. This pattern has led to owners expecting great things from the holiday update, so when the release notes were leaked yesterday, there was a lot of disappointment surrounding the release.
Tesla still had a few cards up their sleeve, and on Thursday night the company published the full version of the holiday update release notes, and it included a couple of new features, one that would definitely be considered significant, and another that isn’t as significant, but will still be fun (for some).
High Fidelity Park Assist
The ace up Tesla’s sleeve was High Fidelity Park Assist, which is a 3D reconstruction of your surroundings while parking. The release notes also included an image of the feature, showing a Model Y backing in to what looks like a Supercharger parking spot.
We will have to wait and see what this feature looks like in action, but based on this image it appears to be quite a realistic and accurate 3D reconstruction of the vehicle’s surroundings. We will also have to wait and see if the visualization can be manipulated, like being able to zoom in or out or panning around to see it from a different angle. If it can do this it would get us close to a 360° bird’s eye view feature found on other vehicles, and something that Tesla owners have been hoping the company would implement. The biggest limitation is that a birds eye view would require a front bumper camera, something the company didn’t have until the Cybertruck.
This feature also gives us a glimpse into what we can expect from the visualizations that will come with the releases FSD v12.
Custom Lock Sounds
The other new feature is Custom Lock Sounds, which allow you to replace the horn lock sound with another sound. The accompanying image showed there is a preset list of sounds you select from, like a Rubber Ducky, Old School Horn, or even a screaming goat. While the release notes didn’t mention it, we’ve been told by a source you can even add custom sounds, making the possibilities endless and only limited by your imagination.
The only downside is this will of course require the external pedestrian warning speaker, something which Tesla only added to their vehicles in 2020.
Here’s the full list of features as shared officially by Tesla on X. It is worth noting there are other features, like Rear Screen Bluetooth Headsets, that has been out for a few months, but only on the upgraded Model 3. Hopefully this means it is also coming to the Model S and Model X, but the post did include an asterisks saying “availability varies by model and location.”
Custom Lock Sounds
Replace the horn lock sound of your vehicle with another sound—like a screaming goat
Play your favorite games on the rear touchscreen
Parents, rejoice. Rear passengers can now use wireless Bluetooth headphones when watching shows or playing games on the rear screen Apple Podcasts Listen to millions of the world’s most popular podcasts
Apple Podcasts
Tesla App Trip Planner Use the Tesla mobile app to plan a multi-stop trip and send it to your vehicle
Navigation now includes speed cameras, stop signs & traffic lights
Automatic 911
Calls Your vehicle will automatically call 911 if an accident triggers the airbags
Blind Spot Indicators
The blind spot camera will alert you with red shading when your turn signal is on and a car is detected in your blind spot
More Live Sentry Cameras
When viewing vehicle surroundings from the Tesla app, you’ll now have access to the left and right pillar cameras for a total of 7 angles
Light Show
Enjoy a thunderous new Light Show called ‘The Arrival’
Castle Doombad
Castle Doombad is now available in the Tesla Arcade—plus updates to Beach Buggy, Polytopia & Vampire Survivors
High Fidelity Park Assist
See a 3D reconstruction of your surroundings while parking
*Availability varies by model and location
The 2023 Holiday Update rolls out next week
Here’s what’s coming…
Custom Lock Sounds
Replace the horn lock sound of your vehicle with another sound—like a screaming goat 🐐LAN Party on Wheels
Play your favorite games on the rear touchscreen 🎮Rear Screen Bluetooth… pic.twitter.com/Xl2Q6YgS2b
— Tesla (@Tesla) December 8, 2023
