Issue 344 - FSD v13.2.1 update rolls out to Cybertruck and HW4 owners
Cybertruck's ultimate wrap treatment with Feynlab
[Sponsored] This beautiful Cybertruck got the ultimate treatment—wrapped in PPF and coated with Feynlab’s PPF & Vinyl Ceramic Coating. It’s looking 🔥
Model S
Free supercharging for life on new Model S
Tesla has reintroduced free lifetime Supercharging for new Model S purchases or leases, effective December 13, 2024. This incentive, which is non-transferable if the car is sold or to another account, is designed to boost Model S sales. However, Tesla reserves the right to revoke this offer in cases of excessive use or unpaid Supercharging fees. Notably, this perk aligns with a $5,000 price increase for the Model S AWD and Plaid versions in the U.S.
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Cybertruck
Cybertruck approved for China market entry
The Cybertruck is gearing up to enter the Chinese market after receiving approval from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. This is excellent news for Tesla’s Cybertruck expansion.
Cybertruck's charging rate jumps to 325kW at V4 Superchargers
Tesla's Cybertruck now charges at 325 kW at select V4 Supercharger stations, utilizing its 800V architecture for faster charging. While initial tests show a significant charge rate improvement, there's a noted drop in speed past a certain point, taking 35 minutes to reach 80% battery. Upcoming V4 cabinets in early 2025 are expected to further enhance charging capabilities to a full 500 kW, ensuring even quicker charging times.
Accessories
Tesla revamps in-house vinyl wrap service
Tesla re-introduces a new vinyl wrap service with improved pricing, charging $4,500 for Cybertruck and $4,000 for Model 3 and Model Y wraps. The service offers various colors, textures, and finishes, and is currently available only at select California and Washington Service Center locations. This follows their earlier move to cut down on wrap options, likely responding to the high demand for customization, especially for the stainless steel Cybertruck.
FSD
FSD v13.2.1 update rolls out to Cybertruck and HW4 owners 📹
Tesla has finally pushed version 13 to a wider audience, including Cybertruck and HW4 owners. Users are reporting smooth and impressive supervised drives with this latest FSD iteration, showing promising progress toward eventual unsupervised full self-driving capabilities. As one of those who got to test v13.2.1, I’ve noticed that FSD is now much smoother. One improvement I particularly liked is how much more naturally the car approaches stop signs. Overall, the car drives better and maintains improved speeds on both city streets and highways with this update.
Widespread FSD v13.2.1 & holiday update for AI4, updated v12.6 for AI3
AI4-equipped Tesla customers are now receiving the widespread rollout of FSD v13.2.1, which complements a holiday vehicle software update expected within a week. Meanwhile, Tesla is aiming to bestow a significant update with v12.6 to AI3 customers before the year's end, a move sure to bring some Christmas cheer to the Tesla family.
Software Updates
Tesla vehicles responding 'hello' signal a future voice assistant
Tesla is edging closer to introducing its own voice assistant, evidenced by the vehicles now acknowledging a 'Hello' or 'Hi' voice command with a 'Hello!' This suggests Tesla is actively working on the assistant, which is anticipated by many owners. The company's potential to run its xAI language model Grok on all Tesla machines supports this development.
Tesla rolls out 'Actually Smart Summon' feature in China
Tesla's new 'Actually Smart Summon' (ASS) feature is soon to make its way to China, allowing vehicles with Full Self-Driving or Enhanced Autopilot to autonomously travel from parking spots to the driver's vicinity. This OTA update is scheduled around the Spring Festival in late January, with incentives like 90-day free EAP access for trade-in purchases. Its functionality in China hasn't been fully disclosed, so it's unclear if it will mirror the North American version or have restrictions similar to those recently seen in Europe and the Middle East.
Optimus
Optimus robot masters walking on rough terrain 📹
Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, has demonstrated its ability to walk on uneven surfaces like dirt and slopes without relying on visual sensors. Instead, it utilizes a neural network along with other sensors to maintain balance and react to the terrain. Tesla AI plans to integrate vision in subsequent updates to improve the robot's walking gait and responsiveness.
🤓 What the acronym
As a Tesla fan, I find myself sometimes having to remember what are all those acronyms, here is a list of the ones you can find in this issue.
ASS: Actually Smart Summon
AWD: All-Wheel Drive
EAP: Early Access Program
FSD: Full Self-Driving
OTA: Over-the-air (software updates)
PPF: Paint Protection Film