December 5, 2024, by Not a Tesla App Staff. Tesla recently released its holiday update, and this is part two of our in-depth review of its significant features. If you missed Part 1 covering the updated Energy app, weather radar overlay, and new Dashcam viewer, make sure to check it out.

Key Features of the Holiday Update

Nearby Parking

When viewing details for a Point of Interest (POI) on the map, users can now tap on "Nearby Parking" to get directions to nearby parking lots or garages. This simplifies the process of finding parking during big events or busy areas.

It provides a convenient way for Tesla owners to navigate to available parking spaces, saving them time and effort. This feature is especially useful in crowded urban areas where parking can be a challenge.

With this addition, Tesla continues to enhance the user experience by providing practical tools for daily activities.

Lower Volume in Reverse

Tesla has introduced a new option under Controls > Safety that automatically lowers the volume of any audio when the vehicle goes into reverse. This option is located next to Joe Mode, which reduces the volume of all sounds like turn signals and Autopilot beeps.

The ability to automatically adjust the volume in reverse enhances safety by reducing distractions. It ensures that drivers can focus on their surroundings while still being able to hear important sounds.

This feature shows Tesla's commitment to improving the driving experience and addressing potential safety concerns.

Set Arrival Energy

Owners can now choose the amount of energy they want to arrive with at their destination. Tesla takes this into account when determining charging stops and times.

This feature gives users more control over their energy usage and charging plans. It allows them to plan their trips more efficiently and avoid running out of battery at the destination.

By setting the arrival energy, Tesla owners can optimize their charging strategies and make the most of their vehicle's battery capacity.

Adjust Passenger Seat On Screen

Tesla has added a new Seats option to its settings, allowing users to move the passenger seat forward and backward. This is especially useful if there is a baby seat behind the passenger seat and extra room is needed.

However, there are no presets or memory functions, so users need to adjust the seat each time. While this may be a minor inconvenience, it still provides a useful feature for those with specific seating requirements.

For the Model X, it also enables the movement of the middle seats backward or forward, adding more flexibility to the seating arrangement.

Vehicle Maintenance Summary

Owners can now view their vehicle's maintenance history, which builds on the recent Maintenance History feature. It includes a wide range of items, from adding windshield washer fluid to replacing the battery or motor.

The Holiday Update adds an easy-to-view "consumer" version of vehicle history, allowing owners to access maintenance records without entering Service Mode. This provides a more convenient way for owners to keep track of their vehicle's maintenance.

When viewing the owner version of Maintenance Summary, owners can quickly see when tires were last rotated, when the cabin filter was replaced, and other important details.

Autopilot Lane Changes

In Europe, Tesla has added a new indicator light that shows which automatic lane changes are available. When Autopilot is enabled, the vehicle displays a light indicating which lanes are available for automatic lane changes. The icon starts off gray and then turns green with an arrow to the left, right, or both sides.

This feature provides clear visual feedback to drivers, helping them understand when and where they can safely make lane changes with Autopilot. It enhances the safety and convenience of using Autopilot on the road.

It gives Tesla drivers an additional level of confidence and control when navigating through traffic.

Energy App Changes

The Energy app has been updated for all models. The Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck now receive the Consumption tab, showing real-time energy usage and performance over a certain period.

Previously, only the Drive and Park tabs were available on these models. The addition of the Consumption tab provides more detailed information about energy usage, allowing users to better manage their vehicle's energy consumption.

However, some users may be disappointed that the Y-axis now adjusts based on the data and the X-axis is fixed at 200 miles or 300 km and cannot be changed. Additionally, the buttons to view average range and real-time range have been removed.

Weather At Destination

As part of the Holiday Update, Tesla includes a new feature to show weather at the arrival destination. Users can view live weather and forecasts and switch between the weather at their current location and destination.

Tesla also highlights any significant weather differences between the two locations. This feature is available on the Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, new Model S, and Model X, as well as Intel-based vehicles (MCU 2), but requires Premium Connectivity.

It provides valuable information for travelers, allowing them to plan their trips based on the weather conditions at their destination.

Precipitation Map

Another big part of the Holiday Update is the appearance of precipitation maps as overlays on the vehicle map. Tapping the new precipitation icon reveals a precipitation map overlay, giving insights into areas with incoming rain or snow. There is also an animated 3-hour forecast.

This feature requires an AMD (MCU 3) vehicle and Premium Connectivity and is available on all vehicles except the legacy Model S and Model X.

It helps drivers stay informed about weather conditions and plan their routes accordingly.

Boomerang Fu

The new Boomerang Fu game allows up to four people to slice and dice their friends in a frantic physics party game. It is available in Arcade > Boomerang Fu and must be downloaded before playing. If you have Premium Connectivity, you can download it on the go.

The game requires a controller and is available on the new Model S, new Model X, Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck.

It offers a fun and interactive entertainment option for Tesla owners.

Light Show Improvements

Tesla has made significant improvements to Light Shows in the 2024 Holiday Update. Users can now start Light Shows directly from the mobile app (V4.39.5+), and two new built-in Light Shows based on Cyber Symphony and Ready for Assault have been added.

Tesla is also adding the ability to control interior lighting for Light Shows with special color effects, making them even more spectacular. The maximum length of a Light Show has also been extended.

These improvements enhance the entertainment value and visual experience of Light Shows in Tesla vehicles.

Theater Updates

Theatre mode can now be interacted with via the rear screen on vehicles with this feature. Users can edit playlists, play and pause videos, and start a video in the web browser before driving and continue to listen to the audio while in drive mode.

Tesla is also giving users the ability to control the video with the media player, providing more control and convenience during driving.

This update enhances the multimedia experience in Tesla vehicles, making it more enjoyable for passengers.

Dashcam Viewer & Sentry Mode Improvements

The Holiday update allows users to view dashcam and Sentry Mode videos directly from their phone. They can access all content on their USB drive and stream the video from the USB drive with an active WiFi or cellular connection.

Users can change cameras, jump to Sentry Mode alerts, and save clips onto their phone, making it easier to save important data.

Sentry Mode has also received improvements, with notifications for critical events like alarm going off and door handle pulls on Model 3 and Model Y. Notifications are also provided for attempts to open the trunk or Cybertruck's vault.

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According to the latest AIA Canada study on millennial Canadian vehicle owners, it becomes evident that while there are distinctions between millennials and the overall 18+ population in Canada when it comes to automotive service, there is also a growing amount of commonality. Millennials, now ranging from 25 to 44 years old, are facing the realities of car ownership.

Key Findings on Millennial Automotive Service

Helplessness in Maintenance and Repair

More than a third of millennials feel helpless bringing their vehicle in for maintenance and repair, with 36% expressing this sentiment. Interestingly, there is no difference between millennial men and women, both registering at 36%. This shows that regardless of gender, millennials face similar challenges in this regard.

Although 57% of millennials reported being somewhat knowledgeable about vehicle maintenance and repair, the split between men and women is significant. 75% of men said they were somewhat knowledgeable, while only 39% of women felt the same. This indicates that while men may think they know more, they are actually just as helpless as women when it comes to automotive service.

Preference for Reminders

Maintenance reminders play a crucial role. Windshield stickers are preferred by 83% of millennials, closely followed by vehicle dashboard messaging at 87%. Email reminders come in third at 78%. However, millennials show a higher affinity for reminders through their smartphones, with 78% finding an app helpful compared to 63% for the national average. Text message reminders also have a similar rate of 78% for millennials versus 70% for the national average.

This shows that millennials are more likely to respond to reminders through mobile devices, which is an important aspect for automotive service providers to consider when communicating with their customers.

Trust in Service Providers

Only 37% of millennials believe that dealerships outperform automotive service providers (ASPs), meaning that a strong majority, 63%, do not feel that dealerships have an advantage. Similarly, a minority of millennials think that techs working in dealerships are better trained than those in ASPs. Only 35% of millennials believe that their vehicle warranty is nullified if they bring it to an ASP.

On the other hand, while ASPs are seen to provide value for money more than dealers, neither is viewed as overwhelmingly trustworthy. 34% of millennials trust ASPs, and 30% trust dealers. This highlights the importance of building trust with millennial customers.

Areas for Improvement

Shops could work on providing proactive notifications, EV competence, and the length of warranty on new parts. Communication seems to be a key issue, as only 13% of millennials said that ASPs had a cleaner shop than a dealer, compared to 53% on the dealer side.

Additionally, millennials would become more trusting if more time was spent explaining the impact of maintenance and repair (72%), if the same technician worked on their vehicle (70%), if there was better planning for the short, medium, and long-term (70%), and if they received emails and websites explaining the scope and importance of maintenance and repair (59%).

This report is free to AIA Canada members and available to non-members for $99 CAD.CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO ORDER A COPYCheck out these stories too!