Tesla has rolled out a major software update to its Model S electric car that adds a remote starting function, traffic navigation and other features.
Tesla has reserved a top spot in the electric car sector while other car makers are just starting to explore the untapped market. Tesla has pushed an update to all Model S cars regardless of their geographical location.
With the help of different software firms, Tesla has managed to push the update over the air, which eliminates the need to drive to a dealership. This method of updating software on cars not only saves time and effort for its owners but also saves up to $500 in costs related to upgrading software through dealers. Tesla announced the over-the-air (OTA) update on Friday for all Model S cars sold since mid-2012. It brings a wide range of premium features that are still being tested on prototypes of other car makers, Tesla noted.
First off, the update adds a traffic-based navigation system that gives route suggestions as well as ETA based on real-time traffic. The feature is currently in beta phase, which means more accuracy will be added in the future while some bugs are expected in the current version.
The software update version 6.0, the first in the past two years, also brings the ability to remotely start the Model S using a smartphone app. Each time a Tesla Model S owner requests a remote start, it will require a unique password for the security of the car.
Another important feature is the location-based air suspension that remembers the "selected high ride heights" and adjusts automatically without the driver's intervention. Now, owners can also name their car, which will be shown in the mobile app and in the About Your Tesla section in the car's infotainment system.
Tesla is making its car more efficient with its new power management option that puts the car into energy savings mode at night. This will help the cars to reserve energy for later use. Despite the sleep mode, drivers can instantly interact with the car using Tesla mobile app.
According to a report by The Next Digit, Tesla has already upgraded over 30,000 vehicles this year and plans to bring OTA updates to 22 million cars by 2020. The car maker has partnered with AT&T in the U.S. for OTA upgrades as well as in North America and Europe. The next on the list is Southeast Asia that will receive the scheduled upgrades.
