Tesla’s 2024 Holiday Update is packed with exciting features. Leading the lineup is the long-awaited Apple Watch app, which introduces native support for unlocking and controlling Tesla vehicles directly from the wrist. This update makes it easier than ever for Apple Watch users to use their devices as digital keys, open the trunk or frunk, check the car’s battery status, and manage climate settings—all without needing their smartphones. The addition effectively eliminates reliance on third-party solutions like “Watch for Tesla” and streamlines the experience for Tesla owners.
The Apple Watch integration is a key highlight, but Tesla’s update offers much more. Sentry Mode and Dashcam recordings are now accessible directly from the Tesla app, allowing users to easily view, save, and share footage. This functionality is particularly valuable for sharing evidence with law enforcement or insurance providers in case of incidents. Another major feature, “Santa Mode” for the Cybertruck, transforms the vehicle’s on-screen avatar into a Tesla Bot riding in a cyber sleigh, adding a whimsical touch to the holidays. Alongside this, Cybertruck owners can now apply custom wraps and plates to personalize their vehicle’s digital appearance.
The company has also introduced a reverse cross-traffic alert system. This feature provides audible warnings and a visual red bar on the rearview camera feed when it detects approaching vehicles or pedestrians while reversing. Additionally, the update reduces music volume during reverse maneuvers, enhancing driver awareness—a feature long available in other car brands but newly adopted by Tesla.
The Holiday Update also includes improvements to navigation and trip planning. Drivers can now set a preferred battery charge level for arrival at their destinations, a feature designed to ensure sufficient reserve energy for subsequent journeys. Weather and precipitation indicators have been added to navigation maps, helping users plan their routes with greater precision. The ability to search for stops along a route with detour time estimates further enhances the driving experience.
Tesla’s penchant for entertainment is evident in the addition of rear-seat arcade games for the Cybertruck and a new party game called Boomerang Fu. Meanwhile, light show enthusiasts can enjoy two new synchronized displays, allowing multiple Tesla vehicles to coordinate lights and sounds for a festive performance.
Quirky features like “fart on contact,” which triggers a flatulence sound when a seat is occupied, add a dose of humor. This update complements Tesla’s existing fart features, such as “fart on demand” and “fart on turn signal,” reflecting the brand’s playful side.
In keeping with its tradition of improving functionality via over-the-air updates, Tesla also introduces usability refinements. These include adjusting unoccupied passenger seats from the screen, door handle pull alerts, in-vehicle maintenance summaries, and an expanded rear camera feed with pinch-to-zoom support. The addition of SiriusXM support for Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck, along with TuneIn app improvements, rounds out the entertainment upgrades.
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