- Tesla’s spring update brings many changes
- A new autonomous driving app is undoubtedly the biggest
- However, the app will only work on cars with the latest hardware.
Tesla has revealed details of a massive Spring 2026 update that will bring a host of new software features to vehicles around the world.
In addition to smaller things like a voice prompt to wake up Grok and an innovative use of interior lighting to act as a blind spot warning system, Tesla has introduced a new dedicated self-driving app that will act as a hub for any information related to its highly autonomous (supervised) full self-driving system.
Resembling a smart TV home page, the new app allows owners who did not specify FSD at the time of purchase to subscribe to the feature with the press of a button.
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There are also tutorial videos and the ability to adjust numerous FSD settings from the app.
Eagle-eyed Tesla fans have noted that UX appears to be preparing for the possible introduction of a pay-per-mile or full self-driving subscription package in the near term.
This could potentially allow customers to “rent” the technology for a road trip, or even a day in the future, although Tesla has yet to confirm this.
Within the new FSD app, there is also a screen that crunches numbers and shows how long the vehicle has spent in ‘Autonomous Driving’ mode, as well as keeping track of multi-day usage streaks.
Not a Tesla App notes that this shows owners “exactly how much value they get from the software.” However, it also seems like a strategy to “gamify” its self-driving functionality in order to keep customers engaged and generate new business.
Analysis: not everyone is happy
Several disgruntled owners have taken to the various comment sections, social media sites, and subreddits to voice their complaints about Tesla’s decision to make this new app only available for cars with Hardware 4 (HW4); in other words, the latest models.
Some customers have claimed that even though their vehicles are only two years old, they are unable to take full advantage of the new Full Self-Driving app or future technology improvements, while the smart use of interior decorative lights is only available on the refreshed Model 3 and Model Y “Highland”, as well as the Cybertruck.
“And now HW3 owners have been consigned to the scrap heap, just like all previous car owners,” one Reddit user commented.
Others soon piled in to criticize the fact that most of Tesla’s “major” updates haven’t added many truly useful features. “In the four years I’ve had my Model S, the only update I found useful was when they enabled blind spot cameras on the driver’s display,” added one Reddit user.
Skeptics could easily claim that this update follows a similar pattern, with small additions grabbing headlines. These include the ability for customers to choose an animal when the car is in “Pet Mode”, including a dog, a cat and a new character called Cyberhog (he’s a hedgehog, of course).
Apparently, many cars will also receive improved graphics in the internal displays, as well as minor improvements to the weather maps and the Sketchpad app.
However, the biggest change, which comes in the form of the new self-driving app, is designed to generate more business for Tesla’s automated technology, much of which won’t apply to anything that doesn’t run the latest hardware.
This is a far cry from Elon Musk’s initial promise that any Tesla produced since 2016 will be able to operate with fully autonomous driving, a fact he backtracked on last year.
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