2024 Tesla Holiday Update Includes Rear Traffic Alert

Tesla’s annual playful holiday update includes some sensible new features alongside the mirth for 2024.

In case this is new to you – Elon Claus brings Tesla owners a present every December in the form of a holiday software download. It’s often equal parts useful and weird. Last year, for instance, it included a setting that would call 911 in an accident and, well, screaming goat noises.

The 2024 version fits both bills.

The Practical Stuff

This year’s holiday present includes some functional updates and even a safety upgrade. The update is the same for every Tesla vehicle, whether a Model S, X, Y, 3, or a Cybertruck.

Not every feature is active on every Tesla, however. While other automakers update their cars in set model years, Tesla adds and deletes equipment and software from cars routinely during a production run. A Tesla built on Monday and one built on Tuesday can look the same but have different parts and capabilities.

So some advertised features of the download won’t work on cars that lack the hardware to run them.

The headline feature is rear cross-traffic alert — a system that warns the driver if it detects a vehicle or pedestrian crossing behind a Tesla. This has become common on many 2024 cars, so we’re happy to see Tesla catch up to the industry in offering it.

Other practical updates include a new Apple Watch app that lets owners use a watch as a key.

A new setting will let you select the amount of battery charge you’d like to have left when you reach your destination. The car will then attempt to keep to that limit, though it won’t necessarily succeed.

Navigation maps will now include weather and detours, Tesla says.

The Silly Side

The update is traditionally heavy on entertainment, too. This year, you can update your car’s avatar on the screen to be Santa’s sleigh, add SiriusXM radio (with a subscription fee), and play Boomerang Fu on the touchscreen.

Related: Rivian Gives Its Cars Halloween Costumes

Owners can trigger a pair of new holiday light shows from their phones in the Tesla app. And there’s also…sigh…a whoopie cushion setting for the passenger’s seat.

Tesla says the update will begin downloading to cars next week.