Karan Singh
In a recent web post that was quickly removed, Sirius confirmed that SiriusXM will be coming to the vehicle in a future software update. The post appeared on SiriusXM’s Canadian website and outlined the steps needed to run the free trial on your vehicle.
Streaming instead of satellite
This version of SiriusXM is streaming and doesn’t rely on satellite, which means a few things. First, it will be available in more vehicles than just the Model S and Model X that have satellite radio receivers. It will also be available in the Model 3 and Model Y, as well as the Cybertruck.
Secondly, the streaming version of SiriusXM has more choice and content: The particular package offered is called SiriusXM 360L, and it includes a full set of exclusive streaming channels, on-demand content, and live sports, all available over streaming data rather than a satellite connection.
As with other Tesla music services, it’s expected to require a premium connection.
price
SiriusXM 360L’s “All Access” package costs $21.99 per month, while the more limited “Select” package appears to be available now for $16.99 per month.
However, according to the leaked webpage, streaming data to a Tesla may only be available with the “Platinum” package, which costs $28.80 per month. The same subscription also allows streaming to devices such as smartphones, smart devices and computers.
Start with a demo
SiriusXM offers new Tesla users a free trial of their Platinum package when they create a SiriusXM account and log in. This is a 30-day demo to get you started and includes all the features available in the Platinum package.
Satellite Streaming for Model S and Model X
At this time, this does not appear to affect SiriusXM satellite radio on Model S and Model X. Also, it’s unclear how the implementation will work once internet streaming radio arrives. It’s possible that Tesla will treat SiriusXM Streaming and SiriusXM Radio as separate apps in the car.
Currently, you can use SiriusXM Satellite Radio on Model S and Model X even when you are outside of cellular signal range because the vehicle is equipped with a hardware SiriusXM receiver.
In the future, with the introduction of Internet streaming SiriusXM, the Model S and Model X may also drop the SiriusXM satellite receiver. Tesla has consistently maintained its “no part is the best part” philosophy, which is consistent with many other cost-cutting measures the company has implemented to simplify the construction of its vehicles.
These satellite receivers are also pretty pricey — SiriusXM sells a standalone unit that plugs into the aux jack for around $60 — which is a big cost that Tesla could cut from its vehicles, considering most users likely now prefer services like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music.
Either way, it’s great to have another streaming option added to Tesla’s continually expanding streaming repository, and while it’s unclear when this will arrive and be visible on Tesla, it’s expected to arrive by the end of the year.
Karan Singh
Tesla today reintroduced its referral program in the U.S. To see the updated referral menu, you’ll need the Tesla app v4.36.1, so make sure you update your app first.
This program is quite different from the original, in that instead of offering referral credits, Tesla is offering redeemable gift cards. Let’s take a closer look at the new offer.
Rewards
This new referral program will give referrals a $500 credit and allow users of the code to get $1,000 off a new Tesla. That $500 can be used on almost anything, including Supercharging, software upgrades, Tesla Shop merchandise, service fees, or even a new car. However, users are limited to 10 rewards, and each referral code will be good for $1,000 off a new Tesla on the first 10 uses only.
That means if you refer 10 people, you could get up to $5,000 towards your next Tesla, or pretty much anything under the Tesla umbrella. Tesla didn’t clarify whether the 10-time limit is annual or lifetime, but it’s great to see the program officially back.
Tesla Event
One of the most unique aspects of this program is that those who refer new buyers will also have the chance to win invites to upcoming Tesla events. If you want to watch the Robotaxi event on October 10th,NumberPlease use it as a reference!
Introduction in other markets
Currently, the referral program appears to be limited to the US. Users in Canada and Europe are unable to see the updated referral UI, nor are there any buttons within the app to open referral links. We hope that Tesla will introduce the referral program in other markets as well. However, it would not be surprising if Tesla turns the program on and off in certain markets depending on demand.
Karan Singh
Tesla recently released update 2024.32 to its employees, which includes some new features that everyone will be happy to have in their cars in the future.
Please note that some features may be region-specific, such as construction during route updates. Additional features may be available for other models and regions. The Cybertruck will soon be compatible with AutoPark, which may also be included in this update.
Construction along the route
If you have a premium connection and online routing is enabled (Settings > Navigation), construction along your route will appear as icons on the map. Tesla added map icons to the screen in the Holiday 2023 update and continues to support additional features in more areas.
Tesla already takes construction sites into account when navigating to your destination, but now the location of construction sites will be displayed on the screen, making it easier to know which areas to avoid and helping the navigation system better understand the route you’ve chosen. For those who live in urban areas where large-scale construction work is common, this will be a great addition.
Navigation search predictive text
Due to route construction, navigation search now features predictive text to suggest search terms as you type. Predictive text can help you complete your search faster, but predictive text requires a stable internet connection to work. A premium connection is not required.
Search this area
As part of further updates to navigation search, you can now drag the map to a different location and then “search this area” when searching for something specific. This is similar to the “search this area” feature in Google Maps and is a good update if you want to see the location of another town in your navigation.
Mobile App Notifications – Tire Service
As part of a previous update, your vehicle will now notify you when your tires need to be changed or rotated. You will need to set your own schedule based on mileage under Services > Tire Service Mileage. You can set reminders to notify you when it’s time to rotate your tires based on mileage. With this update, the Tesla mobile app will also notify you when your vehicle reaches the set mileage. You will also need to be on mobile app version 4.35 or later.
When are you coming?
The update is still being tested by the first wave of employees but should be available to the first group of consumers soon, though like most updates, it will take a few weeks before it’s available to most users.
If you subscribe to or own FSD outright, don’t expect this update anytime soon. The FSD branch is always at least a few weeks behind the main code branch. Tesla recently updated their FSD branch to 2024.26, so it may be another month before it updates again.
