Tesla’s 2025 Holiday Update arrives with big promises — but also some surprising omissions that fans are already debating. And here’s where it gets interesting: the update is packed with new tools, playful extras, and useful quality-of-life improvements… yet a few long-awaited features are still nowhere to be seen.
Below is a fully refreshed, uniquely worded breakdown of what Tesla delivered this year — and what they left out — along with a few controversies that might spark some heated comment threads.
Grok with Navigation Commands (Beta)
Tesla’s AI assistant, Grok, is finally stepping into navigation. Instead of relying solely on standard voice commands, drivers will be able to add or modify destinations through Grok’s “Assistant” personality. This upgrade doesn’t just simplify routing — it also adds extra context such as nearby places of interest, reviews, and helpful suggestions. For anyone who’s ever juggled directions while driving, this could feel like a major leap forward.
Tesla Photobooth
Here’s a fun one: Tesla now lets you transform your cabin into an instant selfie studio. Using the Toybox menu, drivers can snap interior photos, test playful filters, and add stickers or emojis before sharing directly from the Tesla app. This is pure entertainment — but undeniably a crowd-pleaser for road-trip moments.
Dog Mode Live Activity
Dog owners are getting a thoughtful upgrade. When Dog Mode is active, the app will now send periodic cabin snapshots, along with live temperature, climate status, and battery updates. It’s a small addition that offers big peace of mind, especially in warm climates.
Dashcam Viewer Update
Dashcam footage is useful — but often incomplete. Tesla is fixing that. Every clip will now include extra contextual data such as vehicle speed, steering wheel position, and the current Full Self-Driving status. These additional layers could make a huge difference during insurance claims or when reviewing incidents.
Santa Mode
This holiday classic gets refreshed with new graphics, decorated trees, and a fresh lock chime to round out the festive spirit.
Light Show Update
A brand-new show titled Jingle Rush has been added, giving owners another animated music routine for gatherings or holiday fun.
Custom Wraps and License Plates in Colorizer (now “Paint Shop”)
Tesla has rebranded the Colorizer tool as “Paint Shop,” expanding it with more customization options. Drivers can now customize their avatar’s window tinting, choose wraps, and even set personalized license plates. Tesla also added the option to import your own designs via USB — a nice touch for creative owners.
Navigation Improvements
A new Favorites tab makes organizing destinations simpler, and Home/Work can now be placed by dropping a pin rather than manually entering an address. The system also introduces Suggested Destinations based on recent habits — a feature intended to reduce repetitive input.
Supercharger Site Map
Arguably the headline of this update: select Superchargers now include a 3D “View Site Map” mode. Drivers can see stall layouts, live availability, and surrounding amenities before arrival. Even more interesting? You can choose exactly which stall you want to use. While this is limited to a handful of chargers now, Tesla plans to expand the feature.
This is the one update many owners have already labeled a “game changer.”
Automatic Carpool Lane Routing
If your vehicle qualifies, Tesla’s navigation will automatically route you through carpool lanes to save time. This could be especially useful in dense city traffic.
Phone Left Behind Chime
If the car detects no passengers but senses a phone key or a forgotten device inside the cabin, it will sound an alert after the doors close. A small but thoughtful safeguard.
Charge Limit Per Location
Owners can now save a custom charging limit per location, allowing the car to automatically apply the correct limit whenever they return to that spot.
ISS Docking Simulator
Tesla and SpaceX collaborated on a space-themed game where you pilot a spacecraft toward docking with the International Space Station. The simulator uses inspiration from real NASA interfaces, giving players a small taste of astronaut training.
Additional Improvements
• Wireless charging pads can now be switched on or off from the Controls menu
• Spotify playlists and long audio lists can be scrolled smoothly without paging
• Rave Cave lighting now syncs rainbow colors to the beat of the music
• Tron-style Light Cycle effects have been added as an optional lock sound in Boombox
What’s Missing — and Why Some Owners Aren’t Happy
Here’s the part most people are already debating: several highly anticipated features did not make the cut.
Banish Feature (a.k.a. “Reverse Summon”)
Tesla has been hinting at this for years — the idea that you can hop out at the entrance of your destination and let the car go park itself. Many thought this would finally arrive in 2025, but the feature still isn’t ready. Should Tesla have prioritized this after years of teasing it? Opinions differ.
Apple CarPlay
Rumors, leaks, and even internal hints suggested Tesla was preparing CarPlay support. Yet the Holiday Update arrived without it. Some owners are frustrated; others argue Tesla’s native interface is already superior. But it definitely raises the question: is Tesla avoiding CarPlay on purpose?
Parking Spot Selection for FSD
For those living in apartments with assigned spots, this missing feature is especially painful. Tesla recently suggested this capability is in development (noted in the v14.2 release notes), but it’s still absent from the update. Many expected it to be included already.
Final Thought — and a Question for You
This update delivers a mix of exciting new features and noticeable gaps, sparking debate among owners about Tesla’s priorities. But is Tesla focusing too heavily on fun extras instead of long-promised core features? Or is this the right direction for innovation?
What do you think?
Are you impressed, disappointed, or somewhere in the middle?
Drop your thoughts — or disagreements — in the comments. I’m curious where you stand.
