Musk Confirms 'Actually Smart Summon' is Coming in a Revision of FSD V12.5 (2024)

Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.

Vision-based Improvements

ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.

Just recently, Tesla returned the Model X’s self-presenting doors, using Tesla Vision. Vision has seen some fantastic improvements, and many people are waiting for ASS to bring forth these improvements to Smart Summon.

Smart Summon Today

Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.

I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.

Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.

Actually Smart Summon

ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.

We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.

Park Seek and Banish Autopark

When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.

A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.

While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.

Since the last batch of refreshed Model Y Project Juniper images surfaced on the web, creators have been hard at work making concept vehicles.

Let’s take a look at them at some of the most interesting designs.

Dominic’s Juniper Render

The hero image, from @DominicBRNKMN on X, provides a wider look at what the rear end of the Model Y Juniper may look like, including that new lightbar and some design hints from the refreshed Model 3 Highland.

Mike’s Render

@TeslaTruckClub on X posted a front shot of the Model Y, which is clearly inspired by the refreshed Model 3. We haven’t seen any images of the front of the vehicle yet, but this one is pretty straightforward. But take a closer look – there’s a twist. The headlights continue from one end of the vehicle to the other, incorporating a front lightbar. A clever idea.

Sugar Design’s Render

Our third render is from sugardesign_1 on Instagram, who previously made some absolutely fantastic renders of the Cybercab/Robotaxi. This one is an oblique rear shot, once again incorporating the rear lightbar and the refreshed Model 3’s taillights. It's nothing fancy off to the side, but it looks clean and sharp, and likely what we should expect in the refreshed Model Y.

Smoke-away’s Video Render

Back in 2023, SmokeAwayyy on X made a video render of the expected Model Y – it doesn’t include the lightbar, but is pretty much all the Model 3 design choices lifted and placed onto the Y, in a neat video package.

🔥 Model Y Refresh Concept 🔥pic.twitter.com/l4d5Yp8mMI

— Smoke-away (@SmokeAwayyy) September 8, 2023

What are your opinions on these renders? Do you think Tesla will take a different approach to the Model Y, setting it apart from the new Model 3? Or will they play it more conservatively, and go for what we’ve already seen in the 2024 Model 3 with some additions like the lightbar we see here? Join the discuss in our forums.

As part of an update to the Tesla App in June, Tesla now celebrates your car’s delivery anniversary. On your vehicle's anniversary, Tesla will send you an automated message in the app congratulating you on X years with your vehicle.

This was added in update 4.34, so everyone should have it now. The anniversary celebration message is global, and not restricted to North America. Oh, and you get a Tesla-versary for every Tesla you own as well as a chance to provide feedback to Tesla.

Tesla-versary Survey

As part of the anniversary, the app also asks you to fill out an ownership survey. The survey has a fairly detailed list of questions, including asking you about your favorite and least favorite features. Additionally, it also asks some of the standard questions on how likely you are to recommend Tesla as a brand, or to purchase another.

Some questions are on a 1-10 scale or list, while others are in a written answer format. The entire survey is done in-app, and it takes about 5 minutes to fill out. If you decline to fill out the survey because you’re busy, Tesla will send you an email just once, asking you to fill out the ownership survey.

So, when your Tesla-versary date is up, provide some input! This is an excellent way for owners to communicate their concerns with Tesla writ-large, which will help with new feature development, bug-fixing, and general upgrades in the future.