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Tesla Smart Summon Included In Latest Update – Watch It In Action

Included in Tesla‘s V10 over the air software update was the highly anticipated function, Smart Summon. This beta feature allows a parked Tesla to come and collect you from another location with a touch of a button on the app, but despite including warnings about not using it in public places, unsurprisingly, owners are miss-using the option and posting their videos to social media.

We must begin by saying that this is highly impressive, and as an app in its beta stage, works staggeringly well the majority of the time. But, with that said, releasing such a powerful tool to the public can sometimes be a silly choice to make.

The video below for example, shows an owner using it in a public area, and using it in such a way where the car has to cross a public road where it doesn’t have right of way.

https://twitter.com/eiddor/status/1177749574976462848

It very nearly caused an accident had the other driver not been able to stop. It’s not known as to whether the Tesla stopped by itself or if the owner of the car took his finger off the command on his phone.

Tesla states that the user needs a “clear line of sight” to the car and that “Those using Smart Summon must remain responsible for the car and monitor it and its surroundings at all times”. Testing in a private area such as the following is a responsible way to test this, however the car runs onto the grass before being stopped.

A similar thing happens here, too, where the Tesla Model S mounts the kerb.

The summon feature can be used up to 60 metres away from the car, and stops as soon as the user’s finger lifts off of the phone they’re using. Here’s an example where the feature works seamlessly.

So what do you think? Should Tesla be allowed to roll out beta features for use of the public, or should they keep their testing within the company? Let us know in the comments below.

Alex Harrington

Alex started racing at a young age so certainly knows his way around a car and a track. He can just about put a sentence together too, which helps. He has a great interest in the latest models, but would throw all of his money at a rusty old French classic and a 300ZX. Contact: [email protected]

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