Tesla Spring update rolls out

Tesla has started sending its Spring 2026 software update to owners, adding a new Self-Driving app, hands-free Grok voice activation and broader overnight auto-install options. (electrek.co) The rollout began on Monday, April 13, 2026, and Tesla says software updates arrive on a rolling basis rather than all at once. Tesla’s support page says owners get update alerts on the car’s touchscreen and in the Tesla app, usually over Wi-Fi. (electrek.co) (tesla.com) The new Self-Driving app is limited to vehicles with Tesla’s AI4, also called Hardware 4, computer. It lets drivers subscribe to Full Self-Driving (Supervised) with one tap for $99.99 a month and shows usage statistics inside the car. (electrek.co) (notateslaapp.com) Tesla has been moving more vehicle features behind over-the-air updates for years, and its support pages describe those updates as a core part of how the cars gain features after delivery. The Spring 2026 package extends that approach to more day-to-day functions, including scheduling installs automatically overnight. (tesla.com 1) (tesla.com 2) Grok, the in-car assistant built by xAI, now works with a “Hey Grok” wake phrase instead of requiring a button press. Tesla’s support page says Grok is still in beta, needs an Advanced Micro Devices processor plus Premium Connectivity or Wi‑Fi, and can handle navigation commands but not climate or media controls. (tesla.com) (electrek.co) The update also uses cabin accent lighting as a warning system on newer vehicles that have wraparound ambient lights. Reports on the release say those lights turn red when a car is in the blind spot during a lane change signal, and when an object approaches while the Tesla is parked. (notateslaapp.com) (tesla.com) Pet Mode gets a cosmetic refresh rather than a new climate function. Owners can now show a dog, cat or hedgehog on the center screen and add the pet’s name, according to coverage of Tesla’s release. (electrek.co) (notateslaapp.com) Some features are tied to specific hardware generations, which means the update will not look the same across the fleet. Tesla’s Grok support page limits that feature to Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y and Cybertruck vehicles with an Advanced Micro Devices processor, while the redesigned Self-Driving app is being reported for AI4-equipped cars. (tesla.com) (electrek.co) Tesla has framed software as a selling point since the early Model S and Model X years, when it said over-the-air updates could improve cars after purchase. This release keeps that pitch intact: owners will get the Spring 2026 package when Tesla’s staggered rollout reaches their specific vehicle configuration and region. (tesla.com 1) (tesla.com 2)