If you’ve got a Tesla Cybertruck and have subscribed to the company’s so-called Full Self-Driving (Supervised) suite of semi-autonomous driving systems, your electric pickup now boasts the Autopark feature, thanks to an over-the-air update. The update had been teased by the electric automaker for months and finally went live over the weekend, but the promised rollout of the full driver assistance package has not yet happened for the Cybertruck, despite Tesla’s self-imposed deadlines of June and later August.
The delays have been attributed to the differences in vehicle height between the pickup and other Tesla products, as well as the truck’s novel steer-by-wire system, which does away with a physical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels, something Toyota has been working on for ages now.
What Is Autopark?
As the name suggests, Autopark removes the stress from parking maneuvers, with the system capable of identifying a parking space big enough for the vehicle and moving into it, whether parallel or perpendicular to the vehicle. Far from a Tesla-specific feature, similar park assist systems are available on all sorts of cars, from luxury sedans like the BMW 7 Series to humble Ford vehicles. Interestingly, the Blue Oval is dropping automatic parking due to a lack of use.
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Autopark-Specific Release Notes:
“Your vehicle can now automatically park – and parallel park – in designated spaces. When you’re driving at low speed, your display highlights potential parking spaces. Autopark shows a square P symbol to suggest a space, but you can choose any highlighted space. To start parking, stop the vehicle, press Start, and release the steering wheel so it can move freely. Refer to the Owner’s Manual for more detail. As with all Autopilot features, you must continue to pay attention and be ready to take immediate action, including canceling Autopark by pressing the brake or taking control of the steering wheel.”
Recent Cybertruck Updates
The wedge-shaped pickup has had several ups and downs since its arrival. The cheapest Cybertruck variant has been temporarily dropped, and it has emerged that body panels cost a lot of time and money to replace. On the plus side, Tesla introduced a new off-road package for the Cybertruck last week, adding a new wheel and tire combo that costs $3,000 for greater performance in cold conditions, and last month, the electric car manufacturer removed its no-resale clause from Cybertruck sales documents.
The automaker is also making strides in wireless vehicle charging, but the development that most are interested in learning more about is Tesla’s long-awaited robotaxi. The Robo Cab is expected to be revealed exactly a month from now, and this will set the tone for what to expect from future Tesla vehicles, including those with a steering wheel. Hopefully, Tesla can deliver on its autonomous driving promise, which has now been extended to Europe and China.