Key Points:
- Tesla starts limited 2025 Holiday Update rollout
- Adds Grok AI, dashcam upgrades, and Dog Mode
- Festive extras: Santa Mode, light show, ISS game
Tesla has officially begun rolling out its 2025 Tesla Holiday Update, version 2025.44.25.1, to a limited number of vehicles this week. The update, which Tesla teased earlier this month, marks the company’s latest annual software refresh, a tradition that combines practical upgrades with playful seasonal features.
Early data shows that the rollout is currently focused on vehicles equipped with Hardware 3, especially those powered by the AMD Ryzen infotainment chip. However, not every Hardware-3 vehicle appears to be included in the first wave. Owners using Full Self-Driving packages or subscription plans have reported not receiving the update yet, suggesting Tesla may be staggering deployment based on hardware and feature compatibility.
This measured rollout mirrors Tesla’s typical strategy: push updates to a smaller user base initially, collect early feedback, and then gradually expand availability to the broader fleet.
Key Features, Upgrades, and Enhancements
The 2025 Tesla Holiday Update introduces a blend of new capabilities, interface refinements, and entertainment additions. One of the headline features is Grok with Navigation Commands (Beta), which allows Tesla’s in-car AI assistant to directly set and modify navigation destinations, replacing more traditional voice-command structures.
Significant enhancements also arrive in dashcam functionality. Recordings now embed detailed metadata, including vehicle speed, steering angles, and whether assisted-driving features were active during an incident. This aims to help owners better analyze footage and provide clearer context for insurance or safety reviews.
The update also brings improvements for pet owners. Dog Mode now offers live cabin activity monitoring, giving owners periodic snapshots and real-time updates on temperature and battery levels through the Tesla app. Navigation tools have been streamlined as well, offering more intuitive reordering of frequent destinations, easier Home/Work pin management, and smarter suggestions based on recent routes.
A new Supercharger Site Map feature, currently in pilot testing, adds visual guidance at select stations, displaying available stalls, site layout, and nearby amenities. This aims to simplify trip planning and charging decisions for long-distance travel.
As part of its holiday tradition, Tesla has added several entertainment-focused features. These include an enhanced Santa Mode, a multi-car synchronized Jingle Rush light show, a playful Photobooth using cabin camera filters, custom wrap visualizations, and a new in-car game, the ISS Docking Simulator, inspired by astronaut training systems.
Surprise Add-Ons and Missing Features
Beyond the announced upgrades, Tesla slipped in a few hidden additions. A new dashcam storage monitor now shows how much space is used and available on the connected USB drive, making video management easier for owners. Tesla also introduced a Charging Passport, a gamified experience that rewards drivers for visiting different Supercharger locations.
However, several expected features did not make it into this year’s Tesla Holiday Update. Notably absent is the long-anticipated “reverse summon” or “Banish” automated parking function. Support for Apple CarPlay, which some owners hoped would arrive this season, is also missing. Other anticipated conveniences, such as advanced parking-spot selection during destination arrival, remain unimplemented despite earlier hints.
Still, the update delivers a strong blend of utility and fun, balancing minor quality-of-life improvements with festive touches. As Tesla expands the rollout to more vehicles in the coming days, additional discoveries and owner feedback are expected to shape the next wave of refinements.
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