For the last couple of years I’ve been writing about just how significant over-the-air (OTA) Tesla software updates are—the details of which go largely unreported by the mainstream media or are labled as "recalls".
These updates can greatly improve your vehicle and add new features. These OTA updates come every few months throughout the year and just include random “bug fixes” or undisclosed "minor improvements" but there are usually a couple massive ones—spring and around Christmas. The latter is typically the most significant and truly feels like a gift.
Understandably, these updates are kind of a big deal to most Tesla owners. My 2022 Model 3 hasn’t received the update yet but the 2025.8 updates are steadily trickling out to the Tesla fleet so I thought this would be a good opportunity to highlight some of the improvements this update will bring.
2025.8.6 Changes:
✅ AutoShift (Beta) [New Model Y]
2025.8.4 changes:
✅ UI transparency for vehicles with Intel Atom [undocumented]
2025.8.3 changes:
✅ Standard Ride & Handling in Autopilot [2024+ M3P]: Your vehicle will now automatically transition to Standard Ride & Handling when Autopilot is engaged for a more comfortable drive. This setting is enabled by default. To disable, tap Controls > Dynamics > Use Standard Ride & Handling in Autopilot.
✅ Adjust Ride Height via Tesla App [CT]
✅ Steer-by-Wire Improvements [CT]
✅ Consumption Page Update: View your last 10, 100, or 200 miles (15, 150, or 300 kilometers) of energy usage in the Consumption page, with the option to clear your history.
✅ Battery’s Energy Estimate: Your battery’s energy estimate now accounts for your vehicle’s usage characteristics and will adjust over time based on your history.
✅ Battery Health Test: measure your battery’s energy retention compared to when it was new (Controls > Service > Battery Health)
✅ Updated Trip and trip card with more precise energy consumption with decimal accuracy, and real-time energy usage tracking for the current drive [undocumented]
✅ Redesigned Rainbow Road (blue line removed) [undocumented]
✅ Updated Bluetooth page with a new “Streaming” section [undocumented]
Software updates are continuously rolled out to the entire Tesla fleet free-of-charge, whether your vehicle is a month or 10+ years old. Tesla's vehicles evolve and improve greatly, this is one of the reasons I’d be hesitant to buy any other brand at this point.
I especially like the fact Tesla is adding the Battery Health Test on the main menu. This feature was available previously in the system’s Service Mode but was buried so deeply in the UI that most people didn’t know about it or weren’t willing to delve into service mode and accidentally change a setting that might harm their vehicle.
This Battery Health feature will be vital for people buying used cars to make sure they're getting a good one or those who want to make sure their battery's health is what it should be before a vehicle goes out of warranty.
If you're interested in joining the Tesla family please consider using my referral code. This code will get you up to $1,000 off a new car and will earn me $500 towards my next car (which will probably be a Model Y...when the wheels finally fall off of my Model 3).
Be well, make the most of this day. Thank you for reading!
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