Exploring Tesla's 2025 Christmas Update: Anticipated Features and Enhancements
'Tis the festive season once more! Annually, Tesla unveils a feature-rich Holiday Update to mark the season's cheer and conclude the year on a high note (overview of past holiday updates). In 2024...





The 2024 Holiday Update delivered a plethora of additions, ranging from the Energy App and Precipitation Map to convenient features like Arrival Energy and Nearby Parking. Building on the success of last year, we anticipate this year's update to be brimming with innovative changes and features that enthusiasts have been eagerly anticipating.
Anticipated Features
Let's delve into a selection of possible inclusions in this year's holiday update. Starting with the "Nice List," here are some standout features that are likely to be part of the upcoming release:
New Santa Mode
There's a strong possibility of the classic Santa Mode making its return in this year's holiday update. Refreshed Model S and Model X owners have been eagerly awaiting this feature since the vehicles' delivery earlier this year. With hints of ambient lighting additions and the potential for enhanced animations and visuals, the reimagined Santa Mode promises to be a delightful addition.
Grok Wake Word
An anticipated enhancement is the introduction of a wake word for Grok, streamlining its usability within the vehicle. Expected to be activated by commands like "Hey, Grok" or "Hey, Tesla," this addition aims to enhance the passenger experience by enabling smoother interactions with Grok's smart assistant features.
Grok for Intel Vehicles
Expanding the reach of Grok's capabilities to include older Intel-based vehicles is a development in progress. With the promise of integrating xAI's advanced AI technology into these vehicles, owners can look forward to experiencing Grok's innovative features and functionalities.
Custom Wraps & License Plates
Following the success of custom wraps and license plates for the Cybertruck in the 2024 Holiday Update, Tesla is poised to extend this feature to other models. Enabling drivers to personalize their vehicles with custom designs adds a touch of individuality and flair to the driving experience.
More FSD Visualizations
Enhancements in Full Self-Driving (FSD) visualizations are on the horizon, with a focus on expanding object recognition capabilities. This update aims to introduce new visualization models, starting with enhanced visuals for the Cybertruck and potentially extending to other Tesla models.
Lumbar Support in Driver Profiles
An upcoming feature is the integration of lumbar support settings into driver profiles, ensuring personalized comfort adjustments are easily accessible and synchronized across different users of the vehicle. This addition reflects Tesla's commitment to enhancing the driving experience through tailored ergonomic features.
Expanded Charging Visualizations
Tesla is working on enhancing the charging user interface to provide detailed visual feedback on the charging equipment in use. By incorporating new charging visualizations, drivers can easily identify the type of charger connected, enhancing the overall charging experience.
Unreal Engine
Future updates may introduce Unreal Engine technology to Tesla vehicles, promising improved visuals and animations. Potential advancements in visualizations could elevate the driving experience, subject to compatibility with vehicle hardware specifications.
Grok Vehicle Controls
Integration of vehicle controls with Grok's smart assistant capabilities is on the horizon, offering drivers intuitive voice-controlled functionalities for various vehicle settings. This feature aims to streamline interactions within the vehicle, enhancing convenience and accessibility for users.
Boombox V2
Potential enhancements in the form of Boombox V2, accessible through the Tesla mobile app, may introduce further customization options for vehicle sounds and alerts. This feature could offer drivers the flexibility to personalize their driving experience through custom audio settings.
Apple CarPlay Support
Rumors suggest the integration of Apple CarPlay into Tesla vehicles, presenting a potential enhancement in connectivity and user interface options. While the integration of CarPlay may offer advantages in compatibility, its implementation could cater to a diverse range of user preferences and needs.
Unlikely Additions
While exciting features are anticipated, certain enhancements may not make it to the holiday update, such as:
Smart Summon Improvements
Despite its appeal, Smart Summon improvements may not be included in the upcoming update. Challenges in reliability and integration with the latest FSD advancements could delay the introduction of enhanced Smart Summon features.
Summon for Cybertruck
The highly anticipated Summon feature for the Cybertruck may not be part of the holiday update, presenting a feature that enthusiasts may have to wait for in future releases.
As we eagerly await the unveiling of this year's Holiday Update, Tesla enthusiasts can look forward to a host of exciting features and enhancements that promise to elevate the driving experience and showcase Tesla's commitment to innovation.
The Cybertruck has now caught up with the rest of the Tesla fleet in terms of Full Self-Driving (FSD) updates and features with FSD V14.1.7. However, it is still missing two significant features: the dumb Summon (forward/back only) and Smart Summon.
Including both of these features in the Holiday Update would be a wonderful addition for owners of Tesla's flagship vehicle, the Cybertruck.
Exciting Features for the Holiday Update
Two highly anticipated features for the upcoming holiday update are Banish and Reduced Driver Monitoring for FSD. It is uncommon for Tesla to introduce FSD-related features during the holiday update.
Banish is essentially the opposite of the Actually Smart Summon feature, allowing the vehicle to autonomously park itself. Elon Musk hinted at this feature as a major addition in the upcoming FSD V14 builds - either V14.2 or V14.3.
Reduced Driver Monitoring, discussed at the 2025 Shareholder Meeting, involves the concept of "text-and-drive." This feature, anticipated for V14.3, signifies Tesla's advancements towards semi-autonomous capabilities for owner vehicles, alongside their ongoing efforts on Unsupervised FSD for Robotaxi.
Additional Features
The full list of features in Tesla's 2025 Holiday Update will remain a mystery until the change logs are revealed. These mentioned features are just a glimpse of what to expect, as Tesla often surprises users with undisclosed features and Easter Eggs.
Tesla has recently introduced update 2025.44, the platform for the upcoming holiday features. Historically, Tesla releases holiday update features on versions like xxxx.44.25, so stay tuned for further announcements in the upcoming weeks.
For more insights, explore our article detailing the evolution of Tesla's holiday updates and the diverse range of features they have introduced over the years.
Share Your Ideas
If you have any predictions or expectations for the holiday update, feel free to share your thoughts with us.
