New Tesla feature will let cars park themselves, Elon Musk says
Thanks to a "reverse summon" feature of sorts, a Tesla could drop passengers off and then park itself, according to Musk.
Tesla created a sensation with the release of Smart Summon last year, which allows a Tesla to pick an owner up in some instances and the watchful eye of the owner to ensure everyone's safekeeping. However, the Summon feature could get even smarter by the end of 2020.
According to comments Tesla CEO Elon Musk made on Twitter this Thursday, the company is working to include a "Reverse Summon" feature as part of an expanded "Full Self-Driving" option numerous owners previously paid for. Passengers would be able to exit their Tesla and the car would find a parking spot all by itself. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on more information.
Musk said the company's working "super hard" to roll out stop sign and traffic light recognition first, which some owners with early access to the Autopilot software have already shown off. Next on deck is the Reverse Summon that will be included in a "core" software upgrade later this year.
When Smart Summon rolled out, we watched numerous instances of close calls as Teslas did their best to reach owners and pick them up from a parking lot or other areas. While novel, neat and a fun party trick, it's really not intended for public use with numerous other cars zipping around and pedestrians walking. We'll have to wait and see if the latest software update irons things out, especially if Musk foresees Teslas parking themselves without any guidance.
First published April 16.