Tesla Summon launches in Australia so your car can finally park itself
Ever bashed your car door trying to get out in a tight spot? Tesla has the answer, if you can afford the car, of course.
Over the weekend, Tesla announced its latest software update, version 7.1.1, was being digitally delivered to Australian Model S drivers.
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The update, launched on Jan. 10, includes a new Summon feature that lets drivers park their car from outside the vehicle using Tesla's mobile app.
According to Tesla, drivers will first need to enable the Summon feature in the car's controls. Once activated, drivers should align their car with a parking space at a range of less than 10 metres. They can either direct it to drive forward or reverse into the spot. The car will move until its sensors detect an obstacle, such as the wall, and then put itself into park. It can then get out of the space in the same fashion.
Don't believe it? Here's a guy using Summon with his Apple Watch via a third-party app called Remote S for Tesla -- not a method officially endorsed by Tesla.
The car's not ready for a hands-off parking free for all, however. The company emphasises the feature is still in beta and should only be used on flat driveways in familiar parking spaces, such as the home garage.
In other words, don't try showing this feature off at the local mall.
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Ariel Bogle was an associate editor with Mashable in Australia covering technology. Previously, Ariel was associate editor at Future Tense in Washington DC, an editorial initiative between Slate and New America.
