Tesla shouting: All info on the popular function

It is the first step towards autonomous driving: The Tesla looks for a parking space on its own, parks autonomously and returns to the driver at the touch of a button.

All this has already been possible for some time, albeit in a rudimentary form of course: the Tesla Summon and Tesla Smart Summon features and the Tesla Parking Assistant make parking easier for Tesla drivers and can also be used as a cool trick.

We show you what you need to know about the programs.

Tesla Summon Germany: Current situation

First of all, the "Summon" functions are currently disabled under certain circumstances and, according to Tesla, will be [re-]activated in "a future software update for vehicles manufactured from around October 2022".

As is so often the case with Tesla, there is a lot of uncertainty. Be that as it may, the function was already available and Tesla Summon was permitted in Germany - but with strict conditions regarding speed, functional radius and monitoring by the driver. In addition, the "Summon" functions and the parking assistant are currently only available to customers with the "Enhanced Autopilot" or "Full Self Driving" package.

Calling Tesla: How the individual features work

The semi-autonomous parking assistants are controlled via the Tesla app. However, there are a few things to bear in mind when activating or operating it. An overview.

Activate Tesla summon: Straight into the parking space

The Tesla Summon mode has been available since 2016. It can drive the vehicle in a straight line, forwards or backwards, into a parking space or a garage - and in Germany up to 12 meters. This comes in handy, for example, if the parking space is too narrow to get in and out properly or if the Tesla is standing in a large puddle after a rain shower.

Before use, the function must be activated and configured under Vehicle -> Autopilot -> Summon Customize. You can set a minimum distance that the car will keep to an obstacle, define the maximum driving distance and also add practical accessories such as a Home Link device (e.g. a Home Link device). B. automatic garage door) which is to be activated by the function.

If you now want to use the function and, for example, summon your Tesla Model Y, press "Summon" in the Tesla app and then press and hold the desired direction of travel. First make sure that there are no obstacles in this direction and that a valid key and the smartphone used for operation are in the immediate vicinity.

Control Tesla with your cell phone: The "Smart summon" function

A further development of the whole thing is the "Smart Summon" feature. Here, the Tesla can move either to the driver's smartphone or to a specified point, taking bends and avoiding obstacles. This works up to 20 meters and only if the driver is constantly within a 6-meter radius of the vehicle.

This is represented by a blue circle on the map in the Tesla app. For example, if you want to summon your Tesla Model 3 Smart, the feature is started and controlled in the same way as "Summon". Incidentally, you can stop your Tesla with both features by releasing the button or pressing a button on the Tesla key.

Tesla Park Seek

All these features are combined in the "Park Seek" function, also known as "Reverse Summon". This function is currently still a dream of the future, but should enable the driver to leave their Tesla at their destination, for it to find a parking space independently and return to the driver at the touch of a button.

Currently, however, the parking assistant can only recognize suitable parking spaces when driving past,  suggest them to the driver as a grey "P" on the display and park independently as long as the driver is still sitting in the vehicle.

Have you had the chance to use the summon functions? Write your experiences in the comments!