Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, which allows vehicles to autonomously navigate parking lots to pick up their owners, is set to receive upgrades that improve its performance in multi-level parking garages, CEO Elon Musk indicated. The enhancement is expected as part of the company’s upcoming Full Self-Driving (Supervised) version 14 (FSD v14) update.
The announcement came in response to a Tesla owner’s post on X (formerly Twitter), noting that while Smart Summon works well in surface parking lots, it struggles in multi-level structures. “Extreme first world problem but an altitude sensor would be incredible to add to Tesla for this purpose (and to make it possible to use FSD reliably in garages),” the owner wrote. Musk replied briefly, “Not for long.”
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Introduced in 2019, Smart Summon has steadily improved, but vehicles have had difficulty navigating ramps, recognizing floors, and maneuvering safely in areas with limited GPS, such as parking garages. Altitude detection or similar sensor improvements would help overcome these challenges and allow for more precise navigation.
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FSD v14, expected to launch soon, promises several new capabilities, including smoother driving with higher camera refresh rates, improved parking, and a transition from traditional Autopilot to an FSD-based “Autosteer.” Another potential feature is Banish, which would allow a vehicle to drop off the owner and autonomously drive away to park itself—a concept teased since FSD v12.
The updates mark one of the most significant enhancements to Smart Summon since its introduction, expanding its usefulness beyond open surface lots to more complex parking environments.