Tesla CEO Elon Musk has unveiled plans for a new “tap to park” feature that will allow Tesla vehicles to autonomously identify and park in suitable parking spaces. Musk shared that Tesla’s engineers are actively developing this feature, which utilizes the car’s Tesla Vision cameras and autonomous driving software to identify available parking spots.
The envisioned process involves the Tesla car presenting the driver with a selection of potential parking spots to choose from. After making a selection, the driver can exit the vehicle, and the Tesla will autonomously park itself in the chosen spot. Musk’s description of the feature mirrors aspects of the previously rumored “Reverse Summon” capabilities.
In addition to the newly disclosed “tap to park” option, Reverse Summon, which may potentially be named Smart Parking or Self-Parking in alignment with Full Self-Driving Beta, was initially reported to offer various parking choices.
True.
We are working on a feature where the car identifies probable viable parking spaces. You tap on one, exit the vehicle and it parks there.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 8, 2023
These include “closest to the door,” guiding the car to the entrance of a building for convenience; “near cart returns,” directing the car to an optimal spot in crowded areas like shopping center parking lots; and “end of the parking lot,” instructing the car to park far from other vehicles to minimize the risk of dings and scratches.
While the release date for the comprehensive Reverse Summon feature remains uncertain, speculation points to a potential unveiling in the upcoming Full Self-Driving (FSD) v12 update.
It is anticipated that the self-parking options, including the newly revealed “tap to park” functionality, may undergo an extended beta testing period. Tesla owners can anticipate enhanced autonomy and convenience with these upcoming parking features, offering a glimpse into the continued evolution of Tesla’s autonomous driving capabilities.
