Do you ever find yourself in a tight parking spot, wishing your Tesla could just magically maneuver itself out? Or perhaps you're across a vast parking lot on a rainy day, dreaming of your car pulling up right to you? Well, with Tesla Smart Summon, that dream can become a reality! This incredible feature, part of Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capabilities, allows your car to navigate complex parking environments and come to your location with just a few taps on your phone.
However, it's crucial to remember that Smart Summon is an assistive tool designed for private property like parking lots and driveways. It's still in "beta," meaning it's continuously being refined, and you, the driver, are always responsible for monitoring the vehicle and its surroundings. Let's dive into how you can master this futuristic feature!
Step 1: Prepare for Smart Summon – The Foundation for Success
Before you even think about summoning your Tesla, a little preparation goes a long way. Think of it as setting the stage for a flawless performance!
a. Vehicle and App Readiness
First things first, ensure your Tesla and your smartphone are ready for action.
Latest Tesla Mobile App: Make sure you have the latest version of the Tesla mobile app installed on your phone. Outdated apps can lead to connectivity issues.
Strong Phone Connectivity: Your phone needs cellular service and GPS enabled for Smart Summon to work. Without a stable connection, the feature can be unreliable or even abort.
Bluetooth Connection: Your phone must be paired to your Tesla via Bluetooth. This is crucial for the communication between your device and the vehicle.
Calibrated Cameras: Tesla's Smart Summon heavily relies on its cameras for perception and navigation. Ensure your vehicle's cameras are fully calibrated. If they're not, you might see a warning on your car's screen or within the app. Sometimes, a short drive can help recalibrate them.
Clean Cameras and Sensors: Just like your own eyes, your Tesla's cameras and sensors need to be spotless. Dirt, mud, snow, or even heavy rain can obstruct their view and severely impact performance. Give them a quick wipe-down before using Smart Summon.
Vehicle in Park, Not Charging: Your Tesla must be in Park (P) and not actively charging. All doors and trunks should be securely closed.
Adequate Tire Pressure: Believe it or not, proper tire pressure can affect how well your car maneuvers. Ensure all four tire pressures are 34 PSI or higher, as reported by the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
b. Understand the Environment
Smart Summon isn't designed for public roads or unpredictable environments.
Private Property Only: Smart Summon is only intended for use on parking lots and driveways located on private property where the surrounding area is familiar and predictable. Do NOT use it on public roads.
Paved Surfaces: The feature works best on paved surfaces. Uneven terrain, steep slopes (greater than 20% grade), or unpaved paths can cause the system to malfunction or abort.
Clear Line of Sight: You must maintain a clear line of sight between yourself and your Tesla at all times. This isn't just a recommendation; it's a critical safety requirement. You need to be able to see your car and its path to react immediately if needed.
Be Aware of Obstacles: While Smart Summon is designed to navigate around obstacles like other cars, shopping carts, and pedestrians, it may not stop for all objects, especially very low objects (like some curbs) or very high objects (like a shelf). It also might not react to all oncoming or side traffic.
Step 2: Initiating Smart Summon – Bringing Your Tesla to Life
Once your preparations are complete, you're ready to initiate Smart Summon!
a. Opening the Tesla Mobile App
Open the Tesla mobile app on your smartphone.
Tap the "Summon" icon. This usually appears on the main screen of your car's overview in the app.
Press the "Smart Summon" icon. It's typically located in the center of the image of your Tesla within the app. There might be a slight delay (a few seconds) as Smart Summon starts up. If you use "Standby Mode" in your vehicle settings, this delay can be eliminated.
b. Understanding the Smart Summon Map
Once Smart Summon is active, the mobile app will display a map with important visual cues:
Blue Circle: This represents the maximum proximity you must maintain between your phone and your Tesla. For most regions, this is around 65-85 meters (200-279 feet). If you exceed this distance, Smart Summon will cancel.
Blue Dot: This indicates your current location on the map.
Red Arrow: This represents your vehicle's current location and its orientation.
c. Positioning Yourself
Position yourself anywhere within the blue circle where you have a clear line of sight to your Tesla. Remember, constant visual monitoring is key.
Step 3: Operating Smart Summon – Guiding Your Car
Now comes the exciting part: telling your Tesla where to go! Smart Summon offers two primary modes: "Come to Me" and "Go to Target."
a. Come to Me Mode
This mode is perfect for when you want your car to simply drive to your current location.
Press and hold the "Come to Me" button on the mobile app.
Your Tesla will immediately flash its hazard lights briefly and fold its mirrors (if equipped), then shift into Drive or Reverse.
It will then slowly move towards your phone's GPS location, navigating around detected obstacles as needed.
As you move, your Tesla will attempt to follow you.
When your Tesla reaches your location (within approximately 1 meter), it will stop and automatically shift into Park.
b. Go to Target Mode
This mode allows you to specify a precise destination for your Tesla within the Smart Summon range.
Touch the crosshair icon on the map in the mobile app.
Drag the map to position the pin on your desired destination. The app will display a proposed path your Tesla will take.
Press and hold the "Go to Target" button.
Your Tesla will flash its hazard lights, fold its mirrors, and then slowly move towards the chosen destination, navigating obstacles.
When it reaches the specified location, your Tesla will stop and shift into Park, and the mobile app will confirm that Summon has completed.
To change the destination during a session: Simply lift your finger, reposition the map pin, and press and hold "Go to Target" again.
c. Stopping Smart Summon
You are always in control. To stop your Tesla at any time during a Smart Summon session, simply release the "Come to Me" or "Go to Target" button on the mobile app. There might be a slight delay, so always anticipate when you need the car to stop.
Step 4: Important Considerations and Limitations – Drive Smart, Summon Smart
While Smart Summon is a marvel of engineering, it's not a "set it and forget it" feature. Understanding its limitations is crucial for safe and effective use.
a. Safety First!
Continuous Monitoring is ESSENTIAL: You must continually monitor your vehicle and its surroundings and stay prepared to take immediate action at all times.
Unpredictable Environments: Use extreme caution in environments where the movement of obstacles can be unpredictable, such as areas with many people, children, or animals.
Obstacle Detection Limitations: Smart Summon may not detect all obstacles, particularly those that are very low or very high, or react to all traffic scenarios.
No Public Road Use: As reiterated, never use Smart Summon on public roads. It is designed for private property.
b. Conditions Affecting Performance
Signal Strength: Poor cellular coverage or weak GPS data can significantly impair or abort Smart Summon sessions. Underground parking garages and mountainous areas are often problematic.
Weather Conditions: Heavy rain, snow, fog, or extremely hot or cold temperatures can interfere with camera and sensor operation, leading to reduced performance or cancellation.
Vehicle Accessories: Accessories like roof racks, trailer hitches, or body kits can affect the vehicle's ability to navigate accurately, as Smart Summon may not account for their extended dimensions.
Slopes: Summon is designed for flat or gently sloped roads (up to 20% grade). On grades higher than 10%, speed is limited, and it may not operate effectively above 20%.
c. What Causes Smart Summon to Cancel?
Smart Summon will automatically cancel, requiring you to restart it, if:
You release the button on the mobile app.
The maximum proximity between your phone and your Tesla is exceeded (you're too far away).
The driving path is blocked by an unyielding obstacle.
A door handle is engaged or a door is opened.
You interact with the steering wheel, brake pedal, accelerator pedal, or shift lever.
Your Tesla has moved the maximum allowable distance (currently around 145-150 meters, or 279 feet in some regions).
Your phone enters sleep mode or loses connectivity to your Tesla.
d. Standby Mode
To reduce the startup delay for Smart Summon, you can enable "Standby Mode" in your Tesla's settings. However, be aware that this consumes additional battery energy. You can configure Standby Mode to be disabled at specific locations (Home, Work, or Favorites) to conserve energy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to prepare my Tesla for Smart Summon?
Ensure your Tesla's cameras are calibrated and clean, it's in Park, not charging, all doors are closed, and your phone has the latest Tesla app, strong cellular/GPS, and is paired via Bluetooth.
How to start Smart Summon on the Tesla app?
Open the Tesla mobile app, tap "Summon," then press the "Smart Summon" icon in the center of your car's image.
How to use "Come to Me" mode in Smart Summon?
Once Smart Summon is active in the app, simply press and hold the "Come to Me" button. Your Tesla will drive to your GPS location.
How to use "Go to Target" mode in Smart Summon?
In the Smart Summon map, touch the crosshair icon, drag the map to set a pin for your destination, then press and hold the "Go to Target" button.
How to stop Tesla Smart Summon during operation?
To stop your Tesla at any time, simply release the "Come to Me" or "Go to Target" button on your mobile app.
How to ensure safety while using Smart Summon?
Always maintain a clear line of sight to your vehicle, continuously monitor its surroundings, and be prepared to take immediate action by releasing the button.
How to troubleshoot Smart Summon connectivity issues?
Check your phone's cellular and GPS signal, ensure the Tesla app is updated, and confirm your phone is connected to the car via Bluetooth.
How to understand the range limitations of Smart Summon?
You must remain within approximately 65-85 meters (200-279 feet) of your Tesla, and the car can travel a maximum distance of around 145-150 meters during a single session.
How to avoid Smart Summon cancellation?
Maintain continuous connection, stay within range, ensure a clear path for the vehicle, and avoid interacting with the car's physical controls during a session.
How to differentiate Smart Summon from regular Summon?
Regular "Summon" moves the car straight forward or backward. "Smart Summon" (also known as "Actually Smart Summon") can navigate around corners and obstacles to come to your location or a set target.
Learn more about using Smart Summon effectively by watching this video:
