Tesla’s Automations Feature Is Ready for Launch, Hidden Behind a Flag
The feature, initially exclusive to China, now appears in English firmware but remains disabled until a potential Holiday Update.
Tesla’s Automations feature appears fully integrated into the latest firmware revisions for international markets but remains hidden behind a feature flag, signaling an imminent rollout outside of China.
What Happened
Maciej Wilczyński, a developer known for Tesla Android projects, shared video evidence showing the Automations app running in English on Tesla vehicles. With assistance from community member @CoilShift, Wilczyński enabled the feature flag to reveal the interface in its stock condition. Michał Gapiński, who works with Wilczyński, also activated the feature on a separate vehicle and compared the user experience to the first version of Apple Shortcuts on iOS. The feature originally launched for Tesla owners in China earlier this year, but its presence in English-language firmware suggests preparation for a broader release.
Why It Matters
Automations allows owners to create custom rules using "If This, Then That" logic, similar to Apple Shortcuts or Android’s Tasker. Users can define triggers such as seatbelt status, door states, location arrivals, or voice commands, and pair them with actions like adjusting climate settings, media volume, or window locks. For example, one demonstrated automation sets the media volume when a specific seatbelt is buckled while another is unbuckled, while another enables child locks via voice command. Current limitations include the requirement that the center display be active for automations to run, and they cannot be triggered while Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD) is engaged. Actions that directly control FSD are also unavailable, though the source notes this may change with the integration of Grok.
The Bottom Line
With the feature translated and hidden only behind a flag, Automations is considered a strong candidate for Tesla’s upcoming Holiday Update, the company’s largest annual software release. This update may also include Apple CarPlay, which has been in development with Apple but was absent from last year’s release.
