Elon Musk entertained a flurry of Twitter requests over the weekend made by Tesla owners who asked for new vehicle features ranging from auto-closing sunroofs that can detect rain, to an easy-entry/exit function for Model S, Model X and Model 3 drivers. Both of which he agreed would be introduced in one of the upcoming over-the-air software updates.
However, Musk’s latest tweet goes beyond a confirmation on a feature intended for a single vehicle. Rather, Tesla is looking to leverage its data gathering expertise to create a cloud-based driver’s profile that can be accessed on any Tesla in the world.
We are going to move all info and settings to the "cloud" (aka server) so any Tesla you drive in the world automatically adjusts to you
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 20, 2017
“We are going to move all info and settings to the ‘cloud’ (aka servers) so any Tesla you drive in the world automatically adjusts to you” read the tweet from Musk.
The ability to store a Tesla driver’s settings in the cloud is akin to the “save this password” feature found on web browsers. Google and Apple have popularized this convenience feature by allowing users’s of the Chrome and Safari browser, respectively, to share their bookmarks, passwords and browsing history across browsers, regardless of which computer it’s being accessed from. Tesla is looking to do the same thing by allowing driver’s to share their seat, side mirror, steering wheel settings, and beyond, across all vehicle’s within the Tesla fleet. Presumably this feature would also extend to passengers especially as the company aims to roll out its Full Self-Driving Capability and implement an autonomous ride-sharing fleet known as the ‘Tesla Network’ that could bring radical change to the way we own cars.
As noted in the company’s Master Plan Part Deux,
“You will also be able to add your car to the Tesla shared fleet just by tapping a button on the Tesla phone app and have it generate income for you while you’re at work or on vacation, significantly offsetting and at times potentially exceeding the monthly loan or lease cost.
This dramatically lowers the true cost of ownership to the point where almost anyone could own a Tesla. Since most cars are only in use by their owner for 5% to 10% of the day, the fundamental economic utility of a true self-driving car is likely to be several times that of a car which is not.”
Having a shared profile agnostic of a rider’s ownership status – whether they’re a Tesla owner, renter of a Tesla, or passenger riding within the Tesla Network – allows the company to provide value-add services to its customers on a fleetwide basis, and all done through a seamless over-the-air software update.
