Tesla unveils 2026 Summer Update — Grok now handles calls, music and climate
Tesla published the full release notes for its 2026 Summer Update on X — Grok can now make phone calls, search and play music, and adjust the climate, while Caraoke gains a new scoring feature, the latest in a string of free OTA updates arriving one day before Tuesday's Q2 earnings call.
Tesla posted the complete release notes for its 2026 Summer Update on its official X account on July 21. The headline change is a major expansion of Hey Grok, the voice assistant introduced in the Spring Update.
Beyond navigation guidance, Grok can now place phone calls, search for and play music, adjust the climate control, open the glovebox, and answer questions about the car — all by voice, cutting down on touchscreen interaction while driving.
Caraoke, Tesla's in-car karaoke feature, now includes a scoring system that grades a driver's performance and saves high scores to their profile. Automatic Navigation was also upgraded to learn recurring destinations — like a school drop-off or the gym — beyond just home, work and calendar events, and now favors routes drivers have taken before.
The update also bundles mobile app improvements, custom vehicle wrap options, and enhanced parental controls. Landing one day before Tesla's July 22 Q2 earnings call, it's a reminder — amid concerns about slowing new-vehicle demand — of Tesla's ability to keep adding value to existing cars through software.
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