Tesla rolled out a new safety feature with the 2025.32.6 software update. The update brings 4D radar technology to select Model Y vehicles across Europe and other regions. This system helps prevent children from being left alone in cars.
The radar uses radio waves. It isn’t like seat sensors or cameras. It finds small movements like breathing and heartbeats. This works even if the child is covered by a blanket or inside a car seat. The radar sits above the rearview mirror, built into many Teslas for years before being activated recently. Tesla included this hardware in advance.
If a child is detected after the vehicle locks, the system reacts in about ten seconds. Red hazard lights blink outside. Alert tones play from speakers. The owner’s phone gets repeated push notifications. The climate control keeps the temperature safe. A song is played inside the car for the child. The system does not send any cabin data to Tesla servers. Everything runs within the car, protecting privacy.
Which vehicles get the system
The radar feature works if the car includes the right hardware. That includes the Model Y (2022 or newer), Model 3 (2024 or newer), Cybertruck, and Model S and X (2021 or newer). Tesla first launched the feature in software version 2025.14.12 in May 2025, but the recent update makes it available for more vehicles in the UK and parts of Europe. Owners can deactivate the feature by using the in-car menu under Controls > Safety > Child Left Alone Detection.
This radar system does more than spot small children. It can scan occupant size to make airbag deployment safer for people who are shorter. Airbags adjust automatically for a safer crash response. The system is expected to expand to call emergency services by itself if no one responds to alerts, and it can tell the difference between adults and kids to change its safety steps.
The move solves a known safety risk. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says, on average, 37 children die each year in the US due to heatstroke after being left in cars. Over the past 25 years, 1,000 children died, and 39 died in 2024. By September 2025, 28 children had already lost their lives in hot vehicles in the US. Tesla’s radar may help lower these tragedies by quickly alerting caregivers.
The broader release in Europe follows a new rule by Euro NCAP. Starting in 2025, child detection systems affect safety ratings. Tesla now moves ahead by expanding availability, supporting higher safety standards around the world.
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