What You Need to Know About Tesla’s Custom Map Technology

Tesla built its own Linux-based system for the car’s infotainment. It doesn’t use CarPlay or Android Auto. The navigation is custom-made too. It’s designed to fit the car’s battery and energy needs.

Map Sources

For navigation, Tesla uses Google Maps in most places. In China, it switches to Baidu Maps. Some map info, like streets and voice directions, stays in the car. This data gets updated now and then. Tesla uses MapBox for routing. MapBox has been working on its navigation tech for over ten years.

How Routing Works

MapBox bought the Valhalla routing engine in 2018. Tesla uses it to figure out routes on its servers. It gives step-by-step directions and follows traffic rules. It also knows stuff like highway exits and time zones. Google Maps provides the basic map, but Tesla’s servers do the route planning.

You need Premium Connectivity for things like live traffic and satellite view. Without it, you still get traffic-smart routing, trip plans, and Supercharger info.

Updating Maps

Tesla pushes out map updates about twice a year. There’s no set time for it. If your maps are over a year old, connect to Wi-Fi to grab the latest one. Old maps can mess up features like Full Self-Driving (FSD).

The updates are big files. They take a while to download. Not every car gets them at once, they roll out in waves. Unlike software updates, map updates happen quietly in the background on Wi-Fi. You might not even notice.

What Changes in a Map Update

The car stores some map data, like streets, speed limits, and points of interest. Other stuff, like map visuals and routing steps, streams in when needed. If you turn on server-based routing under Controls > Navigation, Tesla’s servers take over the planning instead of the car.

Checking for Updates

To check your map version, tap Controls > Software on the touchscreen. Scroll to Navigation Data. You’ll see something like NA-2025.2-12345. The code shows the region (NA for North America, EU for Europe), the year, and the week it was made. The last five digits are the build number.

If an update’s waiting and you’re not on Wi-Fi, a download bar pops up. Connect to Wi-Fi at home, a Tesla Service Center, a Supercharger, or a public spot to get it.

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