How to Activate Tesla's Automatic Parking?

[OJulian]

Tesla's automatic parking activation method is: When the vehicle passes a parking space, a 'P' icon appears on the screen, indicating that the vehicle has made a valid recognition. At this point, shift the vehicle into reverse gear, press the brake pedal, and click the pop-up blue 'Start Parking' button to initiate automatic parking. Remove both hands from the steering wheel and release the brake pedal, and the automatic parking will begin. Taking the 2021 Model X as an example, it belongs to the mid-to-large SUV category with body dimensions of: length 5037mm, width 2070mm, height 1684mm, and a wheelbase of 2965mm. The curb weight is 2352kg. The 2021 Model X features a front double-wishbone independent suspension and a rear multi-link independent suspension. It is equipped with a front permanent magnet synchronous motor and a rear AC asynchronous motor, with a combined motor power of 493kW, paired with a single-speed fixed gear ratio transmission.

[DeCharlie]

I've been using my Tesla Model 3 for commuting for almost two years now, and the Autopark feature is something I use daily. Activating it is actually super simple: while driving, the system automatically scans for parking spots. When it detects a suitable space, a blue P icon appears on the dashboard. At this point, you just need to stop, shift gears (e.g., shift to R for reverse parking), and then press and hold the start button on the center screen without letting go. A special reminder for beginners: once you release the steering wheel and brake, the car will start moving on its own—don't panic. Note that the vehicle speed must be below 24 km/h, and the distance to surrounding obstacles shouldn't be too close. After getting familiar with it, I often use it in tight shopping mall underground garages, and it's even steadier than when I reverse myself. It's especially useful when I'm tired after working late and heading home.

[LeSimon]

As a tech enthusiast, I've tested Tesla's Autopark across all versions. The key to activating the latest system is ensuring basic functions work properly: drive 50 meters with Autopilot engaged for calibration, slow below 15 km/h when spotting a parking space, shift to reverse immediately when the P icon appears on the touchscreen, then long-press the activation button. Pro tip - keep the front bumper ultrasonic sensors clean; mine once failed due to mud splashes. From my experience, parallel parking has higher success rates now. For perpendicular parking, choose spacious spots and never open doors during path calculation - it triggers automatic cancellation. This feature is perfect for novice drivers to develop spatial awareness, proving more patient than any driving instructor.

[GeorgeLee]

Last week, I just helped my wife set up the auto-parking feature for her Model Y. The process is actually foolproof: first, enable Autopilot cruise control, slowly pass by a parking space until the P symbol appears on the dashboard, then stop and hold the brake to shift gears. At this point, a start button icon pops up on the screen. Here's the key—press and hold the icon for 3 seconds, just like taking a screenshot on a phone. Remember to check if the front and rear radars are obstructed before each use. My neighbor once failed the recognition because he had a bike rack attached to the trunk. The success rate is slightly lower on rainy days; if there's standing water, manual parking is recommended. The smartest part of Tesla's design is that it automatically avoids fire hydrants and low stone barriers. Last time at the mall, it detected a road post I hadn’t noticed.

[MicahFitz]

All three cars in our household have automatic parking, but Tesla's is the most considerate. In actual operation, you don't need to press any physical buttons: when the vehicle detects a standard parking space, it will vibrate the steering wheel as a prompt, and a blue parking symbol will appear on the central display. At this point, you don't need to shift gears—just come to a stop by pressing the brake, then tap the start option on the screen. Note that it has precise space requirements: the parking space must be at least 1.2 times longer than the car, making supermarket parking lots with clear ground markings the most suitable. Once, during snowfall when the markings were covered, it refused to work. I use it most often when picking up my child from school—automatic parking saves about three minutes when spaces are tight near the school gate, and the system's automatic pedestrian avoidance is particularly reassuring.