How to Use Tesla's Summon Feature?
4 Answers
Tesla's summon feature can be used as follows: 1. Press the front button twice consecutively to open the vehicle's trunk and frunk; 2. Press the middle button twice consecutively to open the vehicle's doors, causing the door handles to pop out; 3. Press the rear button twice to open the vehicle's frunk. Taking the Tesla Model Y 2021 Long Range Dual Motor AWD version as an example: It is a 5-door, 5-seater SUV with dimensions of 4750mm in length, 1921mm in width, and 1624mm in height, a wheelbase of 2890mm, a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, an electric all-wheel-drive configuration, and electric power steering.
I often teach newcomers in the Tesla owner group how to use the Summon feature. Open the mobile app, select Summon from the bottom menu, and you'll see three modes: Basic Summon for straight-line forward/backward movement is perfect for tight parking spots. Smart Summon is the coolest—just draw a path on the map to have the car drive to the designated point, but it only works within 60 meters. Key point: Always set the Summon distance limit first, especially in underground parking garages where it should be adjusted to within 3 meters for safety. Remember to update to the latest app version to access all features—last time I helped a friend test it, the old version couldn’t enable perpendicular parking. It’s super convenient on rainy days; summon the car to the building entrance before heading out, and you won’t even need to open your umbrella.
Last week, I tested the summon function at the mall, and the process was actually super simple. Using the physical key is even more straightforward: just long-press the logo on the roof to activate it. Press the front hood area to move the vehicle forward, and press the trunk button to reverse. However, I highly recommend using Bluetooth to connect with your phone for operation. The control interface in the app displays real-time distance. Key reminder: Before enabling the function, make sure the vehicle is in an open area with at least 1.5 meters of clearance from surrounding obstacles. A personal lesson learned—even a small step on the ground can trigger emergency braking, but thankfully, the brakes were very responsive. Now, I even have the car reverse from the garage to the courtyard gate by itself when picking up packages—it feels incredibly futuristic.
The bittersweet history of exploring the summon function when I first got the car: First, enable the custom summon mode in the settings on the central control screen. Beginners are advised to choose the cautious mode. Actual tests show a delay of about 0.5 seconds when operating via the app, especially during remote startup. Keep the Bluetooth stable when using the phone; I once lost connection in the underground second floor. Be cautious about using summon when there's water accumulation on the roof on rainy days, as the windows were covered in water droplets when the car returned. The biggest surprise was that it automatically pauses when detecting obstacles. Last time, a dog suddenly ran across the lane, and the car stopped immediately, much faster than a human reaction. Remember, the speed is only 6 km/h, so don't expect it to arrive quickly.
