Tesla recently released Smart Summon (ASS) in Europe and the Middle East but the capability is not as advanced as in North America. This rollout is part of Tesla’s software update 2024.44.3 to make its self-driving abilities conform to strict local laws, especially the UNECE Regulation 79 Rev 5.
Tesla’s Actually Smart Summon Restricted in Europe
The UNECE regulation relates to safety, so as a result, the safety of the deployment of autonomous vehicle technologies is enhanced.
Regulatory Constraints
Under these rules, the functionality of Actually Smart Summon is severely restricted:
Proximity Requirement: In Europe, users should stay within arm’s reach of the vehicle when using the feature, preferably not more than 6 meters (19.5 feet). This is completely different from the situation in North America, where a driver can call the car, she or he is using from a distance of up to 213 ft (65 m).
Distance Limitations: As for the maximum distance that the vehicle can travel autonomously, this utilitarian limit is still less than joggling meters or 6 meters in Europe, while in North America it can reach up to 145 meters, or 475 feet.
These limitations heavily decrease the value of Actually Smart Summon in Europe, which is just an uninspiring feature compared to what it can offer in North America.
Tesla’s Much-Awaited ‘Actually Smart Summon’ Feature Or ASS Is Here
User Experiment and Functional requirement
In practice, the limited range and proximity requirements mean European Tesla owners might walk alongside their cars as they summon them. The gadget is mostly designed to be utilized in parking lots and driveways where close-quarter operation may be required without the occupant being in the car. In fact, with such short operational distances, quite a few users may not consider the feature useful and rather annoying.
🇪🇺 Tesla’s Actually Smart Summon (ASS) is restricted in Europe due to UNECE Regulation 79 Rev5 (2024.44.3+ update).
Here’s how it compares with North America, based on the owner’s manuals:
—— Max Range ——
🇺🇸 213 ft / 65 m
🇪🇺 20 ft / 6 m—— Max Distance Moved ——
🇺🇸 475 ft / 145… https://t.co/0eRLBMj0SP pic.twitter.com/enLYCsjvnF— Tesla Newswire (@TeslaNewswire) November 22, 2024
The design for Actually Smart Summon was initially launched with the idea that drivers could call their car to pick them up from a distance and save them the trouble of loading groceries or getting rained on. However, the current practice in Europe appears to be not much more than a curiosity rather than an effective, useful instrument. Several users may use it occasionally, just for the sake of showing its effectiveness to other people. Still, such additional functions may not be useful to the users and thus are left useless most of the time.
Future Prospects
However, the setbacks encountered in its previous version suggest that Smart Summon is a stepping stone for Tesla to introduce more advanced autonomous features to Europe, whose legislation is more pronounced than that of America. It should be noted that the company has been participating in efforts to lobby for a change in these regulations to grant more independence and capability.
This includes showcasing its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology to representatives from different transport regulatory bodies. The thinking is that as regulation changes, things like Actually, and Smart Summon will be able to do their job more freely and with fewer hiccups.
Comparison with North America
The variations in the European and North American versions of Actually Smart Summon present a larger pattern in implementing these self-governing auto developments worldwide. In North America, Tesla has implemented capabilities that few competitors can match and the FSD suite provides a range of useful features to many consumers. On the contrary, European regulations have led to the hepatization of potentially hazardous interfaces that may take time and effort to use but are generally safer than their quicker counterparts.
| Feature | North America | Europe |
| Max Range | 213 ft (65 m) | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Max Distance Moved | 475 ft (145 m) | 65 ft (20 m) |
| Proximity Requirement | No requirement | Must be within 6 m |
Proximity Requirement No requirement Proximity is limited to 6 metres the European and North American versions of Actually Smart Summon highlight a broader trend in how autonomous vehicle technologies are being adopted globally. In North America, Tesla has been able to push the boundaries of what is possible with its FSD suite, offering features that many users find genuinely useful. In contrast, European regulations have created a more cautious approach that prioritizes safety over convenience.
Conclusion
Tesla has finally unveiled Smart Summon in Europe, but like its predecessor, it is greatly restricted by regulatory rules on distance and utility. Lacking many of the tactile and higher level One-Pin features, as Tesla goes on grappling with these issues, the expectation is to wait for future software updates that will offer more enhanced features to meet user and regulatory requirements.
For now, European Tesla owners simply stand to receive a “much softer” version of what their compatriots in North America have at their disposal—that is, unless innovation begins overtaking regulation much more rapidly in the new world of auto-pilot vehicles.
