Tesla cars have gained much hype for their automatic parking systems. Gaining popularity, others brands have also started copying this feature. You might be familiar with the videos of Tesla cars finding a suitable space to park in large parking lots. But if you think your Tesla will do the same in your garage, you are missing some key points.
Well, can a Tesla park itself in a garage? A Tesla can park itself in a garage using the summon feature. However, the feature is not completely autonomous. It demands constant user input since the sensors attached to the car might not be able to detect certain obstacles.
How to Park a Tesla in a Garage Itself?
Summon mode in Tesla cars allows them to get into and out of a garage on their own. Drivers can engage the summon mode remotely to start their Tesla, open the garage door, pull the car in, close it, and turn it off.
Before beginning with the summon mode, you need to customize it according to your preference. In the touch screen panel of your car, hit controls, navigate to Autopilot, and select Customize Summon. Adjust the following parameters:
- Bumper Clearance: This is the distance between the front or the rear bumper of your Tesla and the wall of the garage. Your car will leave this space in the garage.
- Summon Distance: The maximum possible distance your car will travel while entering the garage.
- Side Clearance: It is the allowance you grant your car to leave the space between it and the sidewalls of the garage.
- HomeLink: If enabled, this option will automatically open and close your garage door.
Once configured, follow the steps given below:
- Align the car with the parking spot/garage.
- Get out of the car and stand about 12 meters within the range of your car.
- Press and hold the ‘roof’ button on the fob. The hazard lights will flash continuously.
- Press the ‘bonnet’ or the ‘trunk’ key to move the car forward or backward into the garage.
- Open the garage door yourself if you have not enabled the HomeLink option.
- Observe the parking session. By pressing the’ roof’ key, you can stop your Tesla if something unfortunate occurs.
| Fact!
Upon engaging the Summon feature in Tesla vehicles, the mirrors automatically retract to avoid collision with narrow entry points in a garage. |
But There Are Some Limitations…
- The mode is designed only for a flat surface.
- Owners need to stand within 12 meters of the car.
- Dirty or damaged cameras hinder the parking process.
- Extreme weather conditions, such as snow and fog, can interfere with the sensors.
- Owners need to keep an eye on their cars continuously since some obstacles, such as bicycles, cannot be detected by the car.
Do All Tesla Models Have Self-Parking Features?
Yes. Since all Tesla models are equipped with the Summon feature, they can park on their own. However, older models might not incorporate this feature. Moreover, as per the clarification by the company itself, depending on the market’s region, the vehicle’s configuration, additional options purchased, and the version of the software, some cars might not be equipped with the Summon feature. Even if the feature is there, it might not be able to perform as required.
Can a Tesla Park Itself in a Garage Using the Autopark Function?
Tesla Autopark function does not help park your car in a garage because it is fundamentally different from the Summon function. Precisely, the Autopark function is designed to simplify parking the car on public roads, either parallel or perpendicular.
The Autopark system has some set parameters to navigate the car in and out of the parking spot. For instance, parking space must be at least 2.2 meters wide. Similarly, it takes the help of markings and curbs on the road to judge the distance and adjustment required. Since garages are highly unlikely to have such markings and curbs, the Autopark feature might not perform there.
Moreover, as in the case of the Summon feature, Autopark might also not be available in certain regions and with some versions. Likewise, this system also has some limitations.
How to Park a Tesla Using the Autopark Function?
Let us say that your garage fulfills the parking parameters for the Tesla Autopark. In that case, follow the steps given below:
- Drive past the garage at a slow speed. Your Tesla will detect the empty spot in the garage, and the instrument cluster will show it marked with “P”.
- Stop right there. Put the car in reverse and press Ok on the screen when it asks to enable the Autopark function.
- Your car will reverse and adjust itself to get into the garage, and the instrument cluster will show the message “Autopark in progress…” However, note that your car might also go in the opposite direction to align with the parking spot perfectly. It is normal. Your car is fine, and you should not disengage the Autopark function in such situations.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Self-Parking in Tesla Cars?
Pros
- The feature is very helpful when parking your car in narrow garages. Sometimes, the parking space is too narrow that getting out of your car after stopping it becomes a challenge. You might get out of the car, but you will risk the paint on the door as it will likely hit the sidewall. Similarly, if you are not a good driver, you might have bumps in your car while parking in a narrow garage.
- The self-parking feature is also very helpful in getting the car out of the garage. It saves your energy to walk up to your car. Similarly, with the help of the Smart Summon feature, you can call your car to the picking spot using the Tesla app. This is especially helpful for walking up to the garage when the weather is too severe, say it is raining heavily.
Cons
- Using the self-parking feature is suitable only if you are not in a hurry. It is a slow function and takes a while before the car adjusts and gets into the parking spot. On the other hand, it is far quicker if a driver parks the car manually.
- Due to some limitations, owners still need to monitor their cars when the self-parking functions are in progress.
Read: Can a Tesla Pull a Plane? A Surprising Yes!
Concluding Remarks: Can a Tesla Park Itself in a Garage?
Yes, Tesla cars can park in a garage, but some caveats are attached: the user needs to be engaged with the parking process through the fob or the smartphone. The car will not automatically park the way it does in a parking lot when it comes to a garage.
But Tesla is coming up with some great changes. Smart Summon has introduced the “find you” feature: Put your location, and your car will come to your doorstep to pick you up. Elon Musk has also promised the Smarter Summon feature that will help Tesla car pick up the user even if she or he is in another city! Self-parking in a garage will not be an issue sooner—we hope!
