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Tesla Model 3 gets walked ‘like a pet’ in impressive advanced Summon demo

(Photo: Melinda VerMeer/YouTube)

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A group of Tesla owners was recently graced with a demo of what could very well be an upcoming improvement for Summon that has been hinted at by Elon Musk in the past. In the short demonstration, a Tesla Model 3 was shown following its operator around a parking lot like a pet, despite its operator changing locations multiple times.

A footage of the demo was recently shared on YouTube by Tesla owner Melinda VerMeer of the Portland Tesla Owners Club. The demo started off like other footage of Enhanced Summon, with the Model 3 taking itself out of a parking spot. After this, the vehicle headed to the location of its operator, who proceeded to move from one spot in the parking lot to the other. Impressively, the electric sedan performed necessary adjustments while it was being Summoned; backing up, avoiding a curb, and making rather complicated driving maneuvers on its own to “follow” its operator.

Seeing the feature in action, it is difficult to not relate the demo to Elon Musk’s mention of Summon improvements that will allow owners to walk their vehicles “like a pet.” Musk mentioned the feature on Twitter back in October. “Car will drive to your phone location & follow you like a pet if you hold down Summon button on Tesla app,” Musk wrote.

What is rather interesting about the recently captured footage is that the Model 3 seemed to react quickly whenever its operator moved around. Save for a strange maneuver that saw the Model 3 drive in reverse for a considerable distance to reach its operator, the improved Summon feature already seems quite refined and nearly ready for release.

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Elon Musk mentioned a number of improvements for Summon when he posted about the feature last year. Apart from giving electric car owners the capability to walk their vehicles like a pet, Musk also mentioned a “remote control mode” that will allow drivers to operate their vehicles like a giant RC car. Perhaps a demo of “remote control mode” would come soon after? One can hope.

The present iteration of Summon uses the electric cars’ Autopilot cameras instead of the ultrasonic sensors that were utilized in the feature’s initial iterations. This strategy follows Elon Musk’s stance on full self-driving technologies, which suggests that artificial intelligence and cameras could be used as a primary means to navigate. Using this system, Musk noted that in the near future, a Tesla electric car “should be able to drive around a parking lot, find an empty spot, read signs to confirm it’s valid & park.”

Tesla is currently starting the rollout of Enhanced Summon to the first batch of owners. The feature is being introduced together with no-stalk confirmation Navigate on Autopilot, which is currently listed by Tesla as part of its full self-driving suite. A wide release for Enhanced Summon and no-confirmation Navigate on Autopilot will likely transpire within the coming weeks, after the company addresses bugs and other issues that are reported by the first batch of owners who received the new features.

Watch the brief demo of Tesla’s advanced Summon in the video below.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai

The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.

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Credit: Grace Tao/Weibo

Tesla China sold 58,599 vehicles wholesale in February, reflecting strong year-over-year growth. The figure includes both domestic deliveries in China and vehicles exported to international markets.

The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.

Tesla’s February wholesale result represents a 91% increase year over year, compared with 30,688 vehicles in February 2025. Month over month, the result was down 15.2% from January, when Tesla China recorded 69,129 wholesale units.

The February total reflects combined sales of the Model 3 and Model Y produced at Gigafactory Shanghai. The facility produces the two vehicles for both domestic sales and exports.

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Gigafactory Shanghai continues to serve as Tesla’s primary vehicle export hub, supplying vehicles to markets across Asia and Europe. Data compiled by Tesla watchers shows that 18,485 vehicles were sold domestically in China in January 2026, while exports accounted for 50,644 units during the same period.

Tesla has also been extending financing programs in China as it pushes to strengthen domestic demand. The company recently extended its seven-year ultra-low-interest and five-year interest-free financing programs through March 31, marking the second extension of the promotion this year.

The financing initiative was first introduced on January 6 as a strategy aimed at offsetting higher ownership costs ahead of China’s planned 5% NEV purchase tax in 2026. The promotion was originally scheduled to expire at the end of January before being extended to February and then again through the end of the first quarter.

Tesla’s efforts come amid growing competition in China’s EV market. According to data compiled by CNEV Post, Tesla’s 2025 retail sales in China reached 625,698 vehicles, representing a 4.78% year-over-year decline. Part of that decline was linked to the Model Y changeover to its updated variant in early 2025, which temporarily reduced deliveries during the transition period.

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Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia

One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier. 

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Tesla’s upcoming Model Y L has been spotted on transport trucks in Australia. Sightings of the six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y variant have been reported on social media platform X by members of the Australian Tesla community.

One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier. 

The sighting follows earlier observations by Tesla enthusiasts in Sydney, where a covered vehicle believed to be a Model Y L was spotted at a Supercharger.

The Sydney sighting drew attention after observers noted that the vehicle’s tare weight appeared to match the ADR approval listing for the Model Y L, suggesting it could indeed be the extended wheelbase variant of the electric SUV.

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Tesla has previously confirmed that the Model Y L will launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2026. The confirmation was reported by techAU following a media release from Tesla Australia and New Zealand.

The Model Y L expands the existing Model Y lineup with seating for six passengers. The vehicle features a longer body compared with the standard Model Y in order to accommodate a spacious second and third row.

Tesla has opted for a 2-2-2 seating configuration instead of a traditional seven-seat layout for the Model Y L. The design includes two individual seats in the middle row to provide easier access to the third row and additional passenger space.

Tesla Australia and New Zealand has also stated that the Model Y L will be covered under the company’s updated warranty structure beginning in 2026.

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Tesla has not yet announced pricing or official range figures for the Model Y L in Australia.

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Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout

X Money is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.

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Credit: UK Government, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk has stated that X Money, the digital payments system being developed for social media platform X, is expected to enter early public access next month. 

The update was shared by Musk in a post on X. “𝕏 Money early public access will launch next month,” Musk wrote in his post.

As noted in a Reuters report, X Money is being developed as a digital payment service that’s directly integrated into the X platform. 

The system is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.

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Musk has previously discussed plans to introduce payments and financial services as part of X’s broader development.

Since acquiring the platform in 2022, Musk has discussed expanding X to include a range of services such as messaging, media, and financial tools.

Elon Musk has shared his goal of transforming X into an “everything app.” During a previous podcast interview with members of the Tesla community, Musk mused about turning X into something similar to China’s WeChat, which allows users to shop, pay, communicate, and perform a variety of other tasks.

“In China, you do everything in WeChat… it’s kickass… Outside of China, there’s nothing like it, people live on one app. My idea would be like how about if we just copy WeChat,” Musk joked at the time.

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To prepare for the rollout of X Money, X has partnered with payment company Visa to support the development of payment services for the platform’s users. The move could allow X to tap into the growing demand for digital and in-app financial transactions as the company builds additional services around its existing user base.

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