For years, Tesla owners juggled bags and groceries while fumbling for the app to open the trunk. Version 2024.14 solved this with a feature competitors had offered for a decade: walk up to the back of the car and the trunk opens by itself.
Co se změnilo
Hands-Free Trunk uses the Ultra-Wideband (UWB) chip in compatible iPhones to detect when the owner approaches the rear of the vehicle. When the phone is within range and positioned behind the car, the trunk lid opens automatically without any interaction. The feature requires iPhone 11 or later and Tesla app version 4.31.0 or newer.
The system uses UWB rather than Bluetooth for positioning accuracy. Bluetooth can detect proximity but not direction — it cannot distinguish between an owner walking past the car and one approaching the trunk. UWB provides centimetre-level positioning, ensuring the trunk only opens when the owner is actually at the rear.
Proč to bylo důležité
Hands-free trunk opening has been available on BMW, Volkswagen, and Hyundai vehicles for years, typically using a foot-kick gesture under the rear bumper. Tesla's late adoption was a common complaint, particularly from owners switching from European brands that had offered this convenience. The phone-proximity approach avoided the unreliability of kick sensors while delivering the same result.
The feature transformed the mundane act of loading groceries into a seamless experience. Arms full, walking toward the car, and the trunk rises to greet you. It is exactly the kind of small friction reduction that makes a vehicle feel genuinely smart rather than merely computerised.
Dopad na evropské majitele
Hands-Free Trunk launched globally in 2024.14 for Models S, 3, and X. The iPhone requirement initially limited Android users, though Tesla later extended the feature to Android devices in version 2025.2.
European owners who frequently use compact car parks found the feature especially practical. The trunk opens to a preset height, which can be adjusted to avoid hitting low garage ceilings — a consideration that Tesla addressed in 2025.14 with location-specific trunk height memory.
Kontext
Hands-Free Trunk arrived in the feature-packed 2024.14 update alongside Sentry Mode Preview, the Trip Progress Bar, and Better Route Available. The subsequent expansion to Android and the addition of Hands-Free Frunk opening in 2025.2 completed the hands-free access picture.