Tesla's 2025 Holiday Update, which began rolling out in early December, is lighter on headline features than previous years but packs several practical additions. The standout is Grok's expanded role — the AI assistant can now control navigation — alongside a fun Photobooth feature and a genuinely useful Dog Mode upgrade for iPhone users.
Grok Gets Navigation Powers
Grok, Tesla's xAI-powered assistant introduced in the 2025.38 update, now understands navigation commands. In Assistant mode, you can ask Grok to add or edit destinations, find nearby Superchargers, or look up restaurants along your route. It is a step toward hands-free trip planning, though the feature remains in beta and requires Premium Connectivity.
Photobooth and Dog Mode Live
The Photobooth turns the cabin camera into a selfie station with filters, stickers, and emoji overlays. Photos can be shared directly via the Tesla app. Access it through Toybox in the vehicle menu. Lighthearted, but likely popular at deliveries and meet-ups.
More practical is Dog Mode Live Activity. When Dog Mode is active, iPhone users now see a persistent lock screen widget showing periodic cabin snapshots, the current interior temperature, battery level, and climate status. No more walking back to the car to check — the widget updates roughly every minute.
Dashcam and Charging Improvements
Dashcam clips now embed telemetry data including vehicle speed, steering wheel angle, and self-driving state. For anyone who has needed dashcam footage for an insurance claim, this is a meaningful addition.
The new Charge Limit per Location feature lets you set different charge limits for home, work, and other frequent destinations. The vehicle remembers and applies them automatically, which simplifies the common practice of charging to 80% daily but 100% before a trip.
Navigation and Seasonal Fun
Supercharger site maps now render in 3D with live occupancy indicators, making it easier to plan stops on busy routes. Navigation favourites can be reordered and pinned, and the system suggests destinations based on driving habits.
On the festive side, Santa Mode returns with 3D snowmen and tree animations, and a new Light Show track called Jingle Rush can be scheduled up to ten minutes in advance. The SpaceX ISS Docking Simulator joins the Arcade menu for those who want to attempt orbital manoeuvres while waiting at a charger.
What Is Missing
Notably absent from this year's Holiday Update is any FSD progress for European vehicles, a Spotify HiFi integration many had hoped for, and native matrix headlight patterns for Model 3 and Y. Tesla appears to be reserving its bigger software moves for early 2026.