Tesla has released an update in the US that allows Tesla owners to change the sound of their horn.
From now on there are options like a bleating goat, a fart, the tune of an ice cream truck or the Mexican folk song ‘La Cucaracha’. Furthermore, after the update, users can use the ’emmissions testing mode’ outside the car. The car thus produces fart noises. Users also have the option of adding up to five of their own sounds via USB, writes Teslarati, the platform for Tesla fans. It is not yet clear whether the update may also be applied in the Netherlands. Tesla must adhere to the rules of the European Union here, and they most likely do not allow such a change to the horn sound.
The so-called ‘Boombox’ feature is part of Tesla update 2020.48.26, which also adds three games that can be played when the vehicle is stationary. The Boombox function is available for cars that have an external speaker, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter. All Teslas produced since September 1, 2019 would have such a speaker.
In the description of the Boombox feature, Tesla states that users should “consult local laws first” before using the feature. In Europe, electric cars must produce a constant noise at low speeds for safety reasons. Teslas do that by means of the speaker that Musk is referring to. However, that sound must be a neutral sound or resemble a combustion engine. If the sound is not used continuously but instead of the horn, some sounds may be allowed.