Tesla 2025.8.x Update: Siren Detection

【PCauto】Recently, Tesla has been revealed to possibly introduce a new feature to the vehicle, called emergency vehicle siren detection , which is expected to be rolled out via the 2025.8.x software update. This feature aims to enhance drivers' awareness of emergency vehicles through technological methods, thereby reducing safety risks caused by in-vehicle environmental interference.

When the vehicle detects the siren of nearby emergency vehicles (such as ambulances, fire trucks, or police cars), the system will automatically lower the volume of the in-vehicle media and display a pop-up alert on the central touchscreen.This design can solve the potential danger that the driver may not hear external siren due to high volume of music or call.

The feature of emergency vehicle siren detection can be achieved through the collaboration of in-car microphones and cameras: the microphone captures the unique sound characteristics of the siren, while the camera assists in identifying the flashing lights of emergency vehicles. Although only the new Model Y is equipped with a multiple microphone array, Tesla has optimized the algorithm to achieve high detection accuracy for single microphone models. All sound data is stored locally in the vehicle and will not be uploaded to an external server without user authorization.

Cities in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia are known for their high-density traffic and complex road conditions. For example, in Bangkok, the traffic congestion index often ranks among the highest in the world, with emergency vehicles' average passage time far exceeding international standards. In Kuala Lumpur, ambulance's delayed emergency response due to traffic congestion has become a major concern.

Despite the practicality of the feature of emergency vehicle siren detection, its microphone noise-cancellation and camera interference resistance still require validation under Southeast Asia's humid tropical climate and chaotic urban sound environments.