Tesla pushes 2025.2.6 update in North America, activating the hidden millimeter-wave radar in Model Y

[PCauto] In February 2025, Tesla rolled out the 2025.2.6 software update for the 2022 and later Model Y vehicles in North America.

The core highlight of this update is the activation of the previously hidden millimeter-wave radar hardware in the Model Y's cabin. This radar, powered by Texas Instruments' AWR6843 chip, features 3 transmitting antennas and 4 receiving antennas, operating in the 60-64GHz frequency band, with a horizontal field of view of 120 degrees and a vertical field of view of 60 degrees.

Once activated, this millimeter-wave radar hardware can accurately detect the presence, number, and precise positions of passengers inside the vehicle. During driving, it can also monitor whether passengers have fastened their seatbelts. In the event of emergency braking or a collision, the radar can adjust the timing and force of airbag deployment based on the detected size of the passengers, maximizing their safety.

In terms of smart interaction, the millimeter-wave radar also brings a new experience. Users can control certain vehicle functions, such as adjusting volume or switching songs, through simple hand gestures. This feature allows drivers to perform these actions without taking their hands off the steering wheel, reducing distractions caused by manual operations on the central screen and enhancing both convenience and safety.

Additionally, the radar includes a theft-prevention feature. When the vehicle is parked, it continuously monitors the external environment. If it detects someone attempting to break a window to steal items from the car, it will immediately sound an alarm, providing strong protection for the owner's property and offering peace of mind.

From an industry perspective, Tesla's move could trigger a chain reaction. In the future, smart cabins may undergo a "millimeter-wave revolution," with more features to look forward to. For example, integrating biometric technology could enable heart rate monitoring, fatigue driving alerts, and other health management functions. It could also link with smart home systems, allowing in-car gesture control of home devices like lights and air conditioning. Moreover, millimeter-wave radar data could become a new basis for insurance pricing and shared mobility services.

However, the 2025.2.6 software update has also sparked some controversy and concerns. The first issue is privacy. The millimeter-wave radar can penetrate clothing to detect body posture, and although Tesla has stated that it will strictly protect user data, there is still a potential risk of data misuse.

In terms of cost, pre-installing this hardware undoubtedly increases vehicle production costs, and whether these costs will be passed on to consumers has sparked much debate. For example, the starting price of the refreshed Model Y has increased, but some features are being unlocked in phases. Additionally, the update is currently only available in North America, and users in other regions must wait for localized adaptations, which has caused some frustration among owners.

For Model Y owners outside North America, they will need to wait for localized adaptations, and Tesla has not yet announced a specific rollout timeline. However, if you want to experience this new feature, you can check for system updates, but note that your hardware version must be HW4.0 or above.