Gary Zhou 
Key Points
- 🚗 Tesla adds a new climate control feature called “Lower HVAC Fan Speed While on a Call.”
- 📞 The feature automatically lowers climate fans’ speed during phone calls to reduce ambient noise.
- 🎙️ The purpose is to enhance the call quality by minimizing background noise from the HVAC system.
- ⚙️ The feature was added to vehicles in the 2023.26 update along with other improvements like Backup Camera Repositioning and Pedestrian Warning System pause.
Tesla is introducing an innovative climate control feature designed to enhance the driver’s phone call experience.
Although not groundbreaking, as many other automakers have already implemented similar features, Tesla drivers will now have access to the “Lower HVAC Fan Speed While on a Call” function.
The feature is straightforward: during a phone call, the HVAC system will automatically lower the speed of the climate fans to reduce background noise, resulting in a clearer and higher-quality call for both parties.
Previously, drivers had to adjust the fan speed manually to avoid interference with their phone calls, but with this new feature, Tesla vehicles will handle it automatically, ensuring a more enjoyable and undisturbed conversation between callers.
Many other automakers have a similar feature in their vehicles, including Ford and General Motors.
Tesla writes in its updated Owner’s Manual (via Not a Tesla App):
“When in Auto, the fan speed may automatically lower to reduce the sound of ambient noise while on a call.”
The feature was added to vehicles in the 2023.26 update, which also includes Backup Camera Repositioning and Pedestrian Warning System pause.
Backup Camera Repositioning allows drivers to draft the camera feed to different positions using the touchscreen. And while Tesla added it to the Owner’s Manual, it is not available in the 2023.26 update.
Finally, the Pedestrian Warning System Pause allows drives to halt the activation of the warning noise that plays when the vehicle is traveling at less than 19 MPH or in reverse, which is useful for dense traffic situations.
The noisemaker was required on all EVs as a part of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141, which was passed in 2018.
