Smart Summon Could Gain More Range in Europe
Tesla’s Actually Smart Summon could become usable over a significantly greater distance in Europe. A proposed amendment to UN Regulation No. 79 would increase the permitted range for remote-controlled parking from the current 6 meters to as much as 15 meters.
The feature arrived in Europe with software version 2024.44.3, but is heavily restricted here by regulatory requirements. Drivers of a compatible Tesla Model Y or another supported Tesla currently have to remain very close to the vehicle.
A maximum range of 15 meters would not suddenly make Smart Summon autonomous, but it would make the feature considerably more useful in everyday life.
How the Range Could Change
The draft distinguishes between general use and situations where the user has a direct line of sight. Without any additional requirement, a range of up to 10 meters would be permitted. If the user can see the vehicle directly, the proposed maximum increases to 15 meters.
| Regulation or Region | Maximum Distance | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Europe currently | 6 meters | Supervised use |
| Europe under the draft | 10 meters | General use |
| Europe under the draft | 15 meters | Direct line of sight |
| North America | around 65 meters | No comparable fixed distance limit |
In the best-case scenario, this would increase the European operating range by two and a half times. That would remain well below the roughly 65 meters Tesla can offer in North America, but it would represent meaningful progress for tight parking lots and larger parking areas.
Why Greater Distance Could Even Be Safer
The reasoning behind the proposed change may initially sound unusual: Greater range is intended to improve safety. Anyone required to remain no more than 6 meters away may be very close to the moving vehicle and may not always have the best view of its entire surroundings.
Standing slightly farther away often provides a better overview of the situation in a parking lot. Direct visibility of the vehicle → obstacles, other cars, and people crossing its path can be spotted sooner. This is precisely why the greater maximum distance of 15 meters would be tied to an unobstructed line of sight.
Smart Summon would nevertheless remain a supervised driver-assistance feature. The user would continue to bear responsibility and must be able to intervene at any time. The regulatory change would therefore not mark a step toward fully driverless operation.
The Change Has Not Yet Been Approved
The responsible United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) bodies are currently reviewing the proposal. UN Regulation No. 79 affects vehicle approval in Europe and other markets, meaning that a change would not apply only to Tesla. Other manufacturers could also offer remote-parking features with a greater range.
The content of the draft may still change before final approval. The new requirements would then have to take regulatory effect and be implemented by Tesla in the relevant software. An automatic increase to 15 meters immediately after a decision is therefore not guaranteed.
An Over-the-Air Update Should Be Technically Sufficient
Because the European restriction is primarily regulatory, Tesla could likely enable the greater operating range through an over-the-air (OTA) update. A workshop visit would probably not be necessary for vehicles that are already compatible. However, Tesla would have to adapt the software to the final conditions and individual markets.
The development fits Tesla’s strategy of regularly upgrading existing vehicles through software. Smart Summon should be distinguished from more advanced features related to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) development: This involves a slow, supervised maneuver in a controlled area, not autonomous driving in normal road traffic.
What the New Limit Would Mean in Everyday Use
Six meters is often only enough to move a car out of a tight parking space. With 10 or 15 meters, however, Smart Summon could actually cover part of a parking lot, provided the surroundings are suitable and the vehicle remains visible at all times.
The gap with North America would remain substantial, but the feature would feel far less like a demonstration curtailed by regulations in Europe. The key questions now are whether the draft will be adopted and when the new limit may be used in practice in the affected markets.
