--- title: "Elon Musk: Regulators Approved Tesla “Remote Control” Feature" description: "In a tweet on Tuesday, Elon Musk revealed that \"regulators\" approved Tesla's Advanced Summon feature, and that the feature is \"almost ready.\"" date: "2019-01-24" modified: "2019-01-24" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/elon-musk-regulators-approved-tesla-remote-control-feature" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "Tesla" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "autopilot" - "elon musk" - "tesla" - "tesla autopilot" --- # Elon Musk: Regulators Approved Tesla “Remote Control” Feature ![]() *\Image: Tesla/Victor Tangermann\* ## Advanced Summon Some Teslas can change lanes, make turns, and steer by themselves. And soon you might be able to steer them from afar, like giant remote control (RC) car. In a Tuesday tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that "regulators" had approved Tesla's Advanced Summon feature, and that the feature is "almost ready." The news comes after Musk complained in a [Jan. 10 tweet]() that he was "getting some regulatory pushback" for the idea. "You’ll be able to drive \[your Tesla\] from your phone remotely like a big RC car if in line of sight," Musk promised in [a tweet]() back in November. "By next year, a Tesla should be able to drive around a parking lot, find an empty spot, read signs to confirm it’s valid and park," he [added in December](). https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1087861594892029953 ## Ghostride The current iteration, called "Summon," was introduced in 2016 and is limited to simple maneuvers that move the car in and out of parking spaces using the on-board ultrasonic sensors. The upcoming Advanced Summon feature would take advantage of the car's Autopilot cameras and will be available, Musk [confirmed]() in November, to all cars produced [in the last two years](). ## Delays Musk promised the Advanced Summon feature would be coming in roughly six weeks back in November. Twelve weeks later it's still not here, but Musk's latest tweet is a sign of movement. Musk also didn't mention what specific regulatory body he was referring to. Thanks to the partial government shutdown, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) might not be available to approve such a feature, as *The Drive* [points out](). But it's an exciting concept that's bound to appeal to current and future Tesla owners. **READ MORE:** [Elon Musk Says Tesla Has Regulatory Approval for Its 'RC Car' Summon Feature]() \[*The Digest*\] ***More on Tesla's Autopilot: [Elon Musk: A “360 Degree Dash Cam” Will Soon Keep Your Tesla Safe]()*** ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()