Tesla App Update 4.53: Powershare Limit Control, Automatic Damage Detection, Brake-by-Wire

Adjust Powershare Limit in App

Tesla Adjust Powershare Limit in App feature in update 4.53.0
Available Worldwide
Undocumented
Undocumented

You can now adjust the Powershare limit for the Cybertruck through the Tesla app. This was previously only available to adjust within the vehicle.

Powershare lets your Cybertruck share power, acting as a Powerwall that can provide power to your entire house. To prevent the home from depleting your vehicle’s entire battery, you can set the Powershare limit, which will reserve some of the battery for the vehicle.

Automated Damage Detection

Tesla Automated Damage Detection feature in update 4.53.0
Undocumented
Models:
S
3
X
Y
CT
Undocumented

Tesla is now providing customers with templates for taking images when trading in a vehicle. Tesla is providing hundreds of templates that outline how a picture should be taken during the trade-in process.

These photos will then be processed by a system that automatically assesses the vehicle and detects any damage.

These vehicle outlines help customers understand what the photo should look like. It’s not clear whether Tesla superimposes these outlines when the customer is taking a photo, which would let the user line up their camera with their vehicle, or if they’re just showing the customer what a photo should capture.

There are over 400 templates available, including various vehicle models, including Teslas and third-party vehicles. They include different configurations, such as LHD and RHD, and cover sedans, SUVs, minivans, and other body types.

Cybercab to Use Brake-by-Wire

Tesla Cybercab to Use Brake-by-Wire feature in update 4.53.0
Undocumented
Undocumented

This app update adds additional feedback components, one of which called 'Brakes SW - Brake-by-Wire (Cybercab)', reveals that the Cybercab will feature brake-by-wire, instead of a traditional braking system.

Brake-by-wire, similar to steer-by-wire, allows the vehicle to brake without a physical linkage. Instead, an electronic signal is sent, which then activates the brake calipers.

In other vehicles, FSD controls the movement of the brake pedal that is then linked to the braking system. Since the Cybercab will eventually get rid of the braking pedal it’s presumably using for testing, Tesla can also remove some unnecessary brake linkage and instead let the Cybercab brake by sending an electric signal to activate the calipers directly.

More Smart Breaker Support

Tesla More Smart Breaker Support feature in update 4.53.0
Undocumented
Undocumented

In this update, Tesla has added additional code for its upcoming Smart Breaker integration.

Smart breakers add sensors and connectivity, such as Wi-Fi, to traditional electric panel breakers, letting automated systems, such as Tesla’s Powerwall, turn on or off supported breakers.

Beyond turning a circuit on or off, they can also provide detailed insight into how much energy connected devices are consuming.

For homes with Smart Breakers, Tesla will allow the customer to customize which breakers remain on during a power outage, and which can be turned off to save energy coming from the Powerwall.

Some of the new phrases in this app update include:

'For breakers you need while off-grid',

'energy_customize_smart_breakers_always_on_title'

'Learn About Smart Breakers'

"For breakers you don't need while off-grid"

Tesla App 4.52.1 Release Notes

Gift Charging Cards

Tesla Gift Charging Cards feature in update 4.52.1
Undocumented
Models:
S
3
X
Y
CT
Undocumented

Tesla is introducing Charging Mileage Cards, which will essentially be Supercharger gift cards, allowing owners to charge for free.

Tesla not only plans to allow users to gift these charging cards, but also to transfer or share them with friends. Right now, it sounds like these charging cards may be limited to China, but we could see this extended to other countries in the future.

Some of the new phrases related to charging mileage in this update include:

"CHARGING_GET_MILEAGE_CARD_SHARE_MESSAGES"

"CHARGING_MILEAGE_CARD_TRANSFER"

"charging_balance_supercharging_mileage_card_wechat_friend"

Tesla App 4.52.0 Release Notes

Digital Wallet Key Support

Tesla Digital Wallet Key Support feature in update 4.52.0
Undocumented
Undocumented

This app update includes code that hints at Tesla adding support for digital wallet keys in the future.

The app specifically includes new strings, such as “You can now unlock your vehicle without opening the app." The phrases specifically mention harmony, which likely stands for Huawei’s HarmonyOS.

The new phrases suggest Tesla is developing digital key support for Huawei’s OS, which will allow users to add vehicle keys directly to the phone’s wallet, letting users unlock their vehicles without relying on the Tesla app.

This opens up new functionality, as these digital keys are typically more reliable and lower-power. It also lets users take advantage of certain OS features, such as unlocking even if the device is turned off. It also reduces reliance on the Tesla app.

If Tesla is adding support for digital keys for Huawei, it may also support digital keys in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet in the future.

Some of the new phrases include:

'harmony_fallback_screen_title': 'Feature not available in current version',

'vehicle_vendor_key_card_harmony_wallet_issue_description': 'Unlock your vehicle without opening the app',

'vehicle_vendor_key_card_harmony_wallet_issue_success': 'Successfully improved Phone Key performance. You can now unlock your vehicle without opening the app.',

Smart Breaker Support

Tesla Smart Breaker Support feature in update 4.52.0
Undocumented
Undocumented

This update includes code that suggests Tesla is adding support for Smart Breaker. Lights and outlets in a home are wired to the home’s electric panel and its circuit breakers, which control the flow of energy to each section of the house.

Smart breakers have additional sensors and connectivity support, such as WiFi, to allow users to control them remotely. In addition to being able to power on or off a breaker remotely, they also allow a user to view the energy used by the attached devices.

Smart breaker support may allow Tesla Energy users to automatically turn off certain breakers and devices when power is lost in a home. By turning off high-consumption devices such as central air conditioning units, Powerwalls could power a home for much longer.

Some of the new phrases include:

'energy_customize_smart_breakers_description': 'Smart Breakers allow you to monitor home loads during normal daily usage and while off-grid.',

'energy_customize_smart_breaker_command_error': 'Failed to toggle the breaker',

'energy_customize_smart_breaker_item_energy_description': '{{energy}} today'

Details

Release Date

December 24, 2025