Model S

2021 Tesla Model S Summon Owner Manual

Contents hide

1 2021 Tesla Model S Summon

2 Before Using Summon

3 Using Summon to Park and Retrieve your Vehicle

3.1 Operating Summon with the Key Fob

3.2 Starting Summon Before Exiting the Vehicle

3.3 Stopping or Canceling Summon

4 Limitations

2021 Tesla Model S Summon

Note

Depending on market region, vehicle configuration, options purchased, and software version, your vehicle may not be equipped with Summon, or the feature may not operate exactly as described.

Summon allows you to automatically park and retrieve Model S while you are standing outside the vehicle. Summon uses data from the ultrasonic sensors to move Model S forward and reverse up to 39 feet (12 meters) in, or out of, a parking space.

To move Model S a longer distance while steering around objects, you can use Smart Summon (if equipped) and your mobile phone. Smart Summon allows your vehicle to find you (or you can send your vehicle to a chosen location). See Smart Summon.

CAUTION

Ensure all cameras and sensors are clean. Dirty cameras and sensors, as well as environmental conditions such as rain and faded lane markings, can affect Autopilot performance.

Warning

Summon is designed and intended for use only on parking lots and driveways on private property where the surrounding area is familiar and predictable.

Warning

Summon is a BETA feature. You must continually monitor the vehicle and its surroundings and stay prepared to take immediate action at any time. It is the driver’s responsibility to use Summon safely, responsibly, and as intended.

Warning

Summon’s performance depends on the ability of the ultrasonic sensors to determine the vehicle’s proximity to objects, people, animals, and other vehicles.

Before Using Summon

Before operating Summon, use the touchscreen to enable it and customize how you want it to work. Touch Controls > Autopilot > Customize Summon and adjust the following settings to suit your preferences:

Bumper Clearance: Set the distance that you want Summon to stop from a detected object (for example, you may want Summon to stop within just a few inches of a garage wall). Note that this distance applies only to objects that Summon detects directly in front of Model S when moving forward, or directly behind Model S when reversing.
Summon Distance: Set a maximum distance that Model S can travel when entering or exiting a parking space.
Side Clearance: Choose an option to specify how much side clearance you want to allow. Tight allows Model S to enter and exit very narrow parking spaces.

Warning

Parking in a narrow space limits the ability of the sensors to accurately detect the location of obstacles, increasing the risk of damage to Model S and/or surrounding objects.
Require Continuous Press: By default, Summon requires that you press and hold a button on the mobile app to move Model S during the parking process. When Require Continuous Press is set to No, you can press and release the button—you don’t need to hold it down to keep the vehicle moving. Also, when Require Continuous Press is set to No, you can operate Summon using the key fob instead of the mobile app (see Operating Summon with the Key Fob) and you can start a parking sequence from inside the vehicle (see Starting Summon Before Exiting the Vehicle).
Use Auto HomeLink (if equipped): Set to ON if you want to activate HomeLink to open/close a programmed HomeLink device (such as a gate or a garage door) during the parking process when using Summon. If enabled, the device automatically opens and closes when Model S enters or exits during a Summon session. In a Smart Summon session (if equipped), the device automatically opens when, at the beginning of a session, Smart Summon detects that Model S is parked in a garage.

Warning

Always ensure that Model S is fully in or out of a garage before HomeLink lowers the garage door. Summon and Smart Summon (if equipped) cannot detect where an overhead door will lower.

Note

When enabled, the HomeLink device automatically opens and closes when using Summon, and automatically opens as needed when using Smart Summon (if equipped). To automate HomeLink in other situations (such as normal driving), you must adjust the HomeLink device’s main settings by touching the HomeLink icon at the top of the Controls screen (see HomeLink Universal Transceiver).

Note

The above settings, with the exception of HomeLink, apply only to Summon—not Smart Summon (if equipped) (see Before Using Smart Summon). You cannot customize Smart Summon’s bumper clearance, distance, and side clearance. And when using Smart Summon, you must always hold down the button on the mobile app to keep Model S moving. Also, Smart Summon operates with the mobile app only—not the key fob.

Note

All settings are retained until you manually change them.

Using Summon to Park and Retrieve your Vehicle

Follow these steps to use Summon to park your Model S:

Align Model S within 39 feet (12 meters) of the parking space so Model S can follow a straight path into or out of the space in either Drive or Reverse.
From outside the vehicle, initiate the parking maneuver by touching Summon on the mobile app, then holding down the Forward or Reverse button.

Note

If the Require Continuous Press setting is No, you do not need to hold down the button, just press and release.

Note

You can also initiate the parking maneuver from inside the vehicle (see Starting Summon Before Exiting the Vehicle).

Summon shifts Model S into Drive or Reverse (based on the direction you specified) and drives into or out of the parking space. When parking is complete, or if an obstacle is detected, Summon shifts Model S into Park. Summon shifts Model S into Park when:

Model S detects an obstacle in its driving path (within the Bumper Clearance setting that you specified).
Summon has moved Model S the maximum distance of 39 feet (12 meters).
You release the Forward or Reverse button (when Require Continuous Press is turned on).
You press any button to manually stop Summon.

If you used Summon to park Model S, you can then use Summon to return Model S back to its original position (provided Model S has remained in Park), or to the maximum Summon Distance that you have specified (whichever comes first). Simply specify the opposite direction on the mobile app and Summon moves Model S along the original path, provided no obstructions have been introduced. If the ultrasonic sensors detect an obstacle, Model S attempts to avoid the obstacle while staying very close to its original path (Summon does not steer around obstacles).

Note

To use Summon to move Model S multiple times in the same direction (not to exceed the maximum of 39 feet (12 meters), cancel Summon and then restart the parking process using the same direction.

Note

Although Summon can move Model S a short distance laterally to avoid an obstacle, it does not attempt to steer around an obstacle to return Model S to its original driving path. Only Smart Summon (if equipped) can steer Model S around objects.

Note

Summon requires that Model S can detect a valid key nearby.

Warning

Model S cannot detect obstacles that are located lower than the bumper, are very narrow, or are hanging from a ceiling (for example, bicycles). In addition, many unforeseen circumstances can impair Summon’s ability to move in or out of a parking space and, as a result, Summon may not move Model S appropriately. Therefore, you must continually monitor the vehicle’s movement and its surroundings and remain prepared to stop Model S at any time.

Operating Summon with the Key Fob

Note

Summon may not operate if the battery is low on the key fob.

Follow these steps to park Model S from outside the vehicle using the key fob:

On the touchscreen, ensure that Require Continuous Press is disabled (touch Controls > Autopilot > Customize Summon > Require Continuous Press).
With Model S in Park, stand within 10 feet (three meters) and press and hold the top center button on the key fob (Lock/Unlock All button) until the hazard lights blink continuously.

Note

The hazard lights flash once as Model S locks, then within five seconds, Model S powers on and the hazard lights flash continuously. Do not proceed to the next step until the hazard lights are flashing. If, after five seconds, the hazard lights are not flashing, release the button on the key fob, move closer to Model S, and try again. If Summon receives no further input within ten seconds, Summon cancels.
Press the Front Trunk button on the key fob to move Model S forward into the parking space, or press the Rear Trunk button to reverse Model S into the parking space.

Starting Summon Before Exiting the Vehicle

To start a Summon parking sequence before exiting Model S:

On the touchscreen, ensure that Require Continuous Press is disabled (touch Controls > Autopilot > Customize Summon > Require Continuous Press).
Close all doors and trunks.
With Model S powered on and Park engaged, . The touchscreen displays a popup screen.
On the touchscreen, choose the direction of travel.
Exit Model S and close the driver’s door.

Summon now moves Model S according to the direction you specified on the touchscreen.

Note

To cancel the parking maneuver before exiting the vehicle, touch Cancel on the popup screen.

Note

If you do not choose a direction of travel on the touchscreen, Summon does not start a parking maneuver when you exit.

Stopping or Canceling Summon

Stop Model S at any time while Summon is active by using the mobile app or by pressing any button on the key fob. Summon also cancels when:

A door handle is engaged or a door is opened.
You interact with the steering yoke, brake pedal, accelerator pedal, or shift.
Model S detects an obstacle.
Summon has moved Model S the maximum distance of approximately 39 feet (12 meters).
Your phone enters sleep mode or loses connectivity to Model S.

Limitations

Summon is unlikely to operate as intended in the following types of situations:

The driving path is sloped. Summon is designed to operate on flat roads only (up to 10% grade).
A raised concrete edge is detected. Summon does not move Model S over an edge that is higher than approximately 1 in (2.5 cm).
One or more of the ultrasonic sensors is damaged, dirty, or obstructed (such as by mud, ice, or snow, or by a vehicle bra, excessive paint, or adhesive products such as wraps, stickers, rubber coating, etc.).
Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, fog, or extremely hot or cold temperatures) are interfering with sensor operation.
The sensors are affected by other electrical equipment or devices that generate ultrasonic waves.

Note

Summon is disabled if Model S is in Valet mode (see Valet Mode).

Warning

The list above does not represent an exhaustive list of situations that may interfere with proper operation of Summon. It is the driver’s responsibility to remain in control of Model S at all times. Pay close attention whenever Summon is actively moving Model S and stay prepared to take immediate action. Failure to do so can result in serious property damage, injury or death.

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