Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Elon Musk wants to add videoconferencing to Tesla cars

By Jenny McGrath May 6, 2020

Tesla CEO Elon Musk wants to add videoconferencing to your Model 3.

The Tesla Owners Silicon Valley group proposed the idea, and Musk seems to think it’s a definite possibility. Musk tweeted Tuesday that videoconferencing will be “a future feature” in the car.

The Tesla Model 3 has a camera in the rearview mirror that points to the car’s interior.

This raises the question of how safe it would be to take a Zoom call in a Tesla? Drivers may want to be able to use the feature while en route to a destination — perhaps dialing in to a meeting they’re running late for. But it’s unclear if this videoconferencing would be permitted while the car is on the road.

Some Tesla entertainment options, like Netflix, only work when the vehicles are parked.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration includes talking on a phone in its description of distracted driving. Adding the element of being on camera with your colleagues could make a driver even more preoccupied than a phone call.

Other potential uses for the mirror have focused more on monitoring the driver’s performance or recording passengers — either to ensure they don’t damage one Tesla’s robotaxis or as part of a car-aoake sing-along session.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Jenny McGrath is a senior writer at Digital Trends covering the intersection of tech and the arts and the environment. Before…

Cars

Watch how Tesla’s Cybertruck handles a compound bow’s arrow

watch how teslas cybertruck handles a compound bow arrow

Joe Tries to Shoot an Arrow Into the CyberTruck

Tesla chief Elon Musk appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience again on Tuesday.

Cars

Tesla Model 3 Highland: release date, range, design update, and more

A Tesla Model 3 electric car.

The Tesla Model 3 has long been one of the best electric cars out there, especially for drivers who want a high-quality car without paying a ton of cash. The Model 3 boasts a great range, along with awesome tech features and minimalistic design, all of which have helped make it a top-selling electric car.

But to date, it hasn’t evolved much. The car has been around for six years now, with thefirst deliveries of the original Model 3 coming in late 2017. But now it’s getting a face-lift. The updated car, code-named Highland, has been announced, and it offers a range of upgrades over the current-generation Tesla Model 3.

Cars

Tesla Model 3 vs. Tesla Model Y: Bigger or cheaper?

A Tesla 3 sits parked beside an urban waterfront.

Tesla has a bit of a head start on the competition. Say what you will about panel gaps and its CEO, there's no denying that Tesla made the electric car cool -- and all in the pursuit of making them affordable enough to mass produce. And, while its lowest-priced cars aren't cheap, Tesla largely achieved that goal. The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are its most affordable cars right now, and they offer that unmistakable Tesla design, with good battery and charging tech, plus a focus on a high-tech infotainment system.

But which of the two cars is actually better? Or, if neither is better, which is right for your needs? We put the two head-to-head.
Design
Tesla uses a relatively uniform design language across its lineup, and the result is that the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y look very similar. In fact, the Model Y looks exactly like what it is: a larger version of the Model 3.