Tesla has implemented a significant upgrade to its vehicle Dashcam feature, addressing a long-standing concern among owners regarding limited recording duration. Previously, the system would overwrite footage after just 60 minutes, regardless of the USB drive’s capacity. This limitation meant valuable recordings of Full Self-Driving maneuvers or road incidents could be easily lost.
Dynamic Recording Duration Introduced
The change, detailed in the release notes for an upcoming software update in China and first identified by NotaTeslaApp, introduces a dynamic recording duration. This means the Dashcam will now adjust its recording time based on the available storage on the connected USB drive. This enhancement is expected to roll out to the U.S. market in the coming weeks.
According to the release notes, the new system operates as follows:
- With a 128 GB USB drive, the maximum recording duration is approximately 3 hours.
- With a 1 TB or larger USB drive, the maximum recording duration can extend up to 24 hours.
This adjustment ensures that more video footage can be retained for review before it is automatically overwritten. However, the actual recording time will depend on the total available space on the USB drive, as other stored files will reduce the capacity for Dashcam footage.
Future Rollout and Owner Benefits
While the feature is currently being tested with employees in China, its expansion to the U.S. is anticipated within the next few months. This upgrade is expected to be a well-received improvement, offering greater flexibility and customization for owners who wish to store more clips and longer durations of their driving experiences.
