Tesla Model 3 owners can now unlock their cars using Siri voice commands

By Warren Miller, contributing writer

Siri can provide answers to many of life’s burning questions, but she’s not much help when you forget where you parked your car — unless you drive a Tesla. As part of a software update to Tesla’s iOS app in late March, Apple’s virtual personal assistant is now compatible with Tesla’s new Model 3. Now, if you’re lucky enough to own a Tesla Model S, X, or 3, you can ask Siri to locate your vehicle, lock or unlock the doors, or even honk the horn.

Image source: Tesla.

Siri’s integration with the Tesla app for Models S and X has been available since last November. It’s somewhat surprising to see Tesla and Apple working in harmony, given the seemingly contentious relationship between the two tech giants. Apple’s own desire to get into the self-driving car game has led the company to lure away some of Tesla’s engineers, leading Tesla founder Elon Musk to mockingly refer to the company as “Tesla’s graveyard.” Tesla recently began letting customers use Apple Pay to put down the $1,000 down payment required to reserve a Model 3.

Although Siri doesn’t offer much more functionality than Tesla’s own propriety app, it does offer a level of convenience for iPhone users. Now, without having to launch Tesla’s app independently, Siri can answer questions like “Is my car locked?” and “How much charge does my car battery have?” While it’s not currently capable of accessing the vehicle’s climate control system or engaging valet mode, those functions may be available in the near future.

Notably, Siri can only interface with a vehicle while it isn’t moving. While driving, Tesla owners can only give voice commands through the vehicle’s own voice system. Voice commands are restricted to making and receiving calls and accessing the navigation system while any of Tesla’s models are in motion. One might anticipate that this announcement is just the beginning of additional capabilities for iPhone users. Does Tesla really need to reinvent the car interface along with everything else? Perhaps there is a possible partnership here that could help Tesla focus on other, more critical elements of the complex system that it is creating.

Production of the Model 3 has been slower than Tesla anticipated, and there’s currently a 12- to 18-month waiting period for delivery of the company’s newest edition to their fleet. Siri currently doesn’t have the capability to speed up delivery, but there’s no telling what the future holds.