Starting and Powering
Off
Starting When you open a door, Model X powers on
the instrument panel and touchscreen and you
can operate all controls.
To drive Model X:
1. PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL - Model X
powers on and is ready to drive.
2. SELECT A GEAR - Move the gear lever all
the way down for Drive and all the way up
for Reverse. See Shifting Gears on page
63.
Note: If the PIN to Drive feature is enabled
(see PIN to Drive on page 171), you must also
enter a valid PIN on the touchscreen before
you can drive Model X.
Note: If Passive Entry is off and you do not
press the brake pedal to start Model X within
approximately five minutes, a message
displays on the instrument panel and you must use the key to lock then unlock Model X again
before starting the vehicle.
Everything you need to know when driving
Model X displays on the instrument panel.
Key Not Inside
If Model X does not detect a key when you
press the brake, the instrument panel displays
a message telling you that a key is not inside.
If you receive this message, place the key in
the center console cup holder where Model X
can best detect it.
If Model X still does not detect the key, try
holding it against the center console,
immediately below the 12V power socket (see
12V Power Socket on page 25). If the key is
still not detected, remove the key
When Tow mode is active, Model X
displays this indicator light on the
instrument panel, along with a
message telling you that Model X will
roll freely.
Note: In Tow mode, Model X does not shift
into a driving gear. To cancel Tow mode, shift
into Park or touch Tow mode again. Tow mode
also cancels if you use the touchscreen to
apply the parking brake ( Controls > Safety &
Security > Parking Brake ).
Gears
64Model X Owner
Instrument Panel - DrivingWhen Model X is driving (or ready to drive), the instrument panel shows your current driving
status and a real-time visualization of the road as detected by the Autopilot components (see
About Autopilot on page 106). The visualization automatically zooms in and out as needed to
inform you when a vehicle is detected in your blind spot.
Note: The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on vehicle
options, software version, and market region, the information displayed may be slightly different.
1.Indicator lights display along the top to provide status (see Instrument Panel Overview on
page 69).
2. When you are actively navigating to a destination, navigation instructions display here. Use
the left steering wheel buttons to change what displays on the left side of the instrument
panel whenever navigation instructions are not displayed (see Using Left Steering Wheel
Buttons on page 56).
3. Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is cruising at a set speed. When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is
available but you haven
Caution: If the brakes are not functioning
properly, stop the vehicle as soon as safety permits and contact Tesla Service.
See Park on page 63 for information on
using the Park button to stop the vehicle
in case of emergency.Warning: Always maintain a safe driving
distance from the vehicle in front of you
and be cautious in hazardous driving
conditions. Do not rely on brake disc
wiping or hydraulic fade compensation to act as a substitute for adequate braking.
Regenerative Braking
Whenever Model X is moving and your foot is
off the accelerator, regenerative braking slows
down Model X and feeds any surplus energy back to the Battery.
By anticipating your stops and reducing or
removing pressure from the accelerator pedal
to slow down, you can take advantage of regenerative braking to increase driving range.
Of course, this is no substitute for regular braking when needed for safety.
Note: If regenerative braking is aggressively
slowing Model X (such as when your foot is
completely off the accelerator pedal at
highway speeds), the brake lights turn on to
alert others that you are slowing down.
Warning: In snowy or icy conditions
Model X may experience traction loss
during regenerative braking, particularly
when in the Standard setting and/or not
using winter tires. Tesla recommends
using the Low setting (see To Set the
Regenerative Braking Level on page 77)
in snowy or icy conditions to help
maintain vehicle stability.
The Energy app displays real-time feedback
on the amount of energy being gained by
regenerative braking. You can also display the
power meter on either side of the instrument
panel by choosing Energy using the scroll
button on the steering wheel (see Steering
Wheel on page 56).
The amount of energy fed back to the Battery using regenerative braking can depend on thecurrent state of the Battery and the charge
level setting that you are using. For example,
regenerative braking may be limited if the Battery is already fully charged or if the
ambient temperature is too cold.
Note: If regenerative braking is limited, a
dashed yellow line displays on the power
meter.
To Set the Regenerative Braking Level
You can use the touchscreen to change the
level of regenerative braking:
1. Touch Controls > Driving > Regenerative
Braking .
2. Choose from two levels:
Use the touchscreen to manually release the
parking brake (which also shifts Model X into Neutral):
1. Touch Controls > Safety & Security .
2. Press the brake pedal, then touch Parking
Brake . If Model X was previously in Park, it
shifts into Neutral.When you use the touchscreen to
manually apply the parking brake,
the red parking brake indicator lights
up on the instrument panel.If the parking brake experiences an
electrical issue, the amber parking brake indicator lights up and a fault
message displays at the top of the
instrument panel.Caution: In the unlikely event that
Model X loses electrical power, you
cannot access the touchscreen and are
therefore unable to release the parking
brake. Contact Tesla.
Brake Wear
Model X brake pads are equipped with wear indicators. A wear indicator is a thin metal
strip attached to the brake pad that squeals as
it rubs against the rotor when the pad wears
down. This squealing sound indicates that the
brake pads have reached the end of their service life and require replacement. To
replace the brake pads, contact Tesla Service.
Brakes must be periodically inspected visually by removing the tire and wheel. For detailed
specifications and service limits for rotors and
brake pads, see Subsystems on page 215.
Additionally, Tesla recommends cleaning and
lubricating the brake calipers every year or
12,500 miles (20,000 km) if in an area where
roads are salted during winter months.
Warning: Neglecting to replace worn
brake pads damages the braking system
and can result in a braking hazard.
Braking and Stopping
Driving79
Park Assist
How Park Assist Works
Model X has several sensors designed to
detect the presence of objects. When driving
slowly in Drive or Reverse (for example, when
parking), the sensors alert you if an object is
detected in close proximity of your Model X.
Objects are only detected in the direction of
the gear you selected; front objects in Drive,
rear objects in Reverse.
Warning: You may not be alerted if
Model X rolls freely in the opposite
direction of the gear you selected (for
example, you will not receive an alert if
Model X rolls backwards down a hill while
in Drive).
The sensors are activated when driving slower
than 5 mph (8 km/h).
Note: Rear sensors are disabled when a
bicycle is detected or Model X is in trailer
mode.
Warning: Never depend on Park Assist to
inform you if an area you are approachingis free of objects and/or people. Several
external factors can reduce the
performance of Park Assist, causing
either no readings or false readings (see
Limitations and False Warnings on page
82). Therefore, depending on Park Assist
to determine if Model X is approaching an
obstruction can result in damage to the vehicle and/or objects, and can
potentially cause serious injury. Always
inspect the area with your own eyes.
When reversing, perform shoulder checks and use all mirrors. Park assist does not
detect children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
animals, or objects that are moving, protruding, located too far above or
below the sensors, or too close or too far
from the sensors. Park Assist is for
guidance purposes only and is not intended to replace your own direct visual
checks. It is not a substitute for careful
driving.
Visual and Audio Feedback
When you shift to Reverse, the Park Assist
view displays on the left side of the instrument
panel, showing objects that are in close
proximity to the front and rear of Model X.
This view closes when you shift into Drive
unless an object is detected close to the front
of Model X, in which case the Park Assist view
closes automatically when your driving speed
exceeds 5 mph (8 km/h). When reversing,
visual feedback also displays on the touchscreen, immediately below the camera
view (see Rear View Camera on page 89).
You can manually close the park assist view on
the touchscreen by touching the X in the
upper corner.
When driving with the Camera app displayed
on the touchscreen, you can switch to the
Park Assist view when driving at speeds below
5 mph (8 km/h). Touch the button located in the upper left corner of the Camera app
window. This is useful if you need assistance
with parallel parking.
If chimes are turned on (see Controlling
Audible Feedback on page 82), an audible
beep sounds as you approach an object. You
can temporarily mute the chime by pressing
the scroll button on the left side of the
steering wheel or by touching the mute button on the bottom left corner of the Park Assist
view.
Note: If a sensor is unable to provide
feedback, the instrument panel displays an
alert message.
Park Assist
Driving81
Trip Information
Displaying Trip Information Trip information displays on the touchscreen
when you touch Controls > Trips . For the
current trip, you can display distance, duration
and average energy usage. You can also show
distance and total and average energy used since your last charge and for additional trips.
To name or rename a trip, touch the trip
Rear View Camera
Camera Location
Model X is equipped with a rear view camera
located above the rear license plate.
Whenever you shift into Reverse, the
touchscreen displays the view from the
camera. Lines show your driving path based
on the position of the steering wheel. These
lines adjust appropriately as you move the
steering wheel.
Note: Visual feedback from the parking
sensors display on the instrument panel (see Park Assist on page 81).
To display the view from the camera at any
time:
Open the app launcher then
touch the camera icon.Warning: Never depend on the rear view
camera to inform you if the area behind
you is free of objects and/or people when
reversing. The camera may not detect
objects or barriers that can potentially
cause damage or injury. In addition, several external factors can reduce the
performance of the camera, including a
dirty or obstructed lens. Therefore,
depending on the rear view camera to
determine if Model X is approaching an
obstruction can result in damage to the vehicle and/or objects, and can
potentially cause serious injury. Always
inspect the area with your own eyes.
When reversing, perform shoulder checks and use all mirrors. Use the camera forguidance purposes only. It is not intendedto replace your own direct visual checks
and is not a substitute for careful driving.Cleaning the Camera
To ensure a clear picture, keep the camera lens clean, and free of obstructions. Remove any
buildup of dirt by occasionally wiping the
camera lens with a soft damp cloth.Caution: Do not use chemical-based or
abrasive cleaners. Doing so can damage
the surface of the camera lens.
Rear View Camera
Driving89