1:38Grok in your Tesla: what the AI assistant can do now, and what it can't
Grok is available in Teslas across Europe and has dropped its beta label. Here is what you can ask it, which car functions it controls and where its limits are.
Grok, the AI assistant from Elon Musk's xAI, has become a standard part of the Tesla software. Since July 2026 it has been available across Europe, and with update 2026.38 at the end of September it lost its beta label. Time for a practical look at what it actually does.
Where it is available
Until July, Grok worked in Teslas in only nine European countries: the UK, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Portugal and Spain. On July 21, Tesla Europe announced that it is now available in all of Europe, which includes the Netherlands and Belgium.
How you use it
You start Grok by saying 'Hey Grok' or through the voice button. You can talk to it naturally, as you would with a chatbot on your phone, rather than using fixed voice commands.
What it can do
- Navigation: set a destination by describing it, and get location-based reminders.
- Calls and music: make phone calls, and search for and play music.
- Climate: adjust heating and air conditioning.
- Small car functions: for example opening the glovebox.
- Owner's manual: answer questions about your car, such as how a feature works.
- General questions: like any chatbot, it can answer questions and keep up a conversation during the drive.
The summer update also added smarter navigation features: suggested routes to places you visit regularly, and a preference for routes you have driven before.
What it can't do
Grok's control over the car is still limited to a short list of functions. It does not drive the car and has nothing to do with Full Self-Driving, which is a separate system. Reviewers have also pointed out that its car-related skills are modest compared with some competitors, such as Rivian's assistant.
Privacy
Grok processes your questions in the cloud, through xAI. If you are cautious about what you share, keep that in mind, and check the privacy settings in your car and Tesla account.
Why it matters
Grok is the most visible link between Tesla and Musk's other companies, and a sign of where Tesla's software is heading: a car you can talk to, that explains itself and gradually takes over more small tasks.
