Elon has always wanted cars that don’t just drive but think and talk like a friend you trust. With Grok, the AI built by xAI, that’s starting to happen. As of today, Tesla began rolling out Grok in its vehicles, marking the first hands-free conversational companion to hit the road.
Unlike older voice assistants that need specific commands, Grok understands everyday language and responds like a friend, or at least in a robotic kind of way. Best of all, it’s all hands free, providing answers in real time while you keep your eyes on the road.
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Using Grok is as easy as tapping the App Launcher on the touchscreen and selecting “Grok” or just hold down the voice button on the steering wheel. No extra account or subscription required which is great for Tesla owners tired of add-on fees. But there’s a catch: Grok needs a steady Wi-Fi connection or Tesla’s $9.99 monthly Premium Connectivity plan to work. This lets it pull live data for answers but if you’re in a rural area with bad internet, you’ll definitely need Starlink.
Not all Teslas can use Grok. It only works in vehicles with AMD infotainment processors which started showing up around mid 2021. That includes the Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y and Cybertruck but only if they’re running software version 2025.26 or newer. All Teslas delivered on or after July 12, 2025 come with Grok already installed and older compatible models can get it through wireless updates.
There’s one surprising limitation: Grok doesn’t run the car. Despite hopes it might handle navigation or have the ability to adjust settings like air conditioning, Tesla’s release notes make it clear: “Grok is currently in Beta and does not issue commands to your vehicle. The existing voice command feature remains unchanged.” So you can’t ask Grok to roll down the windows or find the nearest charger…yet.
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