Tesla drivers will now be able to make video calls via Zoom

(CNN) – Zoom announced Tuesday that Tesla drivers will soon be able to make video calls directly from their car’s touchscreen.

The company said Tuesday during its annual Zoom (ZM) Topia conference — where it regularly introduces new remote calling features — that its software will make its way to Tesla’s integrated infotainment center. in Pre-recorded demo video During the event, a Tesla driver was seen making a Zoom call while recharging her car.

The company did not respond to a request for comment on whether it would ban drivers from using it while driving, with many automakers requiring the car to be stopped before the driver can use the video features. The release timing is also unknown.

But the feature itself is something Tesla has been evaluating for years. In May 2020, Tesla CEO Elon Musk He said in a tweet That adding Zoom calls to Tesla cars was “definitely a future feature”. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Musk received a large number of tweets requesting the integration of Zoom; Drivers argued that it would give them another private space to make calls and take advantage of the existing driver-facing camera found on some Teslas cars and the big screen.

At the time, a Zoom spokesperson told pop culture site Mashable that adding support for video calls to its infotainment system wouldn’t be. Safer use case Because many people may try to use it while driving.

Zoom also revealed other new tools at Tuesday’s event, including integrating email and calendar services directly into the service, chat AI and a chat bot that helps troubleshoot issues, and support for developers to monetize their content in apps on the Zoom App Marketplace.

The Zoom news comes as Tesla faces increasing competition in the electric car market from well-known automakers such as Volkswagen, Ford and General Motors. Some investors have expressed concern that Musk is too distracted by his Twitter acquisition to pay enough attention to Tesla’s problems.

This week, Musk once again sold Tesla shares for a total amount already approaching $4 billion since he acquired Twitter. Tesla shares have lost 46% of their value so far this year due to disappointing sales caused by supply chain problems.

The Musk companies haven’t always had a strong relationship with Zoom. SpaceX, for example, forbidden Its employees are using Zoom in April 2020 due to “significant privacy and security issues”.