Product Sense: Building a Wrist Companion App for Tesla Owners on Apple Watch

You are a product manager at Tesla, asked to design an Apple Watch app for Tesla drivers. Explain who the app is for, which problems it should solve that the existing phone app does not solve well, what goes into the first version and why, how the experience should work on a small wrist screen, and how you would measure success. ```hint Design for the moments the phone is a bad fit List the situations where a Tesla driver would rather not reach for a phone, such as carrying groceries, waiting at a charger, or exercising without it. Keep only the features that finish in a few seconds on the wrist, instead of shrinking the phone app. ``` ### Clarifying Questions - What should the app achieve for Tesla: higher owner satisfaction and loyalty, more use of existing features such as preconditioning and charging management, or a business outcome such as fewer cars sitting idle at Superchargers? - Which users are in scope: the primary owner only, or also other household drivers and people who drive Teslas for a fleet or ride-hailing? - Must the app work when the paired iPhone is out of range, for example on a cellular watch or by talking to the car over Bluetooth? - Are any actions off-limits for safety or security reasons, such as moving the car remotely or unlocking it from the watch? ### What a Strong Answer Covers - A stated goal for the app and how it complements the Tesla phone app and the in-car screen rather than duplicating them - Segments of Tesla drivers and their moments of use, with a justified focus and the pain points specific to that focus - A small, prioritized first version built around glances and one-tap actions, using watch capabilities such as complications, notifications, haptics and voice - How the app handles a sleeping car, lost connectivity, and the security of vehicle commands sent from the wrist - Success metrics with guardrails, plus risks such as distraction while driving and battery drain ### Follow-up Questions - Would you let the watch act as the car key? What would have to be true about security and reliability first? - Usage data show many owners install the app but stop opening it after a couple of weeks. What do you investigate and change? - How would the design change for drivers who charge at Superchargers several times a week, such as ride-hailing drivers?