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Tesla Model S drivers can control their cars with Apple Watch

Apple Watch ships in April, and one of the third-party apps available for it could be one that allows drivers to control certain functions of the Tesla Model S electric car. The app will display information on the Tesla Model S's state of charge, available range, and temperature on the Apple Watch's tiny screen.

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Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP/File
Apple CEO Tim Cook discusses the new Apple Watch during an event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. in October. When the Apple Watch hits the market, Tesla Model S drivers will be able to use it for a wide variety of functions, including.

What if the watch on your wrist could tell you more than just the time?

Smart watches are emerging as the next wave of digital technology, and there's already one potential automotive application for them.

When the new Apple Watch ships in April, one of the third-party apps available for it could be one that allows drivers to control certain functions of the Tesla Model S electric car.

Created by software developer ELEKS, the Tesla app won't be a full-function remote control for the electric car, but it will let owners monitor it from afar, according to Popular Science.

The app will display information on the vehicle's state of charge, available range, and interior temperature on the Apple Watch's tiny screen.

There's also a "charge limit" function, which seems to allow users to cap the level of a given recharge.

Owners can also use their watches to lock and unlock the doors, beep the horn, flash the headlights, and open and close the panoramic roof (if so equipped). They can even set the climate control by individual zones.

Of course, if you need to use a watch to do all of these things, that probably means you're not near the actual car. A car-locator feature is also included to help those who can't remember where they parked.

It's worth noting that many of these features--including monitor the state of charge, locking and unlocking doors, and a car locator--are already available on Tesla's own smartphone app, available for Apple iOS and Android.

However, the futuristic gimmick of controlling a car from a wristwatch will probably hold appeal for some Tesla drivers.

The ELEKS app isn't endorsed by Tesla, and the carmaker hasn't had any involvement with its development.

That may not be for some time, though. A company blog post noted development difficulties, claiming Apple is not providing developers with access to all of the device's functions.

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