Tesla cuts China Model Y prices
Tesla lowers prices on its Model Y long-range and performance versions in China. The move comes after sales of China-made Tesla vehicles fell 31%, and it is followed by a 2.7% drop in Tesla shares. Tesla reduced the starting prices of both models by 14,000 yuan ($1,935). The Model Y Long Range’s starting price is down 4.5% to 299,900 yuan, and that of the Model Y Performance is down 3.8% (349,900 yuan). Between August 14 and September 30, Tesla is also offering insurance subsidies in China of 8,000 yuan for buyers of the entry-level, rear-wheel-drive versions of the Model 3.
Tesla China sells Cybertruck-inspired cat litter box
Tesla China lists (product link) a self-assembly “Cybertruck Multifunctional Corrugated Cat Litter” that includes a scratching board for cats. The cardboard box, branded ‘Tesla Life’, is made of thickened and moisture-proof corrugated paper, costs ¥89 RMB ($12 US), and is described as:
a futuristic shape, a semi-open cat litter, and thick corrugated paper embedded inside to meet the nature and daily needs of cats.
Musk: Tesla may cut prices in ‘turbulent times’
On an analysts’ call, Musk says that he will cut prices again on Tesla’s vehicles due to “turbulent times”:
One day it seems like the world economy is falling apart, next day it’s fine. I don’t know what the hell is going on. We’re in, I would call it, turbulent times.
Tesla shares fall nearly 5% after Musk’s comments.
Tesla builds first Cybertruck
Tesla builds its first Cybertruck for customers at its Giga Texas manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas, four years after the vehicle was announced in November 2019. In a tweet, more than 100 Telsa staff in hard hats and high-vis vests surround the vehicle after it comes of the production line.
First Cybertruck built at Giga Texas!
First Cybertruck built at Giga Texas! 🤠 pic.twitter.com/ODRhHVsd0t
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 15, 2023
Tesla to launch UK electricity supplier
A job ad posted for UK head of operations for Tesla Electric, says Tesla is seeking to apply to Ofgem, the UK’s electricity regulator, for an electricity supply licence, which would allow the company to launch a “retail electricity product in the UK”. The ad says Tesla is seeking to “support the transition of the entire electricity grid to 100pc renewables” by making more use of home batteries.
The project is said to be similar to Tesla’s Texas energy utility, which sells electricity from Tesla Powerwall batteries to the grid during peak times and buys it back when it is cheaper. An industry source says between 10,000 and 20,000 Powerwall units, which cost £9500 in the UK, are believed to have been installed in UK households. Owners of Tesla cars could also eventually use the service, under Ofgem plans to allow electric vehicles to sell electricity back to the grid.
Glass house investigation: outcome unknown
The outcome of the probe by Tesla’s board into whether Musk misused the company’s clout to secure special glass for a personal building project (“Project 42”) remains unknown, according to “insiders” at the company. The investigation was launched after a top Musk advisor at Tesla ordered millions of dollars worth of specialized glass for the projected mansion. Nor has the glass-walled residence been constructed, despite the plans for it dating back to at least 2022. Sources at Tesla say they do not know the project’s status, and neither Musk nor any board members have commented about the matter.
Tesla delivers record number of cars after price cuts
Tesla says it delivered a record number of vehicles for the three months from April to June, delivering 466,140 vehicles, 80% higher than last year. The company says it lowered prices in markets including the US, UK and China to compete with rival manufacturers. The company is due to report its financial results for the second quarter on 19 July. Musk,
We’re not ‘starting a price war’, we’re just lowering prices to enable affordability at scale.
Report: Autopilot involved in 17 fatalities, 736 crashes
According to NHTSA reports, Tesla’s Autopilot self-driving software was involved in 17 fatalities and 736 crashes. NHTSA began collecting the data after a federal order in 2021 required automakers to disclose crashes involving driver-assistance technology. NHTSA says a report of a crash involving driver-assistance does not itself imply that the technology was the cause. It is also unclear if the NHTSA’s data covers every driver assisted crash. Of the 17 fatal crashes, four involved motorcycles. NHTSA has received more than a dozen reports of Teslas running into parked emergency vehicles while in Autopilot
The increase in crashes coincides with Tesla’s rollout of Full Self-Driving, which has expanded from around 12,000 users to nearly 400,000 in just over a year. Nearly two-thirds of all driver-assistance crashes that Tesla has reported to NHTSA occurred in the past year. Tesla clams that, when comparing miles driven per collision, Full Self-Driving crashes at a rate at least five times lower than vehicles in normal driving. However, this figure is uncorroborated by external agencies. NHTSA:
NHTSA has an active investigation into Tesla Autopilot, including Full-Self Driving. NHTSA reminds the public that all advanced driver assistance systems require the human driver to be in control and fully engaged in the driving task at all times. Accordingly, all state laws hold the human driver responsible for the operation of their vehicles.
NHTSA investigates faulty Model Y steering wheels, recalls 137 vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigates Tesla, after two 2023 Model Y owners filed complaints saying that their steering wheels came off while they were driving. Both cars had low mileage, and the NHTSA says they were delivered to the owners without the retaining bolt that attaches the steering wheel to the steering column. Tesla is now voluntarily recalling 137 2022-2023 Model Y vehicles, because the fastening part of the steering wheel may not be as tight as it needs to be. The loose fasteners may separate the steering wheel from the steering column and cause the vehicle to lose steering control. Tesla will provide a free inspection and reinforcement for the recalled vehicles and the its service center will provide services to users as needed. The NHTSA has not yet ordered a recall for the Model Y vehicles, but the administration says the investigation could include about 120,000 vehicles.
Ford to use Tesla Superchargers
Ford strikes deal with Tesla to allow its electric vehicle owners to gain access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in North America in early 2024. This makes Ford the first major automaker to embrace Tesla’s proprietary charging standard and gives the company access to the biggest network of high-speed Superchargers in the United States. Tesla will provide an adapter to Ford EVs fitted with the Combined Charging System (CCS), giving them port access to Tesla’s V3 Superchargers. Ford will equip future EVs with Tesla’s own charging standard, removing the need for an adapter for direct access to Tesla Superchargers, starting in 2025. Pricing will be “competitive”. On Twitter Spaces, Musk tells Ford CEO Jim Farley:
The idea is that we don’t want the Tesla supercharger network to be like a walled garden. We want it to be something that is supportive of electrification and sustainable transport in general.
Farley:
We love the locations, we love the reliability, your routing software, the ease of use of the connector, the reliability of it. Tesla storms through the [Japanese bullet] train station like 300 kilometers per hour Shinkansen. We’re learning a lot.
Farley said earlier at a Morgan Stanley forum that:
[O]n the infrastructure side, I think it’s room for some collaboration between the auto companies, which is totally unnatural for us….the first step is to work together in a way we haven’t, probably with the new EV brands and the traditional old companies…. It seems totally ridiculous that we have an infrastructure problem, and we can’t even agree on what plug to use. I think the first step is to work together in a way we haven’t, probably with the new EV brands and the traditional auto companies. I think you’ll see Ford do that just because that’s what kind of company we are.
Coming soon: More locations to charge your Ford® electric vehicle. Thousands of them. @Tesla https://t.co/FayrARjD3s pic.twitter.com/CtDEcqvdwu
— Ford Motor Company (@Ford) May 25, 2023
China orders Tesla recall
Chinese safety regulators order Tesla to recall 1.1 million vehicles because drivers aren’t able to select the regenerative braking system and there is a lack of warning when they press hard on the accelerator pedal. The State Administration for Market Regulation (a Chinese government organ) says these issues:
may increase the probability of mistakenly stepping on the accelerator pedal for a long time, which may increase the risk of collision and pose a safety hazard.
The recall involves imported Model S, X and 3 models as well as the Chinese-made Models Y and 3. The models were produced between January 12, 2019 and April 24, 2023, though it isn’t clear whether those dates apply only to the Chinese-made vehicles. Tesla will fix the problem with an online software update.
Tesla cuts Model Y, Model 3 prices
Tesla cuts US prices for Model Y Long Range and Performance models by $3,000 each and the price of the Model 3 Rear-wheel Drive by $2,000 to $39,990, the sixth time it has lowered US prices this year. Tesla has cut prices of its base Model 3 by 11% so far this year and its base Model Y by 20% — moves that come as the United States, its largest market, prepares to introduce tougher standards that will limit EV tax credits.
Marked down Tesla vehicles spark China price war
Tesla marks down its prices, causing a price war in China, by selling vehicles there for as much as 50% less than what they cost in Europe and the United States. The Tesla Model 3 sedan and the Model Y crossover are both manufactured at a plant just outside Shanghai. The massive markdown is forcing rival vehicle manufacturers to slash prices also, in an effort to maintain sales.
Musk delivers first Tesla Semi truck to Pepsi
At an event at Tesla’s Nevada plant, Musk delivers the first Tesla Semi to Pepsi. Musk says the battery-powered, long-haul truck will reduce highway emissions, outperform existing diesel models on power and safety and spin-off a fast-charging technology Tesla will use in its upcoming Cybertruck pickup. Musk did not announce pricing for the Semi, provide details on variants of the truck it had initially projected or supply a forecast for deliveries to PepsiCo or other customers.
Musk said the Semi has been doing test runs between Tesla’s Sparks, Nevada factory and its plant in Fremont, California. Tesla said it had completed a 500-mile drive on a single charge, with the Semi and cargo weighing in at 81,000 pounds in total.
Tesla said it would use the Semi to ship parts to its plant in Fremont, California. Musk has said Tesla would aim to produce 50,000 of the trucks in 2024. PepsiCo ordered 100 trucks in 2017.
If you’re a trucker and you want the most badass rig on the road, this is it…This thing has crazy power relative to a diesel truck. Basically it’s like an elephant moving like a cheetah.
Musk announces Quicksilver & Midnight Cherry Red Tesla colors
Musk introduces two new colours for the Model Y, available from Giga Berlin – Quicksilver & Midnight Cherry Red. Tesla:
Quicksilver & Midnight Cherry Red — made at Giga Berlin. Both are made from highly-pigmented metallic paint, designed to change depending on viewing angle & light. Our most advanced paint system yet, allowing up to 13 layers for depth, dimension & a hand-painted look. Available in Europe & the Middle East
Musk:
Only Giga Berlin can make these colors, as paint shop was specially built to apply many fine layers of paint, giving it complexity not otherwise possible
Only Giga Berlin can make these colors, as paint shop was specially built to apply many fine layers of paint, giving it complexity not otherwise possible https://t.co/Htis0LfRzV
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 21, 2022
Musk reveals Optimus Robot
Musk unveils the humanoid Telsa Optimus Robot at Tesla AI Day. He shows a walking production prototype, plus one that uses Tesla actuators. Musk says the robot will be produced at scale and will cost less than a family car.
We’ve designed it using the same discipline that we use when designing the car, which is to design it for manufacturing, so it’s possible to make the robot at high volume at low cost, with high reliability. That’s incredibly important. We’ve all seen very impressive humanoid robot demonstrations. But what are they missing? They’re missing a brain. They don’t have the intelligence to navigate the world by themselves. They’re also very expensive and made in low volume, whereas Optimus is an extremely capable robot, but it’s made in very high volume, ultimately millions of units. It’s expected to cost much less than a car, probably less than $20,000.
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 1, 2022
90,000 cars recalled
Tesla recalls 90,000 cars because of a single report of a front seat belt not being properly connected. Tesla was alerted to the seat belt issue by a customer in Europe two weeks ago and has since inspected 3,000 vehicles and its assembly process.
Tesla recently found a Model S in Europe with a front seat belt that was not properly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner. This vehicle was not involved in a crash and there were no injuries. However, in the event of a crash, a seat belt in this condition would not provide full protection.
Autopilot driverless car update
Tesla launches a beta version of Autopilot, which will be available on Thursday. All vehicles from September 2014 will be given the feature. Vehicles will rely on four major sensor systems. Ultrasonic sensors that tell the computer what’s around a 16-ft perimeter of the car; a forward-facing camera that helps determine where the lanes are and what cars are ahead of it, and which can also read speed signs; forward radar that’s used to detect fast-moving objects and which can see through rain, fog, and dust, as well as pulling from GPS and high-precision digital maps. Musk says it’s very important that people “exercise caution” and that they keep their hands on the wheel.
I don’t think that we have anything to worry about with cars driving themselves. They’re not going to take over the world…Each driver is a trainer in how the autopilot should work.
Model X launch
Musk launches the Model X SUV. The car can seat seven, has rear upward-opening “falcon” doors, and with the “ludicrous” option can reach 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds. The car also has a “bioweapon defense mode,” an advanced HEPA air filter that will clean any viruses out of the air. The car also has the best safety ratings of any SUV, a result of its low center of gravity and lack of a traditional engine. The Model X 90D costs $132,000, with a range of 257 miles and 0-60 of about 3.7 seconds; the P90D runs $142,000, 250 miles and 3.2-second acceleration.
If there’s ever a bioweapon attack, the safest place is your car. There’s actually a ‘bioweapon defense mode’ right there in the HVAC. We figure you shouldn’t have to think if you’re in an emergency.
Launch event announced
Tesla announces that the Model X will be launched on September, 29, in Fremont, California