TorqueNews Hot Topics (Page 32)

Tesla has started deliveries of a new Model Y variant in Germany with batteries supplied by BYD. The new Model Y, despite sporting the smallest battery pack size of all Model Y variants, is nonetheless showing impressive charging speed thanks to the BYD Blade batteries' ability to maintain peak charging speeds for the majority of the charging curve.

In the past few weeks, Tesla has been sharing several updates regarding the Cybertruck adding to the already fever pitch expectation for the all-electric truck. And today, dropping yet another tidbit, Tesla has shared a picture of a Cybertruck prototype undergoing testing in the snow at its Alaska winter testing ground.

Tesla has been ramping up Model Y production across the globe. The all-electric crossover is now produced in 4 factories across 3 continents. And now Elon Musk says Model Y is on track to become the best-selling vehicle of any kind in 2023.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the recently held Tesla Shareholders meeting announced that the EV maker is working on 2 new vehicles. Musk also said that the compact robotaxi and the yet-to-be-publicly shared vehicle will sell 5 million units a year.

Honda unveiled its brand new CR-V plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV last week at a media event held at their European R&D Center in Germany. Given that Honda currently lacks any plug-in vehicle selection in the US market, this news may raise the hopes of those who are anxious for Honda to bring plug-in vehicles back to the US. Let’s take a look at early specs.

Tesla's unique direct-to-consumer sales approach has been a significant contributor to the company's success. And today, in keeping up with its innovative approach, Elon Musk has announced that Tesla will be removing the vehicle order online payment processing fee.

Tesla officially inaugurated Giga Texas a little more than a year ago. However, today, according to leaked data the plant has reached a Model Y production rate of 5000 vehicles a week. This gives Giga Texas an annualized production rate of 250,000 vehicles per year.

Currently, Tesla is on FSD Beta v11.3 This FSD update has brought vector spaces and the use of all 8 cameras to highway driving. In addition, V11 also replaced most of the manually written codes with neural nets for highway driving. And today, Elon Musk says FSD Beta V12 will be end-to-end AI.

Elon Musk and the BBC haven't been on the best of terms. The contention between the two started when Tesla sued the BBC's Top Gear back in 2011. However, today, Top Gear has come out with a review of the Tesla Model S Plaid track pack and Elon Musk has responded. Although it doesn't appear Musk has seen the entire episode before responding.

Tesla has started production of a new Model Y variant at Giga Berlin with batteries supplied by BYD. The new Model Y variant's 45,000 euros starting price makes it a great offer. However, there are concerns even amongst die-hard Tesla fans regarding the safety of the BYD batteries which now power the new Model Y.

Tesla supplier IDRA is known for building enormous Giga Presses that are used to build the chassis of Tesla vehicles in one piece. However, today, IDRA has revealed a significantly smaller die-casting machine to be used to build electric motor components in one piece.

In an attempt to increase demand, since the start of the year, Tesla has cut vehicle prices several times. However, today Tesla has increased prices for the same reason. The $250 price increase is not meaningful enough to materially affect the company's gross margins, however, is likely targeted at creating FOMO in people waiting for further price cuts.

Since Elon Musk made the announcement that Tesla is targeting the end of Q3 to start Cybertruck deliveries, there has been a palpable uptick in anti-Cybertruck sentiment. And even more bizarrely these negative Cybertruck comments are concentrated on sites where Tesla enthusiasts meet such as Tesla-focused subreddits, comment sections of EV and Tesla-focused YouTube channels, news sites, and Twitter pages.

Last year the Tesla Model Y received a leading score of 98% in Euro NCAP's automatic emergency braking test despite the vehicle not being equipped with radar. And now, Elon Musk has said Tesla has made the last 2% of improvements that will allow the company's vehicles to receive a perfect score.

In an attempt to increase demand, since the start of the year, Tesla has cut vehicle prices several times. This has created concern among Tesla community members who have suggested that the EV should start advertising. However, now a Tesla retail investor has taken this task upon himself and has produced the first Model Y commercial.

According to newly released data, in the first quarter of 2023, the Model Y has become the best-selling vehicle in Europe. And even more impressively, the Model Y was able to beat not only battery-electric vehicles but also internal-combustion vehicles with a significantly lower starting price.

Over the weekend, Joe Rogan revealed that he test-drove a pre-production Cybertrruck at Giga Texas. Rogan was effusive in his praise of the truck stating that he was impressed by the Cybertruck's design, size, and performance. Rogan also predicted the success of the Cybertruck and said Bill Gates was making "a horrible choice" shorting Tesla stock.

Tesla stock has been experiencing wild swings in the last couple of years, with the latest sharp fall coming recently following Q1 2023 earnings results. And now, Elon Musk has advised Tesla investors to focus on the long term by reminding them of the stock's remarkable rise over the years.

ARK Invest has released a new Tesla research. In this new model, ARK says Tesla can reach $2,000 per share by 2027. However, this is ARK's base case scenario, in the firm's bull case, ARK says Tesla can reach more than $2,400 per share or a $7.9 trillion market cap.

Tesla's unique direct-to-consumer sales approach has been a significant contributor to the company's success. And today, in keeping up with its innovative approach, Tesla has opened a new "Giga Store" in China. The new showroom is designed to look like the inside of Tesla's Gigafactories and is a replica of a vehicle production line.

On April 8, a custom license plate was sold at a charity auction in Dubai for a world record-setting $15 million. At the time, the auction winner and what kind of vehicle would get the license plate were not revealed. However, today, a blacked-out Tesla Model X Plaid has been spotted driving in Dubai with the $15 million number 7 license plate.

Over the weekend Elon Musk officially monetized his Twitter account and has become a creator. As a creator on Twitter, Musk is charging $4.20 a month to subscribe to his Twitter page. For subscribers, Musk has promised to do an Ask-Me-Anything occasionally and that he will hold a subscriber-only Twitter Spaces.

In keeping with Tesla's status as the leader in the EV fast charging world, today, the EV maker has unveiled a brand new movable supercharger station at Coachella. Tesla's mobile Supercharger stations, built on semi-trailers, are self-contained units that include inverters, solar panels, lights, and a Tesla Megapack to power the vehicles.

The Tesla Cbyertruck has recently been spotted undergoing wind tunnel testing at Giga Texas. Video footage of the Cybertruck's test shows the vehicle's single-blade giant windshield wiper "Giga Wiper," in action. We also get our first confirmation that the Cybertruck's frunk will open together with the front grille similar to the Ford F-150 Lightning.

For months now there have been speculations that Tesla is working on a refresh to the Model 3 and has codenamed the project "Highland." And today, thanks to leaked pictures, we see our first image of the refreshed Model 3 with a more angular and larger front facia and headlight that resembles that of the 2nd generation Tesla Roadster.

According to data released by China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), in the month of March, the Model Y has become the highest-produced vehicle in the whole of China. And even more impressively, the Model Y was able to beat not only battery-electric vehicles but also internal-combustion vehicles with a significantly lower starting price.

In a new Twitter Spaces interview with the BBC, Elon Musk admitted that his Twitter acquisition was behind Tesla's more than 60% decline in 2022. Musk said, "Tesla stock sales caused the stock to plummet, which is not good." Musk also added that Twitter is in a healthy financial state and ruled out the chance of further Tesla stock sales.

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, and 2024 Republican Presidential candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy recently engaged in a Twitter back-and-forth about Tesla’s continued expansion in China and its implication for the US automotive market and national security.

Following the success of the Lathrop, Califonia Megafactory, Tesla at the recently held Investor Day said the plant will be replicated all around the world. And today, Tesla has officially signed a deal to build a new 40GWh Megafactory in China.

Popular YouTuber Zack from JerryRigEverything has released a new teardown video of Tesla's latest wireless charger. In his video, Zack showcases all the technologies that allowed Tesla's wireless charger to achieve a feat that Apple had called impossible and given up on.