Tesla

Elon Musk Introduces Tesla Cybercab at We, Robot with Full Self-Driving Autonomous Technology

In an era where autonomous vehicles are no longer a distant dream, Tesla has taken yet another leap forward with its highly anticipated Cybercab, an all-electric, fully autonomous robotaxi designed to transform urban mobility. Unveiled by Elon Musk at Tesla event ‘We, Robot’ on October 10, 2024, the Tesla Cybercab is more than just a vehicle; it’s a glimpse into a future where human drivers may become obsolete. But what does this mean for city transportation, and how does the Cybercab compare to Tesla’s other innovations? The Concept Behind the Cybercab Elon Musk’s vision for Tesla has always included a future where vehicles operate without human intervention. Tesla‘s Cybercab is the embodiment of that vision: a purpose-built, driverless taxi designed

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Automakers Reassess Electric Goals as Costs Outpace Expectations

Electric vehicles (EVs) were once heralded as the inevitable future of the automotive industry, with automakers rushing to announce bold plans to electrify their lineups. But as 2024 unfolds, it’s becoming clear that this future may not arrive as quickly as once expected. The last few months have seen a significant pullback from several major automakers, including Ford, General Motors (GM), Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, and Volvo. Economic headwinds, rising costs, and supply chain issues are forcing these companies to reassess their once-lofty EV ambitions. While consumer demand for electric vehicles remains strong, the reality of scaling EV production has proven far more complicated than anticipated. Ford’s Battery Plant Delay and Mixed Results Ford has been one of the most vocal advocates

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Tesla Cybertruck debuts: Elon Musk’s alter ego?

Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, doesn’t do subtle. He makes spaceships that explode and underground vehicle transportation tunnels to nowhere. For the past 16 years, his company has also manufactured the only electric cars to infiltrate the internal combustion engine automotive industry successfully. After several marketing promises gone awry, Musk has also introduced the Cybertruck, the massive utilitarian pickup he unveiled as a concept four years ago. It’s a futuristic contraption of extremes in design, construction and relevance. It’s the first stainless steel vehicle since the DeLorean featured in the 1985 movie “Back to the Future.” Tesla enthusiasts have praised the Cybertruck as revolutionary. Detractors claim it’s reminiscent of poorly made metal origami wedges. With public sightings infrequent and

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Tesla Gets Approval For Diner and Drive-in Movie Supercharger in Los Angeles

In a groundbreaking move that underscores Tesla‘s commitment to enhancing the EV charging experience, the company has secured the necessary permits to establish a unique Diner and Drive-In Supercharger in Los Angeles. This development, as confirmed by documents from the LA Department of Building and Safety, is a testament to Tesla‘s innovative approach to the EV infrastructure. Tesla‘s Supercharger Network, already the most comprehensive of any global automaker, is set to be further revolutionized. While advancements in charging technology have reduced wait times, the allure of a multifaceted experience at these stations remains. Enter Tesla’s latest venture: a combination of a diner and a drive-in movie theater, poised to redefine the charging stopover. For years, the electric vehicle giant has

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#266, Cars.com releases 18th ANNUAL American-made index

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:20 — 60.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreBuying a vehicle made in the United States is essential to many consumers. According to Cars.com, about half of the car buyers in the United States say they will pay more for a vehicle that creates U.S. jobs. Additionally, 24 percent of Americans believe a manufacturer has to be headquartered in the U.S. to qualify as “substantially contributing to the U.S. economy.” Jenni Newman, the editor-in-chief of cars.com, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. We discuss consumers’ preferences for cars made in the United States. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is away this week, so I interview Newman, a repeat guest, about

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Volvo’s Electric Future With Tesla Superchargers and In-House Autonomous Driving

In the rapidly evolving world of electric vehicles (EVs), strategic partnerships and technological advancements are key to staying ahead of the curve. Volvo Cars, renowned Swedish automaker, is making significant strides in this direction. The company recently announced a landmark agreement with Tesla, granting Volvo‘s EV drivers access to Tesla’s vast Supercharger network across North America. While Volvo is leveraging Tesla’s charging infrastructure, it has chosen to develop its own autonomous driving technology, underlining its commitment to innovation and independence in the EV sector. A Strategic Partnership with Tesla Volvo Cars is the first European automaker to sign an agreement with Tesla, enabling current and future electric Volvo car drivers to access Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network across the United States,

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Lucid Air: a bonafide Tesla rival — finally

In the 15 years since Tesla debuted, several potential competitors have swiftly arrived and departed without any impact. Lucid Motors, less than two years into its luxury electric sedan life, is an exception. The Lucid Air, designed in Newark, California, built in Casa Grande, Arizona, and majority owned by a Saudi Arabian sovereign investment fund, at least equals the omnipresent Tesla in a dozen criteria. It outdoes the EV stalwart in several ways. It’s new, powerful, industry bending and has limited availability, traits Tesla also had in its infancy. Unveiled in October 2021 as a 2022 model, Lucid produced 7,180 vehicles last year, about one-third of the original estimate after industry-wide supply chain issues. The 2023 edition is now also

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2022 AMG EQS: Tesla rival worth its hefty price

Consumers purchase vehicles for nearly as many reasons and varieties of cars and trucks. Budget, fuel economy, brand preference, dependability and an intangible like status are priorities. The 2022 AMG EQS has qualities from several categories, it’s also a vehicle purchased simply because a buyer who doesn’t need justification wants it. Introduced about a year ago, the full-size luxury sedan is the first electric offered by the AMG line, the separate but connected, performance-oriented lineup of vehicles affiliated with Mercedes. It’s not marketed so directly, but it’s the German manufacturer’s response to Tesla. It has many features also available in the Tesla lineup, but it’s offered by a nearly 100-year-old carmaker and without the controversy of the polarizing e-machines introduced

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Elon Musk faces more woes including massive lawsuit

Elon Musk can seemingly never escape controversy. The latest? The electric vehicle pioneer and two of his companies, Tesla and SpaceX, are being sued for $258 billion. According to Bloomberg, the business news service, the CEO of the country’s increasingly popular EV, is facing a massive lawsuit filed by Keith Johnson and announced on June 16. On the same day, employees of SpaceX, sent a letter to the company’s executives detailing that Musk is a “distraction and embarrassment” to the company. Elon Musk: Dodgy Dogecoin? “Elon’s behavior in the public sphere is a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment for us, particularly in recent weeks,” read the letter, which was provided to Reuters, the international news service. Musk was also

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Tesla in space rings true with skyrocketing price increases

There once was a time when Elon Musk unveiled a plan to change the automotive landscape and offer his Tesla performance electric car for about $35,000. Musk has changed the car industry but his marketing promise never materialized. The original Tesla Model S debuted in March 2009 with a base price of $57,400 ($49,900 after federal tax credits). With the company founder’s pricing increase announcement March 15, the entry level price for Tesla is now about 40 percent more than originally promoted nearly 15 years ago. The latest price hike is far from the first price increase for the performance car. But it’s the second time in a week and the latest increase affects the brand’s entire line-up of electric

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#217, RVs, Tesla, Hyundai Santa Cruz, World Car of the Year

New RVs. A massive Tesla recall. Hyundai‘s new hip pickup. The World Car of the Year nominations. It’s all covered — and more — this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia don’t have a guest on Episode No. 117, which gives us the ideal opportunity to catch up with the never-ending and always-changing automotive landscape. We start with the continuing still-new exploits of Bruce and his wife’s adventures in their 29-foot Keystone RV and its towing vehicle a new Ford F-250 pickup truck. Bruce details learning the nuances of backing the RV into a camping site and his quickly advancing skill set as a first-time RV owner. Depending upon perspective, Elon Musk is the

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New Tesla rear camera, trunk woes prompt 475,000 recalls

Tesla is recalling more than 475,000 of its Model 3 and Model S electric cars from model years 2014 to 2021 because of rearview camera and trunk issues that increase the risk of crashing. The U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer is recalling 356,309 2017-2020 Model 3 vehicles to address rearview camera issues and 119,009 Model S vehicles due to front hood problems, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced The federal regulator has been discussing another camera issue with the automaker while probing the electric vehicle manufacturer’s driver assistant system and other issues. According to the manufacturer’s sales figures, the total number of vehicles being recalled is about the same volume of vehicles Tesla delivered in 2020. Tesla: Recall Issues

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#202, Joe Wiesenfelder of Cars.com talks future of EVs

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:39 — 53.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreJoe Wiesenfelder is the executive editor of Cars.com and he’s immersed in the future of EVs — electric vehicles. According to the website’s recent data, about one-third of car buyers are actively looking to purchase their first electric vehicle. But many questions remain with the anticipated growth. Wiesenfelder and his colleagues are counting on it. Wiesenfelder is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. EVs: Marketplace will expand Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I discuss with the long-time journalist the future of the electric vehicle market and the goal of Cars.com to assist consumers with their buying decisions. “Cars.com bought its first

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#194, Lawyer, engineering expert questions Tesla’s AutoPilot

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:45 — 69.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreTesla isn’t new to controversy and nor is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and both are back in the news. The NHTSA, previously critical of the electric vehicle manufacturer, recently said its conducting a preliminary evaluation into the carmaker’s self-titled “Autopilot” systems after 11 crashes in nine states. The concern, the agency reported, is how the driver assistance technology works to “monitor, assist, and enforce the driver’s engagement with driving while Autopilot is in use.” Bryant Walker Smith, an associate professor in the School of Law and the School of Engineering at the University of South Carolina, discusses the Tesla situation on

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PREVIEW: 2022 Kia EV6 channels Tesla

The 2022 Kia EV6 crossover arrives as the carmaker’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV). The introduction of EV6 signals the U.S. launch of Kia’s ‘Plan S’ strategy. It will deliver 11 all-new electrified models globally by 2026. Starting with the EV6, Kia’s EV lineup will carry a unique naming convention. The “EV” designation will be followed by a number indicating the car’s position in the lineup. The EV6 can be configured with rear-or all-wheel drive and is available with a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle or an electric motor on both axles. While all all-wheel-drive models have the larger battery pack and either 313 or 576 total horsepower, the base rear-drive example has a smaller battery

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#187, Cars.com index: Tesla, the most American made

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:08 — 38.6MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreTesla innovation has changed the automotive world with a lot of industry firsts. Its latest designation is the top spot on the latest American Made Index (AMI). Introduced 16 years ago by the editors of Cars.com, the AMI analyzes a range of factors to determine the  percentage of new cars and trucks made American Kelsey Mays, the assistant managing editor at the online motoring website that debuted in 1998, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. He discusses with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia the latest index result and Tesla’s top spot. “We like to think that the index

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