Latest news with #Cybertruck-inspired
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tesla Robotaxi to launch soon? Viral video of Elon Musk's long-awaited rollout sparks buzz among investors
A Tesla robotaxi was spotted navigating Austin without a driver, prompting Elon Musk to confirm it's part of a limited launch starting this month. While Tesla's service begins with just 10–20 vehicles, it's being touted as a leap toward unsupervised self-driving. But critics question whether the tech is truly autonomous or just tightly controlled demos. With rivals like Waymo already running fully driverless services, Tesla's rollout may be more about optics than innovation—yet its success could decide Tesla's future. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Unveiled in plain sight Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A controlled pilot, not a full launch Musk's high-stakes bet on autonomy A crowded, competitive street Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Is it really autonomous? Investors still betting on the dream A video showing a Tesla Model Y moving through a junction in Austin, Texas, without anyone in the driver's seat has sparked widespread attention online. The clip, shared on X (formerly Twitter), shows the car turning left past two pedestrians on a crosswalk. It carried a 'Robotaxi' logo on its side and appeared to have no one behind the wheel—just one person in the passenger CEO Elon Musk reposted the video, calling it a 'Beautifully simple design.' It's the strongest visual signal yet of Tesla's long-awaited robotaxi rollout, which Musk has now confirmed could begin as early as 22 June, with the first self-driving delivery to a customer's home planned for 28 short 10-second video was posted on Tuesday and has since been reshared by several Tesla executives, including Ashok Elluswamy, Tesla's VP of Autopilot and AI. 'Slowly slowly at first, then…' Elluswamy wrote in a cryptic reference to the gradual rollout vehicle in the video appeared to be a refreshed Model Y. Though the windows were tinted, there was no visible driver. The logo on the car matched the Cybertruck-inspired font Tesla has been using in recent branding. When asked whether this marked a public launch or another test run, Tesla did not respond to media requests. The user who first posted the clip also remained Musk clarified on X that these vehicles are 'unmodified Tesla cars coming straight from the factory,' meaning every new Tesla built is technically capable of full the attention, Tesla's service will remain small and tightly monitored for now. Musk said the rollout will begin with 10 vehicles, possibly scaling to 40 over several weeks. 'We just want to put our toe in the water, make sure everything is OK, then put a few more toes in the water,' he said during Tesla's Q4 earnings call earlier this year. 'With safety of the general public and those in the car as our top priority.'For now, Tesla is listed as being in the testing phase on the City of Austin's official autonomous vehicle registry. In contrast, Waymo, Google's autonomous unit, is already listed as robotaxi debut will be restricted to geofenced zones in Austin. These vehicles are equipped with Tesla's Full Self-Driving ( FSD ) software and will be closely monitored—some remotely. According to Musk, 'We have a more advanced model in alpha stage that has ~4X the params, but still requires a lot of polishing. That's probably ready for deploy in a few months.'The timing of this test launch is critical for Tesla. The company's profits fell 71% in the first quarter of 2025, and its core business has come under pressure as Musk has polarised public opinion by wading into U.S. politics. Tesla's long-promised robotaxi programme is now being seen as a make-or-break an interview with CNBC, Musk suggested that within a few months, Tesla could have 1,000 robotaxis operating in the U.S. By the end of 2026, he projected that number could swell to over a million. 'The streets will change very rapidly,' he posted on Tuesday. 'Autonomous cars will be very common throughout the world in 2 to 3 years.'Tesla isn't the only company running the driverless race. Waymo is already offering robotaxi rides in four U.S. cities—Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. It also recently partnered with Uber to offer autonomous trips through the Uber to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Waymo's fleet of around 100 robotaxis in Austin is 'now busier than over 99% of all drivers in Austin in terms of complete trips per day.' In California alone, Waymo's paid rides increased from 12,000 in August 2023 to over 708,000 in March 2025. In total, Waymo has delivered more than 5 million rides over the past three years, per the California Public Utilities Commission Other competitors testing autonomous vehicles in Austin include Amazon's Zoox, Volkswagen ADMT , and AVRide, a spinoff of has long promised that Tesla would leapfrog rivals by relying solely on cameras and computer vision—no lidar, no radar. 'The overwhelming focus is on solving full self-driving,' Musk said back in 2022. 'That's essential. It's really the difference between Tesla being worth a lot of money or worth basically zero.'But the reality is more complicated. Tesla's current software is still classified as Level 2 driver assistance and has required frequent human interventions. Federal regulators have linked Tesla's Autopilot and FSD software to dozens of crashes, some fatal. Last year, Tesla recalled over two million vehicles to add safety warnings and software Goldstein, an analyst at Morningstar , noted: 'I see really little impact in 2025,' adding that Musk's 2026 target for millions of robotaxis is 'a bit optimistic.' He believes Tesla may truly scale by 2028—if the software doubts, some analysts remain bullish. Wedbush's Dan Ives called the upcoming Austin launch 'key,' writing: 'We believe the vast majority of valuation upside looking ahead for Tesla is centred around the success of its autonomous vision.' He maintains a $500 price target, and expects Tesla to expand its robotaxi fleet to 20–25 U.S. cities in the next analyst Stephen Gengaro wrote that Tesla could dominate with its seven million autonomy-ready vehicles already on roads. 'Competitors' fleets of just thousands of cars would only be able to serve a confined portion of the total addressable market,' he has asked city officials to keep details of the pilot private, citing trade secrets. But the public rollout is now visible for anyone to see—starting with a short, silent turn caught on question now is whether this is the beginning of Tesla's self-driving revolution—or just another tightly managed tech demo designed to keep the vision alive. As Musk put it, 'First Tesla that drives itself from factory end of line all the way to a customer house is June 28.'The countdown has begun.
Auto Blog
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Tesla's Three-Row Model Y Is Coming Back, But Is It Worth It?
But for some families, this could be welcome news. Does Cramming Extra Seats In The Model Y Make Sense? The updated Tesla Model Y Juniper was revealed earlier this year, with changes including Cybertruck-inspired styling and a refined interior, all aimed at helping this electric crossover maintain its best-seller status. What the Model Y Juniper did not offer was the option of a third seating row, as had been available on the pre-facelift version. Well, a new Tesla customer email shared on Twitter shows that this option is returning, but this is one box we'd leave unticked if we were buying a Model Y. Oops! We're unable to load this content right now. View directly on 𝕏 A Third Row Unfit For Adults Source: Tesla The Juniper isn't an all-new model, so shares the same exterior dimensions with the pre-facelift Model Y. That means it shares the same amount of interior space, too. Looking at the data, the three-row Model Y has only 26.5 inches of third-row legroom and 34.6 inches of headroom. For some perspective, the Toyota GR86 – which is technically a small 2+2 sports car – has more legroom at the back than this Model Y does in its third row. You can free up more third-row legroom if those in the second row are willing to move their seats forward, but this impacts their comfort levels. While smaller adults and teens can technically fit in there, the space is unbelievably cramped and claustrophobic. Most will find their heads pressed up against the back window, and if the car stops suddenly, it's easy to bash your forehead into the low roof panel. The only real use we can see for this third row is if you will often be transporting two smaller young kids. Third Row Eats Into Cargo Space, Too Source: Tesla Whereas the five-seater Model Y Juniper has 29 cubic feet of trunk space behind the second row, the pre-facelift seven-seater model has 26.6 cubes. Admittedly, this is still an acceptable size for what isn't a large vehicle. If the third row of seats are in use, the cargo capacity shrinks to 12.8 cubes. How Much Will The Three-Row Option Be? Tesla Model Y Juniper — Source: Tesla Previously, pricing for the three-row Model Y added $2,000 to $2,500 more to the MSRP, depending on exactly when the car was purchased. Looking at the current Long Range Rear-Wheel-Drive variant, it costs $44,990, so will be closer to $47k with the option installed, assuming similar pricing for the Juniper. Ultimately, unless you have a very specific use case – regularly transporting two kids in the third row – we'd suggest buying a more spacious three-row SUV. Then again, if you want to stay in the Tesla family, need three rows, and don't want to spend way more on a Model X, the Model Y with three rows is your only option. It's not known exactly when the three-row option will become available again, but we expect it to arrive soon. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
NZ Autocar
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Tesla Model Y Performance hits the Nurburgring
A revised Performance version of Tesla's 'Juniper' Model Y update will soon join the electric family SUV line-up. Despite the camouflage, it's possible to make out subtle design tweaks. Tesla doesn't go all out to hide its potent Performance or top-spec Plaid versions. This tester has an identical front bumper to the facelifted Model Y, and the Cybertruck-inspired lighting signature. Rear lights are unlikely to change either. In fact the only real change to hint it's the Performance model is in the new ducktail spoiler and flash wheel design. The latter will come wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres. You can expect red brake calipers too for the Performance mode, as seen on this prototype. And a lower ride height is possible. Expect a suspension retune and perhaps extended range, given that the other variants showed range improvements. It is up to 620km for the Long Range Rear-Drive model. Check out our review of the 2023 Tesla Model Y Performance here. There could be a boost in performance, too. The previous Performance model managed 0-96 in 3.5 seconds. An even lower figure would place it amongst some seriously rapid SUVs. There will surely be a redesigned centre console, like with the other updated Model Y variants. A new wheel is likely too. And instead of having two stalks the new car will have just one, with gear selection being done via the central screen. The infotainment system is the latest from Tesla, although it sits within the same 15.4-inch touchscreen display.
West Australian
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Tesla Australia says it's focused on cars, not Elon Musk
Tesla's Australian division says its main focus right now is to get people behind the wheel of its cars, including the facelifted Tesla Model Y , amid persistent US reports about the electric vehicle (EV) company's controversial CEO Elon Musk and his involvement with the Trump administration. While it's impossible to draw direct correlations between Mr Musk's political endeavours and the carmaker's sales performance, Tesla's local sales have undoubtedly been on a significant downward spiral over the past 12 months. In April 2025, Tesla managed just 500 deliveries for the entire month , almost 76 per cent fewer EVs than it sold in the same month last year, placing it 23rd on the sales chart just ahead of Porsche, but behind other luxury brands like Land Rover and Audi. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . Meantime, key rival BYD sold more than six times the number of vehicles last month (3207), over 127 per cent up on April 2024 and placing it 10th overall for the month. Year to date, Australian Tesla sales are now almost 62 per cent down. Asked about the potential impact of Mr Musk's high-profile activities in the US on local sales and perceptions of his company, Tesla Australia country director Thom Drew said he preferred to focus on Tesla's vehicles rather than its CEO's politics. 'Externally, looking at any of these political factors, is going to have some kind of influence, depending on what people see in the media, so that would likely be having an impact on people engaging with us,' he told CarExpert at this week's Australian launch of the facelifted 2025 Tesla Model Y. 'We're trying to take this as an opportunity to remind the Australian public of our products and how great they are.' The Model Y's midlife 'Juniper' facelift brings a raft of updates including revised suspension, tweaked interior equipment, increased range, and Cybertruck-inspired styling. The Model Y was unavailable for several months in the lead up to first deliveries of the facelifted mid-size electric SUV, heavily impacting the American brand's local sales given the model's status as its best-selling vehicle and Australia's favourite EV in 2024. 'Obviously [with] a new Model Y coming up, we're focusing on that, and then also our local business,' said Mr Drew. 'So far, the response has been amazing. We've only just started test drives of [the Model Y] within the past few weeks in Australia, and we've had record test drive numbers than we've had in our entire time in the country. '[That's] partly why we've been trying to make sure people can see into Tesla Australia, and who we are as an established brand here, [to] help solidify why we still remain the number one EV brand in the country.' MORE: Tesla revenue plunges as global sales slump MORE: No love for Elon Musk? Tesla owners are ditching their cars at record rates MORE: Tesla vandalism and fake ads highlight anti-Elon Musk sentiment
7NEWS
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Tesla Australia says it's focused on cars, not Elon Musk
Tesla's Australian division says its main focus right now is to get people behind the wheel of its cars, including the facelifted Tesla Model Y, amid persistent US reports about the electric vehicle (EV) company's controversial CEO Elon Musk and his involvement with the Trump administration. While it's impossible to draw direct correlations between Mr Musk's political endeavours and the carmaker's sales performance, Tesla's local sales have undoubtedly been on a significant downward spiral over the past 12 months. In April 2025, Tesla managed just 500 deliveries for the entire month, almost 76 per cent fewer EVs than it sold in the same month last year, placing it 23rd on the sales chart just ahead of Porsche, but behind other luxury brands like Land Rover and Audi. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Meantime, key rival BYD sold more than six times the number of vehicles last month (3207), over 127 per cent up on April 2024 and placing it 10th overall for the month. Year to date, Australian Tesla sales are now almost 62 per cent down. Asked about the potential impact of Mr Musk's high-profile activities in the US on local sales and perceptions of his company, Tesla Australia country director Thom Drew said he preferred to focus on Tesla's vehicles rather than its CEO's politics. 'Externally, looking at any of these political factors, is going to have some kind of influence, depending on what people see in the media, so that would likely be having an impact on people engaging with us,' he told CarExpert at this week's Australian launch of the facelifted 2025 Tesla Model Y. 'We're trying to take this as an opportunity to remind the Australian public of our products and how great they are.' The Model Y's midlife 'Juniper' facelift brings a raft of updates including revised suspension, tweaked interior equipment, increased range, and Cybertruck-inspired styling. The Model Y was unavailable for several months in the lead up to first deliveries of the facelifted mid-size electric SUV, heavily impacting the American brand's local sales given the model's status as its best-selling vehicle and Australia's favourite EV in 2024. 'Obviously [with] a new Model Y coming up, we're focusing on that, and then also our local business,' said Mr Drew. 'So far, the response has been amazing. We've only just started test drives of [the Model Y] within the past few weeks in Australia, and we've had record test drive numbers than we've had in our entire time in the country. '[That's] partly why we've been trying to make sure people can see into Tesla Australia, and who we are as an established brand here, [to] help solidify why we still remain the number one EV brand in the country.'
