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  • Tesla’s robotaxi service reaches Miami.

    Tesla’s robotaxi service reaches Miami.

    Tesla’s robotaxi service is now operating in Miami, the company said on July 3, 2026, marking the ride-hailing network’s expansion into a third market after Texas and California, according to Reuters. Tesla’s official Robotaxi account posted “Robotaxi now available in Miami” on X to announce the launch, Reuters reported.

    The initial service area covers roughly 10 to 14 square miles across central and western Miami-Dade County, including routes near Miami International Airport. Access is currently limited to riders using Tesla’s app through a waitlist, rather than opening to the general public immediately, according to Hoodline.

    Unlike some of Tesla’s earlier robotaxi rollouts, which launched with a safety monitor in the front seat, reporting from Not a Tesla App indicates the Miami vehicles are operating without anyone in the driver’s seat from day one.

    Why it matters if you own a Tesla

    The Miami launch doesn’t change anything about the car in your driveway — Robotaxi runs on a separate fleet and app, not your personal vehicle’s Autopilot or FSD Supervised software. It is, however, a sign of how quickly Tesla is scaling the service: Miami is the third market in under a year, following earlier launches in Texas and California.

    Tesla continues to face competition in the robotaxi space from Alphabet’s Waymo and Amazon’s Zoox, both of which are also expanding their own driverless ride-hailing services in US cities, per the same Reuters report.

    For now, Miami access is limited to an initial rider group. If you’re in the area and want to try it, check Tesla’s Robotaxi app for waitlist availability rather than expecting immediate, citywide access.

    Photo by Stephen Leonardi.

  • Tesla’s newest update expands blind-spot warning while parked, adds dashcam encryption and parental controls

    Tesla’s newest update expands blind-spot warning while parked, adds dashcam encryption and parental controls

    Tesla began rolling out software version 2026.20.6.1 to its fleet starting July 2, 2026, a quick follow-up patch built on the 2026.20.6 update that came before it. As of early July, the new version was still reaching cars in batches, according to rollout tracking site Teslascope, and it remains Tesla’s newest released version as of this writing, per Not a Tesla App’s running list of updates. The update does not add any major new driving features, but it changes several things that affect everyday ownership, including parking safety, dashcam privacy, and parental controls.

    The most safety-relevant change is a wider rollout of “Blind Spot Warning While Parked,” a feature meant to prevent so-called “dooring” accidents, where a driver or passenger opens a car door into the path of a passing cyclist, pedestrian, or vehicle. According to Tesla’s own release notes, when the system detects an approaching object while the car is parked, a chime sounds and the door will not open on the first press of the door button; occupants can override the warning by pressing again a moment later. Tesla also displays a visual warning: on cars with cabin ambient lighting, the door-side light strip turns red, and some models add a small red indicator light near the front pillar speaker grille, according to a report from Not a Tesla App. This update carries forward an expansion that brought the feature to the current Model Y and to 2021-or-newer Model S and Model X worldwide, adding to coverage that already included the Model 3 and Cybertruck, as reported by Teslarati. For an owner, this means the car may briefly resist opening a door if a bike or car is approaching from behind. That short delay is intentional, not a malfunction, and a second press will open the door regardless.

    The update also changes how dashcam footage is stored. Tesla’s cars continuously record from their external cameras, and owners can save clips to a USB drive for later viewing. Starting with this update, clips saved to USB are encrypted by default, meaning a saved clip can no longer simply be opened on any computer. To view or share a clip, an owner now needs to decrypt it first, either through the Dashcam app or at dashcam.tesla.com, according to Tesla’s release notes. Owners who prefer the previous behavior can turn encryption off from the touchscreen, under Controls, then Safety, then Encrypt Dashcam Recordings. The change mainly protects owners in the event a USB drive is lost or stolen, since dashcam footage can capture license plates, faces, and location information that owners may not want viewable by a stranger.

    A new parental-controls option lets an owner block the car’s Browser, Theater video-streaming app, and Arcade games entirely. The setting is turned on from Controls, then Safety, then Parental Controls, while the car is in Park, according to the same release notes. This gives parents or other primary drivers a way to keep those apps from being used from the driver’s or passenger’s seat at all, rather than relying on other family members to simply avoid them.

    Tesla’s in-car assistant, Grok, built by Elon Musk’s company xAI, also continues to expand under this software branch. The hands-free “Hey Grok” wake phrase lets an owner open the assistant by speaking, instead of tapping the screen or holding down the steering-wheel voice button, according to Tesla’s release notes. Tesla has separately been adding Grok to more countries in this same 2026.20 update series, including Chile, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong, according to Not a Tesla App. Grok remains in early beta, and Tesla says it does not yet control car functions like climate or lighting; for now it mainly helps with navigation, including adding or editing destinations by voice command.

    Owners do not need to do anything to get 2026.20.6.1. Like all Tesla software, it downloads over Wi-Fi and installs automatically once the car is idle, and this same update cycle added the option to let updates install overnight on their own, according to Tesla’s release notes. Owners can check whether it has arrived by opening Controls, then Software, on the car’s touchscreen.

    Photo by Vladimir Srajber.

  • Tesla Q2 2026 delivery numbers: what owners should know.

    Tesla Q2 2026 delivery numbers: what owners should know.

    Tesla delivered 480,126 vehicles worldwide in the second quarter of 2026, according to the company’s official production and delivery report published July 2. It’s the best second quarter in the company’s history and the first year-over-year delivery increase after two straight years of decline.

    Tesla produced 451,758 vehicles during the quarter and delivered more than it built, which means the company worked down roughly 28,000 vehicles of existing inventory rather than adding to it, according to Electrek’s analysis of the report. That reverses a buildup of about 50,000 excess vehicles that had accumulated in the first quarter of 2026.

    How this compares to expectations

    Deliveries came in about 74,000 vehicles above the average Wall Street forecast, which had called for roughly 406,000 deliveries, per Electrek’s pre-report consensus tracking. Even the most optimistic analyst estimates, in the 418,000-to-420,000 range, fell well short of the actual number. Deliveries were also up 25% from the same quarter last year, when Tesla delivered 384,122 vehicles — and this quarter’s total is the second-highest of any quarter in company history, trailing only the 497,099 vehicles delivered in the third quarter of 2025.

    The Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV accounted for 467,762 of the quarter’s deliveries. The remaining 12,364 covers the Model S, Model X, Cybertruck, and Semi combined. Tesla doesn’t break out delivery figures by individual model beyond the Model 3/Y grouping in its quarterly reports.

    What’s behind the jump

    The comparison is notable because it isn’t riding the same tailwind as last year. Q2 2025 deliveries were inflated by a rush of buyers trying to close deals before the US federal EV tax credit and similar rebate programs in other countries expired, which made this year’s growth, arriving without that same incentive push, more of a demand signal than the raw percentage alone suggests.

    Coverage from Yahoo Finance points to a few concrete factors instead: Tesla introduced lower-priced variants of the Model 3 and Model Y earlier this year, expanded its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software into additional European markets, and saw a bump in European demand tied to a spike in fuel costs during the quarter. None of that changes what you pay for a Tesla today, but it helps explain where the extra volume came from.

    Tesla shares actually fell after the report — down roughly 7.5% on the day, per the same Yahoo Finance coverage — a reminder that a single quarter’s delivery beat doesn’t map cleanly onto stock performance, and isn’t something that should factor into an ownership decision either way.

    Energy storage grew too

    Tesla’s energy storage business — the Powerwall and Megapack products — deployed 13.5 GWh of storage in the quarter, up 40% from 9.6 GWh a year earlier. That’s a smaller beat than the vehicle side: it came in slightly below the roughly 13.8 GWh analysts had expected.

    What it means if you own or are ordering a Tesla

    A quarter where Tesla delivers more cars than it builds is generally good news if you’re waiting on a new order: it suggests the company is working through existing inventory rather than letting a backlog grow, which historically correlates with more predictable delivery windows rather than longer ones. It doesn’t tell you anything directly about pricing or incentives — those are set separately, change independently of delivery reports, and are worth confirming directly on Tesla’s order pages before you buy.

    If the lower-priced Model 3 and Model Y variants mentioned above are part of what drove this quarter’s numbers, it’s a good sign that Tesla is actively working the price end of the lineup — worth checking current configurator pricing if a more affordable trim is what’s been holding you back from ordering.

    For current owners, strong delivery and energy deployment numbers are one input, among many, into the broader health of the company that built your car and, if you have one, your Powerwall or home charging setup. But a single quarter’s delivery count isn’t a signal about your vehicle’s warranty, service network, or software support, which are governed separately and haven’t changed as a result of this report.

    Tesla is scheduled to release full second-quarter financial results on July 22, 2026, which will include more detail on margins, energy business profitability, and forward guidance than the delivery report alone covers. Its next production-and-delivery report will cover the third quarter and typically arrives in the first few days of October.

    One more data point worth keeping in perspective: this quarter also beat Tesla’s previous Q2 record of 466,140 vehicles, set back in 2023, by roughly 14,000 units. Combined with the swing from a 50,000-vehicle inventory buildup in Q1 to a 28,000-vehicle drawdown in Q2, the numbers suggest Tesla matched production more closely to actual demand this quarter than it had in the recent past — which, if it holds, is generally the kind of trend that supports steadier delivery timelines for new orders rather than the swings buyers have sometimes seen around quarter-end pushes.

    Photo by Craig Adderley.

  • xAI All Hands: Scaling to 1 Million GPUs and the Roadmap to “Macro Hard”

    xAI All Hands: Scaling to 1 Million GPUs and the Roadmap to “Macro Hard”

    In a milestone “All Hands” meeting recorded in February 2026, Elon Musk and the xAI leadership team detailed the company’s meteoric rise and a fundamental reorganization designed to accelerate the path to AGI. In just two and a half years, xAI has transformed from a “toddler” startup into a leader in compute velocity and generative media.

    A Major Reorganization for Velocity

    To maintain what Musk calls “maniacal velocity,” xAI has reorganized into four specialized application pillars designed to handle the company’s massive scale [00:04:16]:

    • Grok Main & Voice: Focused on the core foundation model and high-performance, real-time voice agents [00:04:55].
    • Grok Code: A team dedicated to recursive self-improvement, where AI is used to train the next generation of coding models [00:09:40].
    • Imagine: The visual generation wing, which has scaled to industry-leading volume in record time [00:13:48].
    • Macro Hard: A futuristic project aimed at the digital emulation of entire corporations [00:16:59].

    Dominating the Generative Media Landscape

    The Imagine team reported staggering growth metrics that place xAI at the top of the leaderboard for visual content. Within six months of launch, the platform is now seeing:

    • 50 Million videos generated daily [00:13:48].
    • 6 Billion images generated per month—surpassing major competitors by nearly 6x in volume [00:14:04].

    The roadmap for Imagine includes real-time video rendering and the ability to generate 10–20 minute video sequences in a single shot by the end of the year [00:15:07].

    The Memphis Supercomputer: 1 Million GPUs

    xAI’s compute advantage is anchored by its massive facility in Memphis. The team revealed they are scaling from their initial 100,000 H100 cluster to one million H100 GPU equivalents [00:02:10].

    The facility is a marvel of vertical integration, featuring 847 miles of fiber per data hall and a power system supported by the world’s largest Tesla Mega Pack installation [00:32:24]. Musk noted that the speed at which xAI brings compute online is currently unmatched in the industry [00:34:27].

    The “Macro Hard” Vision: Emulating Digital Companies

    Perhaps the most ambitious project discussed was Macro Hard. Musk described this as the “emulation of entire human companies” where the output is purely digital [00:19:56]. By creating a fully capable digital human emulator, xAI intends to orchestrate complex tasks across engineering, law, and medicine, leading to what they describe as “immense economic prosperity” [00:18:36].

    X App: The Everything App Evolution

    The meeting also highlighted the continued evolution of the X app into a centralized communication and financial hub:

    • Financial Success: X has officially crossed $1 Billion in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) from subscriptions [00:38:04].
    • X Money: A central source for monetary transactions is currently in closed beta and moving toward a worldwide launch [00:40:14].
    • Open Source: Musk reiterated his commitment to transparency, promising to open-source the recommendation and chat algorithms [00:39:03].

    Beyond Earth: The Lunar Mass Driver

    In a final look at the “interstellar ambitions” of the company, Musk connected the dots between xAI and SpaceX. To truly understand the universe, Musk argues we must access the energy of the sun at a scale Earth cannot provide [00:43:04].

    The plan involves launching Orbital Data Centers at a rate of 100–200 gigawatts per year, eventually scaling to a Lunar Mass Driver—a lunar-based facility that would launch AI satellites into deep space to explore the galaxy [00:43:53].

    To learn more about joining the team or the technical specifics of the Memphis cluster, visit x.ai.

  • The Future of Intelligence: Key Takeaways from Elon Musk’s Vision for AI and Robotics

    The Future of Intelligence: Key Takeaways from Elon Musk’s Vision for AI and Robotics

    In a wide-ranging interview with Dwarkesh Patel, Elon Musk detailed a future defined by a “maniacal sense of urgency.” From moving AI compute into space to the recursive exponential growth of humanoid robots, Musk’s roadmap focuses on identifying and crushing the “limiting factors” of human progress.

    1. Space-Based AI: Solving the Earthly Power Crisis

    One of the most provocative predictions Musk made is that within 36 months, space will become the most economically compelling location for AI data centers. The reasoning is rooted in physics and resource availability:

    • The Electricity Bottleneck: While chip production is growing exponentially, Earth’s power grid is relatively stagnant. Space offers an untapped frontier for energy.
    • Solar Efficiency: Without an atmosphere, day/night cycles, or weather interference, solar panels in space are roughly five times more effective than those on the ground.
    • Battery-Free Operations: By operating in constant sunlight, space-based AI avoids the massive infrastructure costs of the batteries required to power Earth-based centers at night.

    2. Optimus and the “Infinite Money Glitch”

    Musk views the Tesla Optimus humanoid robot not just as a tool, but as a fundamental shift in the global economy. He refers to it as an “infinite money glitch” because of its ability to eventually manufacture more versions of itself.

    This growth is driven by three “recursive exponentials”:

    1. Digital intelligence.
    2. Chip capability.
    3. Electromechanical dexterity.

    Tesla has transitioned to a “physics first” approach, even designing custom actuators in-house to achieve human-level hand dexterity. The ultimate goal is mass production reaching one million units per year by Optimus Version 3.

    3. Scaling Beyond Limits: The “Terapab” Initiative

    To support the massive compute requirements of the next decade, Musk introduced the concept of Terapab—a massive manufacturing initiative designed to bypass current supply chain backlogs. He anticipates that SpaceX and Tesla may eventually need to build their own dedicated “fabs” to produce millions of wafers for logic and memory chips every month.

    4. xAI: Understanding the Universe Through Truth

    The mission of xAI and its flagship model, Grok, is defined simply: “understanding the universe.” Musk argues that for an AI to be safe and useful, it must be rigorously truth-seeking.

    He warns against the dangers of “politically correct” AI, citing 2001: A Space Odyssey to illustrate how forcing an AI to lie can lead to a breakdown in its logic. By focusing on understanding the universe, Musk believes AI will naturally find humanity interesting and seek to preserve human consciousness.

    5. “Pico-Management” and the Art of the Pivot

    Musk described his leadership style as “pico-management.” Rather than managing every detail, he drills down into specific, minute problems only when they represent the primary limiting factor for the entire company. A prime example of this was the pivot from carbon fiber to stainless steel for Starship—a decision made to increase the speed of development and improve material performance at cryogenic temperatures.

    Watch the Full Interview

    For more insights on management philosophy, hiring for “goodness of heart,” and the future of Starship, watch the full conversation below:

    Elon Musk Interview – Dwarkesh Patel

  • Tesla Q4 & FY 2025: The Dawn of the Physical AI Era

    Tesla Q4 & FY 2025: The Dawn of the Physical AI Era

    Tesla’s 2025 update is more than just a financial report—it marks the definitive turning point in our mission. While we continue to deliver world-class electric vehicles, 2025 was the year we fundamentally transitioned from a hardware-centric company to a physical AI company.

    From the launch of unmonitored Robotaxis to the announcement of our next-generation Optimus design, here is the breakdown of how we are building the future of autonomous intelligence.

    2025: A Critical Year of Transition

    In 2025, we balanced a maturing automotive market with massive leaps in AI infrastructure and robotics.

    Financial Highlights

    • Total Revenues: Reached $94.8 billion for the full year.
    • Operating Income: Achieved $4.4 billion in GAAP operating income.
    • Cash Strength: Our cash, cash equivalents, and investments grew to $44.1 billion, providing the liquidity needed to fund our ambitious roadmap.
    • Energy Storage: A standout performer with a record 46.7 GWh deployed in 2025—a 49% increase year-over-year.

    Operational Milestones

    We hit major production milestones across our global Gigafactories:

    • 9 Millionth Vehicle: Produced globally at Gigafactory Shanghai.
    • 6 Millionth Drive Unit: Produced at Gigafactory Nevada.
    • Model Y Refresh: Completed the refresh of our vehicle lineup with the launch of the new Model Y, including additional variants.

    The AI Roadmap: Scaling Autonomy

    Our vertical integration allows us to optimize AI at the system level—from the silicon up.

    Robotaxi & FSD

    • Unsupervised Rides: In January 2026, we began removing safety monitors from Robotaxis in Austin on a limited basis.
    • Rapid Expansion: Robotaxi coverage is slated to expand to Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, and more in the first half of 2026.
    • FSD (Supervised) v14: Our latest software uses end-to-end foundation models to handle complex “corner cases” that handle diverse geographies.

    Next-Gen Hardware

    • Optimus Gen 3: We are unveiling the Gen 3 Optimus in Q1 2026, featuring a design intended for mass production.
    • AI5 & AI6 Chips: Our in-house autonomy chips are progressing toward production in 2027 and 2028, targeting a 50x performance improvement over current AI4 hardware.
    • Cortex 2: We are currently building Cortex 2 at Giga Texas to more than double onsite compute capacity by 1H 2026.

    Looking Ahead to 2026

    The coming year is all about scaling the production lines we laid the foundation for in 2025.

    Product Status / 2026 Goal
    Cybercab Volume production commencing 1H 2026
    Tesla Semi Volume production commencing 1H 2026
    Optimus Start of production planned before the end of 2026
    Megapack 3 Production begins at Megafactory Houston
    LFP Batteries Domestic production starting in Nevada

    Strategic Investment in xAI

    On January 16, 2026, Tesla entered an agreement to invest approximately $2 billion in xAI. This partnership, as outlined in Master Plan Part IV, is designed to enhance Tesla’s ability to develop and deploy AI products and services into the physical world at scale.

    What’s Next?

    Our focus remains on maximum capacity utilization and the transition to a software-led profit model. As hardware-related profits grow, we expect them to be joined by an acceleration of AI, software, and fleet-based profits.

    Check back for more updates as we lead the transition to autonomous energy and transport.

  • Tesla Camp Mode: How to Turn Your EV into a High-Tech Mini Camper

    Tesla Camp Mode: How to Turn Your EV into a High-Tech Mini Camper

    Tesla has built a reputation for turning traditional automotive hardware into a versatile software platform. While features like Sentry Mode and Dog Mode get a lot of press, Camp Mode is the hidden gem for weekend adventurers and road-trippers looking to skip the hotel bill.

    What is Tesla Camp Mode?

    Camp Mode allows you to maintain the perfect cabin climate and keep your vehicle’s electronics active while parked. Unlike a gas-powered car, which would require an idling engine (and risk carbon monoxide poisoning), a Tesla uses its massive high-voltage battery to provide a silent, emission-free living space.

    When activated, Camp Mode:

    • Maintains your chosen cabin temperature all night.
    • Provides continuous airflow and ventilation.
    • Powers USB and 12V outlets to charge laptops, phones, or even portable stoves.
    • Keeps the touchscreen active for Netflix, YouTube, or gaming.
    • Disables non-essential systems like the alarm and Sentry Mode to save power.

    Battery Management: How Much Range Do You Lose?

    A common concern for new EV campers is waking up to a dead battery. Fortunately, Tesla’s software has built-in safeguards. Camp Mode will automatically shut off if your battery drops to 20%, ensuring you always have enough range to reach a Supercharger.

    Condition Estimated Battery Drain
    Mild Temperature (60°F – 70°F) ~1% per hour
    Extreme Cold (Heat Pump Models) 2% – 3% per hour
    Extreme Heat (A/C Running) 2% per hour

    Pro Tips for the 2026 Tesla Camper

    To get the most out of your “glamping” experience, veteran owners recommend a few software tweaks:

    • Create a “Camp” Driver Profile: Save a profile that automatically moves the front seats forward and adjusts the steering wheel to maximize sleeping space in the rear.
    • Manual Fan Speed: Setting your fan speed to “1” manually can reduce noise and save a marginal amount of battery compared to “Auto” mode.
    • The “Blackout” Trick: Use custom-fit privacy shades for the glass roof and windows. Not only does this provide privacy, but it significantly improves the thermal efficiency of the cabin.

    Beyond Camping: The Tesla Software Ecosystem

    Camp Mode is just one part of Tesla’s unique software suite. The 2026 lineup continues to offer features that traditional automakers are still struggling to replicate:

    • Dog Mode: Keeps the car at a safe temperature for pets and displays a message on the screen to reassure passersby.
    • Bioweapon Defense Mode: Uses a HEPA filtration system to remove 99.97% of airborne particulates—perfect for camping during wildfire season.
    • Caraoke: Turns your dashboard into a mobile karaoke station with a library of tracks and lyrics.
    • Sentry Mode: Uses the car’s external cameras to record potential threats when you aren’t around.

    The Tesla Owner’s Checklist

    Planning your first overnight trip? Don’t forget the essentials: a fitted mattress (like the Tesla Model Y Air Mattress), a 12V portable kettle, and a high-quality window shade kit. Join the GetTesla community for more guides on maximizing your EV’s potential.

  • End of an Era: Tesla Retires “Autopilot” Branding, Paywalls Standard Features

    End of an Era: Tesla Retires “Autopilot” Branding, Paywalls Standard Features

    After more than a decade as a cornerstone of the Tesla brand, the “Autopilot” name is officially being retired in the United States and Canada. In a major shift to its software strategy, Tesla has removed the feature from new vehicle orders, effectively paywalling basic capabilities that were once standard.

    The New Baseline: TACC vs. FSD

    For years, every Tesla shipped with “Basic Autopilot,” which included two core features: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC) and Autosteer. As of late January 2026, that has changed. New buyers now have a much simpler—and more expensive—choice:

    • Standard (Free): Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC). The car will maintain speed and distance but will not steer for you.
    • Premium ($99/mo): Full Self-Driving (Supervised). This is now the only way to access Autosteer and advanced lane-centering features.

    This move places Tesla in a unique position in the market. While competitors like Toyota and Honda include lane-centering as a standard safety feature on entry-level models, new Tesla owners must now pay roughly $1,200 a year for equivalent functionality.

    The California Deadline and Legal Pressure

    The timing of this retirement is widely seen as a response to intensifying legal pressure. In December 2025, a California judge ruled that Tesla’s “Autopilot” branding constituted deceptive marketing. The court gave Tesla a 60-day window to rectify misleading claims or face a potential ban on vehicle sales in its largest U.S. market.

    By dropping the Autopilot name and transitioning to “Supervised FSD,” Tesla appears to be standardizing its terminology to satisfy regulators while simultaneously pivoting its business model toward recurring revenue.

    A Push for 10 Million Subscriptions

    Beyond legal compliance, there is a significant financial incentive behind the change. Elon Musk’s massive $1 trillion compensation package, approved by shareholders in late 2025, includes a series of ambitious “operational milestones.”

    Key Milestones for Musk’s Payout:

    • 10 Million active FSD subscriptions.
    • 1 Million Robotaxis commercially deployed.
    • 20 Million total vehicles delivered.

    With FSD adoption previously hovering around 12% of the fleet, removing the “free” tier of Autosteer creates a functional gap that nudges owners toward the $99/month subscription.

    “The $99/month for supervised FSD will rise as FSD’s capabilities improve,” Musk warned in a recent update. “The massive value jump is when you can be on your phone or sleeping for the entire ride (unsupervised FSD).”

    The February 14 Deadline

    Current Tesla owners and prospective buyers have until February 14, 2026, to make a final decision on ownership. After this date, the $8,000 one-time purchase for FSD will be eliminated in favor of the subscription-only model. For those who plan to keep their vehicles for more than seven years, locking in the flat fee now may be the last chance to avoid lifetime monthly payments.

  • Tesla Earnings Q1 2026: Retail Investors Demand Answers on SpaceX, AI, and Optimus

    Tesla Earnings Q1 2026: Retail Investors Demand Answers on SpaceX, AI, and Optimus

    As Tesla prepares to report its latest quarterly earnings this Wednesday, the atmosphere among retail investors is electric. Through the Say.com platform, shareholders representing over 1.4 million shares have voiced their top priorities, signaling that the community is looking for a roadmap that extends far beyond vehicle deliveries.

    The Big Question: SpaceX Loyalty

    The most upvoted question this quarter doesn’t actually concern a Tesla vehicle. Instead, it’s about SpaceX. Long-term Tesla bulls are looking for a “loyalty reward” if Elon Musk’s aerospace giant eventually goes public.

    • The Valuation Gap: SpaceX is currently targeting a valuation of $1.5 trillion, nearly doubling its previous $800 billion mark and rivaling Tesla’s own market cap.
    • The “Directed Share” Hope: Investors are asking if Tesla shareholders will receive priority access to a SpaceX IPO. While Musk has hinted that “loyalty deserves loyalty,” the logistics of a directed share program remain a primary point of curiosity.

    Robotaxis and the “Cybercab” Era

    Tesla’s pivot from a traditional automaker to an AI and robotics powerhouse is the core of this year’s strategy. With autonomous vehicles already operating without safety monitors in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area, investors want to know how the service scales.

    Key Autonomy Milestones:

    • Cybercab Launch: Production is slated to begin in April 2026. This vehicle is designed without pedals or a steering wheel, targeting a $25,000 price point.
    • FSD Transition: Tesla is moving toward a subscription-only model for Full Self-Driving (FSD) at $99/month. Musk has hinted at a “massive value jump” once “Unsupervised FSD” is officially released.

    Optimus: The Roadmap to Mass Production

    The Optimus humanoid robot is already performing simple tasks within Tesla factories, but the path to a consumer product remains a steep climb. Investors are looking for clarity on the supply chain and production bottlenecks.

    Milestone Expected Timeline
    Next-Gen Optimus Demo Current Quarter (Q1 2026)
    Volume Production Start Late 2026
    Consumer Availability End of 2027

    “With a humanoid robot, there is no supply chain,” Musk previously noted, emphasizing that Tesla is essentially building this industry from the ground up.

    The EV Reality Check

    While the future is robotic, Tesla’s current revenue still depends on EV sales, which faced headwinds in 2025. Specifically, the Cybertruck has seen a significant cooling in demand after its initial launch phase.

    Cybertruck Delivery Comparison:

    • 2024 Deliveries: 38,965 units
    • 2025 Deliveries: 20,237 units
    • Year-over-Year Change: -48%

    To combat declining sales, investors are pushing for more affordable models. While the Model 3 and Model Y remain the volume drivers, the market is waiting to see if Tesla can successfully launch a $25,000 vehicle—with or without a steering wheel—to capture the next wave of EV adoption.

  • ‘Insanely Efficient’: The Cheapest Tesla Model Y Defies Highway Range Expectations

    ‘Insanely Efficient’: The Cheapest Tesla Model Y Defies Highway Range Expectations

    The entry-level Tesla Model Y Standard is proving that “cheapest” doesn’t have to mean “least capable.” While this base-spec crossover cuts a few luxury corners—notably swapping the open glass roof for a traditional headliner and omitting the FM radio—it has gained something much more valuable: world-class energy efficiency.

    In a recent real-world 70 mph highway range test, the Model Y Standard showcased efficiency numbers that rival the sleek Model 3, traditionally the gold standard for aerodynamic EVs. This makes it a potential “efficiency monster” for those looking to maximize every kilowatt-hour.

    The 70 MPH Challenge: Real-World Highway Range vs. EPA

    The EPA estimates a range of 321 miles for the Model Y Standard, but that number is heavily influenced by low-speed city driving. For long-distance travelers, the constant high-speed cruise is the ultimate stress test for an electric vehicle’s battery and aerodynamics.

    During a controlled 70 mph test conducted by Out of Spec Testing, the results were commendable:

    • Highway Range: 268 miles at a sustained 70 mph.
    • Efficiency: 241.9 Wh/mile (or roughly 4.13 miles per kWh).
    • Usable Energy: The vehicle consumed 69.2 kWh of energy before the speed began to drop.

    Efficiency Champion: How it Compares

    Perhaps the most surprising result of recent testing is that the Model Y Standard matched the energy efficiency of the Tesla Model 3 Premium. For a larger, taller crossover to match the “sipping” habits of a low-slung sedan is a testament to Tesla’s drivetrain refinements.

    Test Condition Model Y Standard Result
    EPA Estimated Range 321 Miles
    70 MPH Highway Range 268 Miles
    Edmunds Mixed Loop (60% City) 337 Miles
    Energy Efficiency 4.13 miles/kWh

    Why This Matters for Your Wallet

    For drivers focused on operational costs—such as those in the ride-hailing industry or long-distance commuters—the Model Y Standard is an economic powerhouse. Using less energy per mile doesn’t just mean fewer stops at Superchargers; it means lower costs for every mile driven. While the vehicle lacks some premium “frills,” the trade-off is a vehicle that is remarkably inexpensive to operate and maintain.

    “Slowing down matters a lot for extending driving range, but at 70 mph, this Model Y proved it can still hold its own against the most efficient cars in its class.”

    Sources:

    • Out of Spec Testing: 70 mph Highway Range Test & Efficiency Analysis.
    • Edmunds: Tesla Model Y Standard Range Test and City/Highway Mix Performance.
    • Tesla: Official EPA Range Ratings and Pricing for the Model Y Standard RWD.

    Given the choice between a more luxurious interior with a glass roof or the record-breaking energy efficiency of this Standard model, which would you prioritize for your daily commute?