It’s arguably a controversial vehicle, with its angular design splitting internet opinion-givers into two camps, seeing how one could either love or hate its unconventional look, but that seems to have helped Tesla when it comes to getting a boatload of reservations, at least according to a crowdsourced tracker.

As per the publicly available that also lists over 47,000 self-reported reservations, Tesla has received an estimated 2 million pre-orders for its first-ever pickup truck, with most of the prospective customers going for the dual-motor and tri-motor versions, while the single-motor and quad-motor versions have less than 10 percent each in the grand scheme of things. Almost 70 percent of those who plan on getting a Cybertruck also have a Full Self-Driving (FSD) purchase in mind, as revealed by the document.

It’s worth noting that the numbers aren’t exact, with the authors of the spreadsheet saying that there’s some clever math going on behind the scenes to come up with the results, adding that several corrections have been made over time.

Furthermore, it’s interesting to note that even with a rather small $100 refundable deposit, Tesla managed to rake in a massive $200 million from pre-orders for the Cybertruck alone, allowing it to invest the money into the pickup’s development – if the numbers prove to be correct, that is.

Moreover, it’s expected that not all reservation holders will follow through with an order after the first units of the Cybertruck are delivered, but even if 80 percent of the pre-orders are canceled, that would still leave Tesla with 400,000 customers.

The same crowdsourced tracker estimated that the all-electric pickup had reached 1 million pre-orders in May 2021, with the number going up to 1.25 million in August 2021 and 1.3 million in November 2021 – two years after its unveiling.

The Tesla Cybertruck is expected to go on sale during a special handover event sometime this month, according to Elon Musk.

Source: Tesla Reservation Tracker via Electrek

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The company recently shared a few photos of the jubilee charging stall, which is all red instead of the standard white and red. Also, the paint color is different than the standard red -It appears to be the Ultra Red that is used on the Model S/Model X.

Additionally, near the bottom of the dispenser, there is a label “No 50,000.”

Tesla did not reveal where the Supercharger was installed, besides saying that it is “somewhere in the world,” but Tesla’s NACS charging connector indicated that it’s probably in North America.

Tesla enthusiasts quickly figured out the location, which is California – Roseville in the Sacramento area.

We also found a video from the site, shared by Tesla Owners Silicon Valley. The location is 1851 Freedom Way, Roseville, CA.

We guess that at least for a brief period of time, it might become quite busy, as many Tesla drivers in the area will likely visit the site.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kAU4_XZR6hI

There are no signs that the special charging stall differs from the ordinary ones in terms of power output or charging cost. It should be a typical 250-kilowatt unit.

With 50,000 Supercharging stalls and well over 5,000 stations globally, the network is the largest one among all fast-charging networks. The rate of new installations is also pretty high, which means that the network is expected to remain the largest one in the near future.

In the coming years, Superchargers will be gradually more and more accessible to non-Tesla electric vehicles, through a non-Tesla Supercharging pilot program and the switch to Tesla’s NACS charging connector (in North America) by other manufacturers.

At the same time, charging companies and other EV manufacturers are also working on their charging networks, which means that there will be a variety and competition on many levels – from charging power (including support of high-voltage battery systems), prices, locations, reliability, and amenities.

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The milestone comes about 20 years after the company was started in 2003 and 15 years after the first car (the original Roadster) was produced and delivered in 2008.

The first millionth car was produced in March 2020, which means that it took 12 years of production. The second million cars were produced within 18 months, the third within 11 months, and the fourth in seven months. Let’s note that the cumulative level of 4,000,000 units was announced on March 1, 2023, just over six months ago.

Tesla is the largest all-electric car manufacturer in the world and its current production rate is gradually approaching two million units per year.

If the current rate remains stable or further increases (which is more likely), we should see the 6th millionth Tesla in early 2024.

According to Tesla’s Weibo account in China (see an image below), the jubilee car happened to be the new Tesla Model 3 Highland in Pearl White, produced at the Tesla Giga Shanghai factory.

This is Tesla’s largest manufacturing site (and the largest EV factory in the world), which earlier this month produced its two millionth electric car.

Considering how big the automotive industry is, Tesla still has to expand several times to reach 10 million units annually and match the largest automotive groups. This might take several years, assuming the target growth rate of 50 percent year-over-year (if achieved).

Here is Tesla’s production progress over the past several years, up to the record second quarter of 2023:

We don’t have the data for the third quarter yet, but we can already imagine the next bar on the chart below at around 5 million units.

The next big thing for Tesla might be related to the Tesla Cybertruck, although until the next-generation EVs are ready, the main product is expected to still be the Tesla Model Y.

Source: Tesla (Weibo)

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Known simply as the Model Y AWD or the Model Y from Texas – not Standard Range or Long Range – it was also the cheapest Model Y available with a starting MSRP of $49,130 (including $1,390 destination fee), before options and incentives.

Now, Tesla’s US configurator shows only the Model Y Long Range and Model Y Performance, which are both made at the Fremont Factory in California.

While it’s not unusual for Tesla to make changes to its vehicle lineups without announcement, changing prices, options, and even vehicle trims, this time it has removed the Model Y AWD altogether. This has fueled speculation online that the move may have something to do with preparations for the Cybertruck’s start of production.

This appears to give credence to rumors that Tesla has shut down Model Y production in Texas – the base Tesla Model Y powered by 4680 battery cells was built in Austin at the same site that will produce the Cybertruck. 

Does this mean that Tesla is focusing all of its efforts at Giga Texas for the start of production of Cybertruck customer vehicles? It is certainly one possibility, although the automaker has not made an announcement related to this.

As Electrek points out, the 4680 cells used for Model Y production may now be going to Cybertruck for testing or even production purposes. 

It’s worth noting that Giga Texas was making 5,000 Model Y EVs per week in May, which translates to roughly 250,000 units a year. That’s a significant production volume using considerable manufacturing resources. Those resources have now been freed up for different purposes, likely for the Cybertruck. 

As the Model Y AWD is no longer available to order, the most affordable trim level is now the Model Y Long Range, which starts at $51,880 (including destination charge), before options and incentives.

The Model Y AWD offered an EPA-estimated range of 279 miles of range, with Tesla claiming it was “the most efficient electric SUV ever built” with an efficiency rating of 4 miles per kilowatt-hour. The vehicle was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds before topping out at 135 mph. 

Source: Tesla US vehicle configurator via Electrek

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Tesla’s Chinese plant is currently the only one producing the new Model 3, which launched earlier this month in several markets in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It appears that production is going smoothly at the facility as shown in a video captured by a drone pilot above Tesla China’s export lot. 

The drone footage from WuWa (via Teslarati) reveals that Tesla’s platform at Shanghai’s Nankang port features a large number of facelifted Tesla Model 3 sedans. Assuming all the vehicles in this lot are facelifted Model 3s, we’re guesstimating there are more than 3,000 cars in this video.

The drone operator, who has been observing Giga Shanghai since construction began in 2019, said in the video’s description that the factory has increased its production capacity since China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) approved Tesla’s new Model 3.

Gallery: New Tesla Model 3 In Munich

Previously, new Model 3 EVs were produced in small batches and dispersed in various warehouses, but in the last few days they have been concentrated in Shanghai’s Nankang port. The progress over last week’s drone video is obvious.

WuWa claims that the first deliveries of the new Model 3 will be to European customers, citing unnamed sources. This may be confirmed by the fact that all of the Model 3s in the lot bear the European Union logo. 

Deliveries of the facelifted Tesla Model 3 are expected to begin next month in Europe, according to the company’s local websites in several countries in the region. Deliveries in China may not begin until early next year, though, according to the WuWa‘s sources. 

Regardless of which markets get the new Tesla Model 3 first, it’s worth pointing out the exemplary mobilization of the Giga Shanghai production team. The high number of vehicles already produced and awaiting shipment to Europe suggests that the production ramp is going great.

It looks like Tesla has learned its lesson from the initial production ramp of the Model 3 at the Fremont Factory between 2017 and 2018. Famously described by Elon Musk as “production hell,” it was one of the most challenging times in the company’s history.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/5iG1xKOaeXE?si=qq24k1uW83tXXo-8

Source: WuWa / YouTube via Teslarati

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The Powerwall 3 is a fully integrated solar and battery system, designed for home installations. The latest version has the same energy capacity as the Powerwall 2 – 13.5 kilowatt-hours – but its continuous power output increased by several kilowatts to 11.5 kilowatts (both on-grid and backup power), compared to the Powerwall 2 (Powerwall 2 with an inverter). These two numbers are in line with the previous report from an initial installation.

An interesting thing is that the Powerwall 3 is flood resistant to over 2 feet – “Flood and dust resistance”, compared to “Water and dust resistance” in P2/P+.

Tesla explains that the new Powerwall can supply more power with a single unit and is designed for easy expansion (up to 40.5 kWh per unit). The integrated solar inverter can accept six solar inputs (compared to four in the Powerwall+). Its solar-to-grid efficiency remains at 97.5 percent, while the warranty remains the same at 10 years.

Tesla Powerwall 2 and Powerwall 3

The weight of the P3 is 287 pounds, compared to 251.3 pounds in the case of Powerwall 2, although we should probably compare it to the Powerwall+, which weighs 343.9 pounds. That’s a 16.5 percent reduction, which makes us wonder whether the speculation about the prismatic LFP battery replacing cylindrical (2170-type) NCM is still valid or maybe premature. The size of the P3 is noticeably smaller than before (especially compared to P+).

An important note is that the Powerwall 3 is not directly compatible with the Powerwall 2/Powerwall+, and can’t be added to Powerwall 2 or Powerwall+ installations: “Powerwall 3 can be added to other Powerwall 3 batteries and cannot be added to Powerwall 2 or Powerwall+ batteries. Powerwall 3 is not compatible with other solar inverters.”

According to Tesla, the Powerwall 3 will be available to customers starting in 2024. Orders are not being accepted yet but there is an option to sign up for updates.

It will be very interesting to see whether Tesla will be able to improve its margins on the new Powerwalls and maybe reduce prices a bit.

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According to five people familiar with the plans who spoke with Reuters on condition of anonymity, Tesla has combined a series of innovations to enable one-piece die casting. If the information is accurate, we’re talking about a major breakthrough considering that a conventional car requires some 400 parts to be individually die cast.

Needless to say, this could transform the way Tesla builds EVs and contribute decisively to halving production costs, which is a long-time goal of CEO Elon Musk.

The sources said the know-how to achieve that is core to Tesla’s “unboxed” manufacturing strategy unveiled by Elon Musk in March, which is key to his plan to build tens of millions of cheaper EVs over the next ten years, and still turn a profit.

Two of the insiders said Tesla’s new design and manufacturing techniques could allow the company to develop a car from the ground up in 18-24 months, compared to 3-4 years for most rivals.

A single large frame combining the front and rear sections with the middle underbody where the battery is housed could be used for the first time in Tesla’s $25,000 small EV which the company aims to launch by 2025, the five people said.

Gallery: Tesla Giga Texas (Tesla Gigafactory 5)

Three of them said Tesla was expected to make a decision on whether to die cast the platform in one piece this month.

The breakthrough centers on how the giant molds for such a large part are designed and tested for mass production, and how casts can integrate hollow subframes with internal ribs to save weight and enhance crashworthiness.

The innovations, which are being developed by design and casting specialists in the UK, Germany, Japan, and the US, involve 3D printing and industrial sand. More specifically, Tesla turned to companies that build test molds out of industrial sand with 3D printers.

The report goes into great technical detail, but the key thing to know is that Tesla’s upcoming small car has given the company a perfect opportunity to cast an EV platform in one piece, mainly because its underbody is simpler.

Tesla’s $25,000 car and its robotaxi version don’t have big front and rear overhangs, and not much of a hood and rear trunk either.

“It’s like a boat in a way, a battery tray with small wings attached to both ends. That would make sense to do in one piece,” one of the insiders told Reuters.

Musk’s vision from the start was to find a way to cast the underbody in one piece, despite the risks, the sources said, and that’s what the company is working on.

Source: Reuters

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Recent Cybertruck prototype sightings have made that even more obvious as Tesla’s electric truck looks like nothing else on the road. As you can imagine, not everyone at Tesla was on board with the Cybertruck’s unorthodox looks.

Walter Isaacson’s “Elon Musk” biography brings to light an episode that shows just how disrupting the Cybertruck’s design was for Tesla’s own staff long before the rest of the world got to see it.

As it turns out, some Tesla engineers hated the Cybertruck so much that they began working on a secret alternative design for the electric pickup truck after seeing a mock-up of the outlandish-looking concept on display at SpaceX’s showroom in Los Angeles during the summer of 2019.

The stunning admission was made by Tesla’s design chief Franz von Holzhausen in a section of the book highlighted by Insider. “A majority of the people in this studio hated it. They were like, ‘You can’t be serious.’ They didn’t want to have anything to do with it. It was just too weird,” the design boss was quoted as saying in the book.

Gallery: Tesla Cybertruck

While von Holzhausen did not reveal what happened to the covert team’s alternate version of the Cybertruck, it’s obvious that it didn’t convince Elon Musk as the factory production model Tesla has been testing and teasing in recent months looks remarkably close to the show truck unveiled in November 2019.

According to Isaacson, Musk did not even want to hear concerns about the Cybertruck. “I don’t do focus groups,” he is quoted as saying in the book, a sentence that speaks volumes about the Tesla CEO’s approach to product development.

He told von Holzhausen that he wanted a driveable version of the vehicle that he could present at a Tesla event in November, which “forced the team to come together, work twenty-four-seven,” Isaacson wrote.

Time will tell whether he’s right or wrong with regard to the Cybertruck, but judging from the reported 1.9 million pre-orders for the electric truck – according to a crowd-sourced data tracker – Tesla’s debut pickup should be off to a fantastic start in the market.

After all, leaving aside its opinion-splitting design, the Cybertruck has huge potential as it is going after the highly profitable light-duty truck market currently dominated by Ford, GM, and Stellantis.

For more than four decades, America’s best-selling vehicle has been a pickup truck – the Ford F-Series – and even if the Cybertruck grabs just 5 percent of the market, it will be a smash hit for Tesla.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nx-vNiGEZIU?si=VIMKRAkkMxyVQFq4

Source: Insider

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For example, about a year ago Tesla’s CEO said the Cybertruck would be able to “cross rivers, lakes, and even seas that aren’t too choppy” thanks to a so-called Boat Mode. Musk said the Cybertruck “will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat,” with thrust coming from wheel rotation.

We haven’t heard anything about the Cybertruck’s sailing abilities since, and Tesla hasn’t explained another ridiculous claim either – that the Cybertruck has “the ability to pull near infinite mass.” These exact words are still used on Tesla’s website, mind you.

You can now add another eyebrow-raising feature of the Cybertruck to that list, namely that it will be “scratch-proof” to basically everything that’s not as strong as diamonds. While its stainless steel body is a good prerequisite for body durability, it’s certainly not enough to make the electric truck immune to scratches.

However, Elon Musk suggested in a recent post on X (formerly Twitter) that Tesla might be able to offer an option that would make the truck scratch-proof.

“We might be able to offer an optional tungsten carbide coating, which is basically scratch-proof to everything below diamond hardness,” Musk replied to an X user who claimed that people who will “try to key a Cybertruck will be ruining their keys.”

Considering the number of keying incidents involving parked Teslas over the years, this would be a great option. However, the idea of using tungsten carbide as a coating for the Cybertruck certainly sounds wild, mainly because no other automaker has used it to cover the body of a production car before.

It would not be the first time the material has been used in the auto industry, though. Porsche has used tungsten carbide coated brake rotors for its sports cars to slow wear, prevent rust, and eliminate brake dust.

According to German chemical giant Linde (via Teslarati), when combined with a small portion of metallic powder, tungsten carbide can be turned into carbide coatings known for strong resistance to abrasion, erosion, and wear. 

Who knows, maybe Tesla has been testing this optional tungsten carbide coating all along with the full-body wraps we’ve seen on prototypes in recent months.

Source: Elon Musk / X via Teslarati

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In total, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) call for proposals saw 26 projects selected for a total EU grant support of over $377 million (€352 million), with the American EV company getting two projects approved, one submitted by Tesla Italy and one by Tesla Poland. Thus, the Elon Musk-led firm got the biggest share of the total funding available, roughly 44 percent.

The Italian subsidiary’s project aims to deploy 6,458 recharging points capable of delivering 250 kW each in 613 locations in 16 countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, and Sweden) along the Core and Comprehensive road network.

At the same time, the Polish subsidiary will receive funding from the EU to install or replace 740 recharging points with an output of 250 kW each in six countries (Czechia, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia).

European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean, said: “The numerous applications for AFIF funding received underline the transport industry’s interest in pushing ahead with the switch to more sustainable transport – on roads, in the sky and at sea. Our investment of €352 million will translate into approximately 12,000 charging points, 18 hydrogen refueling stations, and the electrification of ports and airports, including the port of Rotterdam and 37 Spanish airports.”

This latest round of EU grants comes after the Council of the European Union adopted a new set of rules intended to make life easier for drivers of electric vehicles, mandating that from 2025 on, fast charging stations of at least 150 kW for cars and vans need to be installed every 37 miles (60 kilometers) along the Union’s main transport corridors known as the “trans-European transport (TEN-T) network.”

Furthermore, the new law says that charging stations placed along the most important roads linking major cities and nodes (known as the TEN-T core network) will have to be capable of delivering a total output of at least 400 kW by the end of 2025, with at least one stall that’s capable of at least 150 kW on its own.

Although the official documents don’t mention it, it’s likely that Tesla will install its V4 Superchargers – either at new locations or replacing older units – with the money received from the EU, as they’re capable of 250 kW and offer a contactless payment option, which is also a requirement of the new regulation.

As always, we’d like to know what you think about this, so head over to the comments section below to give us your thoughts.

Source: European Commission

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