#tesla

Changes in the EV tax credit rules have been confusing and made it hard to determine which cars are eligible for credits. Some automakers argued that the rules would unfairly harm their business and ability to compete, and we’re now starting to see how some of the changes are shaking out. Automotive News reported that the top eight EVs in the U.S. in January were built in North America, while Hyundai and Kia fell back.

In case you were counting, the Tesla Cybertruck “debuted” more than three years ago, and there hasn’t been a single one sold to any of the thousands of deposit-paying reservation holders. Despite that, the automaker and its fans have continued to insist that it’s coming soon, and one lucky shareholder claims to have insider knowledge of the production version of the truck. 

I’m guilty of complaining about EV charging infrastructure, but I’ve never been in a situation where charging times or lack of access ruined my day. That’s the exact opposite of the experience two thieves recently had in Georgia, as their stop to charge their Tesla Model X was their undoing. 

Earlier this year, Tesla heavily cut prices, stirring anger from some owners over the steep decrease in vehicle values. That hasn’t deterred the automaker, as it recently lowered prices on the Model S and Model X.

Tesla just wrapped its annual Investor Day, where the automaker invites fans and shareholders to hear it brag about its accomplishments and future products. At yesterday’s event, Tesla confirmed the poorly-held secret that a Gigafactory is coming to Mexico.

Telsa's Investor Day will be starting soon after this publishes -- and I am wondering what, if anything, you're expecting in terms of news from the company.

One of Tesla’s most significant competitive advantages could be fading, as the White House recently announced a deal with the automaker that would open part of its previously-exclusive charging network to owners of other EV brands. The wheels are in motion, as Tesla tweeted last night that the first round of chargers is now open. 

On Tuesday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that Tesla will be building a plant south of the border. Confirmation comes following a call with CEO Elon Musk – held on Monday – with promises that the American company would be issuing a series of commitments designed to address regional water scarcity. The alleged plant is said to be located in Monterrey, which has historically struggled to cope with drought. 

Tesla is recalling more than 362,000 cars that have the company's so-called Full Self-Driving Beta system. The recall is voluntary.

Unlike many auto manufacturing jobs in America, Tesla’s employees are not unionized.  That could soon change, but not without some drama first. A group of Autopilot analysts in Buffalo, New York, recently notified CEO Elon Musk of their intent to organize, but the company responded by firing dozens of people, including many that were involved in the unionizing effort.

On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced that Tesla will begin opening up portions of its proprietary charging network to all electric vehicles by the end of 2024. While the move could undermine one of the most desirable aspects of owning a Tesla, by forcing owners to share what’s likely to be the largest and most reliable charging network in the country, the EV purveyor isn’t coming away empty-handed. The arrangement comes under a new $7.5-billion federal program to electrify the nation's highways stemming from the $1-trillion infrastructure package signed in 2021.

Hertz has reportedly fallen short of its promise to buy 100,000 electric vehicles from Tesla last year. Though, taking a look at the role EVs are playing in the rental industry right now, the company might actually have made the correct decision.

There are photos on the Intertoobz of the Tesla Cybertruck testing, undisguised, in California.

Automakers would love to have you believe that they all march to their own drummers, but the reality is that the market is tied together in ways both obvious and less so. Yesterday, Ford announced it would cut prices and bump production for the Mustang Mach-E, a likely response to Tesla’s massive recent price cuts. Most other automakers are yet to respond, but Volkswagen wasted no time announcing that it would not follow Tesla and Ford with price cuts on its EVs.

Another day, another Tesla Cybertruck delay. After its reveal in 2019, CEO Elon Musk promised deliveries in late 2021, but a pandemic and global supply chain crisis threw a curve. The automaker’s next target is coming up soon, and Musk does not appear confident the company will meet that goal.