Tesla’s Cybercab takes workers for a ride at Giga Texas

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Tesla has put a Cybercab on display at its Gigafactory Texas, with recent coverage from the site even showing the two-seat, autonomous vehicle driving a few employees around the parking lot.

Over the weekend, multiple users shared photos and video footage showing the Cybercab at Giga Texas, as it was parked in front of the facility’s main entrance. Along with being parked, the Cybercab was seen giving a few people rides in the parking lot, as was originally shared in a short video on TikTok from user anthonyacord that has since been taken down. You can see the reposted footage via Nic Cruz Patane on X below.

Notably, this Cybercab has wheels and brake calipers fully on display, unlike those with gold covers that were included on the models during the unveiling event.  Drone pilot and Giga Texas observer Joe Tegtmeyer also captured some drone shots of the Cybercab, as shared on X on Monday afternoon. Below you can see one short video in which a small crowd of employees checks out the unique self-driving vehicle.

During Tesla’s Q3 earnings call last week, Elon Musk said the company was aiming for a volume production of two million units per year with the Cybercab, expected to happen as soon as 2026. Tesla also unveiled a wireless charging system for the Cybercab that it says has an efficiency rating of “well above 90 percent,” along with offering charging as another autonomous feature.

You can also check out Teslarati’s first-hand coverage and first ride in the Cybercab below, taken at the October 10 We, Robot unveiling event in Southern California.

Update 4:00 p.m. MT: Edited second paragraph to reflect that the original TikTok video was taken down, and replaced the embed with reposted footage from another source.

Tesla Robotaxi Cybercab: Seats, price, special features, release date, and more

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

Tesla’s Cybercab takes workers for a ride at Giga Texas





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Tesla China extends 5-year zero-interest loan program

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Tesla China’s five-year zero-interest loan program has been extended once more. The incentive applies to both Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) and Long Range Dual Motor All Wheel Drive (AWD) variants of the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover. 

As per the electric vehicle maker, China-based customers who wish to purchase select variants of the Model 3 or Model Y before November 30, 2024, would be able to take advantage of the limited-time five-year, zero-interest financing program. The incentive is highlighted in Tesla China’s order pages for the Model 3 and Model Y. 

Tesla China produces the Model 3 and Model Y from Gigafactory Shanghai. Both vehicles are offered in three variants: the base RWD version, the mid-tier AWD variant, and the top-tier Performance trim. It should be noted that the five-year, zero-interest financing offer is only available for the RWD and AWD trims, not the Model 3 and Model Y’s Performance variants. 

The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are still premium vehicles in China. As per the Model 3’s order page, the base RWD variant costs RMB 231,900 ($32,550); the Long Range AWD version costs RMB 271,900 ($38,160), and the Model 3 Performance costs RMB 335,900 ($47,150) before options.

As for the Model Y, the vehicle’s base RWD version costs RMB 249,900 ($35,000); the Long Range AWD costs RMB 290,900 ($40,830), and the Performance trim starts at RMB 354,900 ($49,800) before options, as per the vehicle’s order page.

Estimated delivery dates for all variants of the Model 3 sedan are currently listed at 4-6 weeks as per Tesla China’s order page. All Model Y variants, on the other hand, are listed with an estimated delivery date of 1-3 weeks. 

Tesla China’s five-year, zero-interest loan offer was initially launched in April. At the time, Tesla noted that the program would only be available for a limited time. Since then, however, the electric vehicle maker has implemented extensions at the end of every month. It would then be unsurprising if Tesla China extends the program until the end of the year. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Tesla China extends 5-year zero-interest loan program





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Tesla Semi factory expansion gets its first full exterior corner

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Construction on Tesla’s Semi factory is coming together fairly quickly, with a recent video update showing the site after getting its first full corner made up of steel beams and columns.

In a video update on Saturday, Tesla Semi advocate and Gigafactory Nevada drone observer Zanegler shared footage of the perimeter steel columns and beams as they now wrap around the factory’s Northeast corner. The video, taken mid-morning on Friday, also shows the perimeter having made it about halfway down the Eastern side of the factory, as they continue to head South.

Viewers can see a few loading bays built into the building’s perimeter, some of which will be used for the delivery of raw materials. The video also shows a lone Tesla Semi sitting beside the factory expansion site, and Zanegler says he has reason to believe that it was being used for a media shoot of some sort.

You can check out the full update from Zanegler below.

Tesla initially broke ground on the Semi plant at the Giga Nevada construction site in January, as part of a larger endeavor to build dedicated production facilities for the electric class 8 truck and the 4680 battery cell. Upon completion of the Semi factory and the 4680 battery cell factory, the two expansions are expected to employ roughly 6,500 additional full-time workers.

In addition, Tesla is also looking to scale Semi production to 50,000 units per year upon reaching volume production.

Currently, Tesla is aiming to begin production at the Semi plant late next year, before starting external customer deliveries in early 2026. However, Tesla has already delivered a handful of early units to a few select companies in recent years, starting with initial deliveries to PepsiCo in 2022. Now, PepsiCo has 86 Tesla Semi units in its fleet.

Since then, Tesla has also begun initial deliveries and testing periods with other clients such as DHL, Walmart, and Martin Brower, and the company has also doubled down on its efforts to eventually go global with the Semi. Last month, Tesla Semi Program Manager Dan Priestley showed off the Semi at the IAA conference in Münich, Germany, and Elon Musk earlier this month confirmed Tesla’s plans to make the Semi available around the world.

Tesla Semi has “ridiculous” demand, and it’s about to make roads cleaner

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

Tesla Semi factory expansion gets its first full exterior corner





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