Tesla China to pause new Model Y lines for upgrades: report

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Tesla China is reportedly halting parts of its Model Y production lines in Giga Shanghai in the coming weeks. 

The halt would reportedly allow Tesla to optimize Gigafactory Shanghai for the mass production of the new Model Y “Juniper.”

Driving the news: 

  • Citing sources reportedly familiar with the matter, Bloomberg News claimed that Giga Shanghai’s Model Y line will be closed from January 22 to February 14. This covers the Chinese New Year holiday.
  • The alleged updates to Giga Shanghai will reportedly allow Tesla China to increase the production of the revamped all-electric crossover.
  • Giga Shanghai’s Model 3 line will reportedly halt its production as well, though its pause is expected to cover January 26 to February 3.
  • Tesla China has not confirmed Bloomberg News‘ claims as of writing.

Why it matters:

  • As per the publication, it is not unusual for carmakers in China to pause production during the Chinese New Year holiday. 
  • This year, China’s Spring Festival period starts on January 29. Beijing expects 9 billion domestic cross-regional trips during this year’s holiday period.
  • Upgrading Giga Shanghai’s Model Y line would be beneficial for Tesla China considering the reported interest for the updated vehicle following its launch. 
  • Industry insiders have claimed that Tesla China appears to have seen about 50,000 orders for the new Model Y “Juniper” during its launch day.

Between the lines: 

  • The Model Y’s update is the first significant change in five years, and it is expected to further improve consumers’ interest in the vehicle.
  • Despite being largely unchanged for five years, the Tesla Model Y proved to be a best-seller, becoming the world’s best-selling vehicle by volume in 2023 and China’s best-selling car in 2024.
  • With a new design, the Model Y could attract even more consumers than before.

What’s next: 

  • Deliveries of the new Model Y are expected to start in March, with the price set at 263,500 yuan ($35,900).
  • Markets that are supplied by Giga Shanghai, such as the Philippines, are expected to receive the updated Model Y around April.

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 to pause new Model Y lines for upgrades: report





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Tesla bull Wedbush weighs potential Elon Musk purchase of TikTok

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Tesla bull Wedbush weighed the potential of CEO Elon Musk buying social media platform TikTok, which is set to be banned in the United States in less than a week.

Some are speculating that Musk could be an ideal buyer, as he has already purchased one platform in Twitter, which he changed to X. Last evening, a report from Bloomberg stated that sources close to the matter said China was mulling Musk as a potential buyer of the platform to keep it running in the U.S.

With the stories persisting and many looking at how Musk could purchase the platform, Wedbush’s Dan Ives published a note on Tuesday morning driving home the idea that the Tesla frontman being at the helm of TikTok could make sense:

“Given the strong and growing alliance between Trump and Musk this is not a total shock route as behind the scenes the Trump White House is looking at alternatives if the Supreme Court upholds the ban. In addition, Beijing/Xi Jinping has a strong relationship with Musk so there would be added comfort in this deal/potential partnership to avoid a TikTok ban in our view.”

Ives details the idea that President-elect Donald Trump’s desire to “save” TikTok could directly tie into his relationship with Musk, who could purchase the platform. It could also be a potential political move on Trump’s end as it could bring relations with China to a healthy level as he takes office.

The analyst then goes on to talk about the potential pricing of the platform as well as its potential to bolster strength within X, as it could integrate TikTok as a feature:

“We believe in the scenario that ByteDance sold the US operations of TikTok this would be without the algorithm (ByteDance will never sell this key DNA) at a price tag likely in the $40 billion to $50 billion range. This would significantly enhance the value of Twitter/X platform and likely Musk would take outside investments for this potential golden asset pickup. It’s also possible that instead of an outright sale this results in a joint partnership with Musk playing a major role and helping avoid a true ban of TikTok in the US.”

In what would be a transaction that would need plenty of negotiations, Ives sees TikTok being sold for between $40 billion and $50 billion, and integrating it into the X app would be monumental for its valuation. All in all, a purchase by Musk or anyone else could be the only way TikTok works around a ban in the U.S.

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Please email me with questions and comments at joey@teslarati.com. I’d love to chat! You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Tesla bull Wedbush weighs potential Elon Musk purchase of TikTok





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Tesla snubbed again by Biden Admin for EV semi charging corridor funding

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Tesla has been snubbed for the second time by the Biden Administration for funding that would help build out an electric vehicle charging corridor on the West Coast for EV semi-trucks.

It is the second time the Biden White House has denied Tesla funding for the corridor, a project it is working on with California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).

In total, 49 applicants won $636 million from the Department of Transportation in this round of funding requests. Tesla was not on the list of recipients, and the SCAQMD confirmed to TechCrunch that the two companies had once again applied for funding during this round.

Tesla requested funding from the government in 2023 as a part of the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) program, which was part of the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal that was signed in 2021.

In 2024, the first request from Tesla and SCAQMD was denied.

After the creation of the CFI, Tesla developed plans to build an EV charging corridor spanning from Fremont in Northern California, all the way to Laredo, Texas, which falls in the southern portion of the state right on the border of Mexico.

Nine total stops were projected to be created on this corridor, including Fremont, CA, Bakersfield, CA, Compton, CA, Indio, CA, Phoenix, AZ, San Simon, AZ, Sparks, TX, Fort Stockton, TX, and Laredo, TX.

It is unlikely this is the final round of funding for the entire CFI, as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law set aside $2.5 billion for EV charging expansion.

With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in just one week, it seems clear that perhaps some of the funding could go in the direction of Tesla, especially given his relationship with CEO Elon Musk.

Need accessories for your Tesla? Check out the Teslarati Marketplace:

Please email me with questions and comments at joey@teslarati.com. I’d love to chat! You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Tesla snubbed again by Biden Admin for EV semi charging corridor funding





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