Tesla protesters building tree houses near Giga Berlin

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About 80 environmental activists are protesting against Tesla Giga Berlin’s expansion by building tree houses in the forests near the factory. 

The activists’ recent actions support the residents of Grünheide, who voted against Tesla’s expansion plans for Gigafactory Berlin. 

Tesla aims to build warehouses, a freight yard, and a kindergarten for employees in the 100 hectares near Giga Berlin. It also has plans to build a water recycling plant, a second production facility, and a battery recycling plant. The second production facility is expected to bring Giga Berlin’s annual production battery up from 500,000 to 1 million units. 

The Giga Berlin protestors are occupying trees within the area Tesla aims to expand. They raised around ten platforms between the trees and built houses on top of them. The tree houses are about five to ten meters high from the ground. 

The environmental activists have created a website explaining their reasons for protesting against Tesla. 

“We are standing in the way of the expansion of the Tesla car factory. Cars are to be produced in a water protection area for a capitalist “business as usual” – a highway to social climate catastrophe. Here, we see how a giga-corporation’s profits are put above people’s needs when resources such as water become scarce. For a world where everyone can live well!” the website states.

If you have any tips, contact me at maria@teslarati.com or via X @Writer_01001101.

Tesla Giga Berlin expansion protesters building tree houses in nearby forest





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Tesla next-gen Roadster will be a collaboration with SpaceX: Elon Musk

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently shared a number of notable updates for the next-generation Roadster. Apart from stating that Tesla is aiming to unveil the upcoming all-electric supercar later this year, Musk also provided some interesting tidbits about the vehicle. Among these is the fact that the new Roadster would be the product of Musk’s two largest companies — Tesla and SpaceX. 

The new Roadster has been pushed far back in the company’s list of projects for years. Initially unveiled in late 2017 during the Tesla Semi’s unveiling, the Roadster was announced with a target availability date of 2020. The year came and went, of course, and the next-generation Roadster has mostly been forgotten, especially with Tesla getting busy with the Cybertruck. 

But with the Cybertruck now being produced and the company now working on its next-generation platform, it would appear that Tesla is finally ready to work on releasing the new Roadster. Over the years, Musk’s comments about the vehicle have become wilder, with the CEO noting that the supercar should be able to fly for short “hops” due to a dedicated SpaceX package that would incorporate rocket tech in the car. 

Musk’s recent tweets about the new Roadster suggest that the CEO has not abandoned his wild dreams for Tesla’s halo car. As per Musk, Tesla has radically increased the design goals for the next-generation Roadster. He also noted that there will never be another car like the new Roadster — if the vehicle could even be called a car. This was because the next-generation Roadster is the product of a Tesla-SpaceX collaboration. 

In later posts, Musk noted that the new Tesla Roadster’s planned unveiling would have a shot at “being the most mind-blowing product demo of all time.” Musk seems to be keeping the idea that the new Roadster would feature rocket technology, as hinted at by his cheeky response to a Tesla enthusiast who noted that the EV maker is actually making a rocket on wheels. Equally cheeky responses from Musk were posted on a question asking if the new Roadster would be able to fly a little. 

While it would be easy to discount Elon Musk’s recent round of updates for the new Tesla Roadster as the typical overly-optimistic musings of the CEO, it should be noted that Tesla did just bring the Cybertruck — a vehicle that critics argued would never get released — into production. The Cybertruck is as wild as they come, and Tesla is now delivering it to consumers. If Tesla could pull off the Cybertruck, then it would not be surprising if Tesla delivers on the new Roadster as well. 

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

Tesla next-gen Roadster will be a collaboration with SpaceX: Elon Musk





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Here’s why the Tesla Model 3 wasn’t an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, and why it could be soon

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Upon the release of the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ award winners, some Tesla fans may have struggled to understand why the Model 3 did not join its sibling, the Model Y, on the list.

There is a reason it did not make the list, and there’s a reason why it could be included in it in the near future.

IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2024

The IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award is the pinnacle of automotive crash safety accolades. It means the vehicle obtained top marks in the small overlap front test and updated side test, and at least an acceptable rating in the updated moderate overlap front test, headlight standard, and pedestrian front crash prevention test.

Twenty-two vehicles made the list this year, and only one Tesla, the Model Y, was awarded.

Tesla Model Y secures 2024 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award despite tougher metrics

Some people might have scrolled down to look for other Teslas, especially the Model 3, on even the Top Safety Pick list, which is still an accomplishment. However, it was not on there either.

The Model 3 was listed on the Top Safety Pick+ awards in 2020, 2021, and 2022. However, it did not make the list in 2023 or 2024, and there is a reason for that.

Tesla Model 3 retains its esteemed IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for 2020

Why didn’t the Tesla Model 3 make the list?

“It actually comes down to missing tests,” Joe Young of the IIHS told Teslarati this morning. “The Model 3 has not been evaluated in our updated side crash test, which is a requirement for both awards this year. It is also missing a rating in our updated moderate overlap crash test, which is part of the “plus” criteria.”

Simply put, the Model 3 has not been evaluated for certain crash tests, and the IIHS cannot add it to the list without those assessments being performed.

However, it is not the end of the world.

“It’s possible that the 2024 Model 3 could earn an award later in the year as we fill out additional ratings. We’ll be issuing awards throughout the year as more tests are complete,” Young added.

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Here’s why the Tesla Model 3 wasn’t an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, and why it could be soon





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