Tesla will use Over-the-Air Update to remedy 8700 cars with rear camera bug

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Tesla will use an Over-the-Air software update to remedy an issue with the rear camera in 8,700 EVs in China.

Tesla will fix 1,071 Model S and Model X and 7,529 Model 3 vehicles in what is being described as a “recall,” according to federal regulators in China.

According to some reports regarding the issue with the rear camera, there are some vehicles that have unstable integrated circuit communications, which can be fixed through software.

However, when the camera issue is present, drivers can have a limited field of vision when the car is in reverse, and it can increase the risk of an accident or pose a safety hazard, which was the reason for the recall initiation.

Recall Terminology

There has been a lot of conversation regarding recall terminology over the past few years, especially as Tesla’s ability to fix vehicle issues through over-the-air updates has become more popular.

Owners feel that the term recall is not necessarily accurate due to the fact that a majority of these issues are fixed without the owner even knowing it. While they are made aware of the bug or issue with their car, the vehicle automatically downloads and applies the fix without owners having to do anything manually.

CEO Elon Musk has said that he believes it is also time for new terminology, calling it “outdated and inaccurate.”

However, agencies are sticking with the term recall because of its definition, which technically is correct when pertaining to vehicle issues that could affect safety.

Tesla fans call for recall terminology update, but the NHTSA isn’t convinced it’s needed

The NHTSA told Teslarati in a statement earlier this month that a recall is an acknowledgment of a safety defect in a vehicle. Even if it is fixed with software, it is still a recall because it is a fix to a safety issue.

“Defects that pose an unreasonable risk to safety are serious and should be remedied as soon as possible,” the agency added. “The Vehicle Safety Act requires manufacturers to issue recalls to remedy safety defects. Whether a remedy can be completed at a local dealership or through an over-the-air software update makes no difference to the safety risk posed by a defect.”

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.

Tesla will use Over-the-Air Update to remedy 8700 cars with rear camera bug





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Tesla Cybertruck range test reveals impressive distance on full charge

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Tesla Cybertruck range tests are all the buzz, and publications are looking to see how accurate the automaker’s projections and estimates are, and how many miles the all-electric pickup can travel on a full charge.

A few tests have already been performed, including one that took the Cybertruck on the highway and gave less-than-favorable results.

However, range tests are never identical because so many external factors, like driving style and temperature, for example, can significantly influence the results.

However, a new test from Edmunds aimed to assess the Cybertruck’s driving range in favorable weather and did not specifically test either highway or city driving. Instead, it appeared to be a healthy mix of both, which is a reasonable expectation considering car buyers will want as accurate an estimate as possible.

The test used a Dual-Motor All-Wheel-Drive configuration of the Cybertruck, which packs 340 miles on all-season tires, according to Tesla. However, this Cybertruck used normal, as-shipped tires, which gives the pickup an estimate of 318 miles.

Official EPA range figures for the Tesla Cybertruck have not yet been released.

During the unveiling in 2019, Tesla said the Dual-Motor trim would get 300+, while the Tri-Motor would get 500+ miles. Edmunds incorrectly states that Tesla said the Dual Motor would get 500 miles, but this figure was set aside for the Tri-Motor configuration (see below).

Tesla Cybertruck Range Test Results

The range test seemed to go according to plan, and the Cybertruck’s performance equated to 334 miles of travel, better than the 318 miles that Tesla lists on its website.

In fact, the Cybertruck driven by Edmunds was void of the Aero wheel covers that are designed to help improve range with a more efficient and effective drag coefficient. Tesla recently stopped delivering the Cybertruck with those wheel covers and may revert to a previous design that did not damage the tire’s sidewall.

The publication notes in the Cybertruck range test video that the Aero wheel covers may actually have helped the pickup achieve an even higher range rating.

“This is just the beginning of the Cybertruck story. With range extenders, tri-motor versions, and software updates all in the pipeline, the 334-mile figure won’t be our final say on the matter,” Clint Simone of Edmunds said.

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.

Tesla Cybertruck range test reveals impressive distance on full charge





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Rivian execs ‘need to live in the factory’ to survive

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Elon Musk gave Rivian a bit of advice on how to survive past their reported forecasted bankruptcy in roughly six quarters, and it includes shades of what Tesla was forced to do to keep its doors open.

Earlier today, we reported that Musk had a bit of advice for Rivian while criticizing Lucid. According to forecasts that Musk shared, Rivian will be able to survive for roughly six more quarters, or about a year and a half, before it will be forced to close its doors due to bankruptcy.

However, Musk believes Rivian is able to save its company and continue along with developing EVs, starting with the R2 platform that is set to launch in early March and will be more affordable than the current R1 lineup.

Musk said that Rivian must “cut costs massively” and that executives should commit to contributing to the production lines around the clock from here on out, or they will have no chance of surviving:

Musk did the same thing during Tesla’s “production hell” phase of the Model 3 ramp, living in the Fremont factory in Northern California. He said in other instances that he also lived in Gigafactory Nevada.

The Tesla CEO said he did not want to be vacationing and living lavishly while employees were committed to keeping the company afloat. He hoped it would inspire employees to give it everything they had.

He also said in an interview with Bloomberg in 2018 that he did not want his situation to be better than the employees:

“The reason I slept on the floor was not because I couldn’t go across the road and be at a hotel. It was because I wanted my circumstances to be worse than anyone else at the company. Whenever they felt pain, I wanted mine to be worse.”

Rivian may be in a good position moving forward as it has been able to trim its losses with every passing quarter. It also announced it would trim its workforce in an effort to save money, so it has already worked to accomplish one of Musk’s suggestions.

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.

Elon Musk: Rivian execs ‘need to live in the factory’ to survive





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