Tesla increasing data collection in a few key areas ahead of Robotaxi event

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Tesla seems to be increasing data collection in certain areas of California, including near the studio where it will hold its upcoming Robotaxi unveiling, as one observer highlighted over the weekend.

On Sunday, X user and longtime Tesla sleuth greentheonly spotted increased data collection from the company near the Warner Brothers studio in Burbank, California, where it has been reported that the company will hold its Robotaxi platform unveiling event. Green has also noticed increased data collection around other areas in California, like the nearby Hollywood Diner and Supercharger construction site, and around a handful of San Francisco and larger Bay Area regions.

As an example, green shared a screenshot of the Warner Brothers studio and the increased data collection zone.

Credit: greentheonly | X

The hacker and sleuth says the data collection began around four days ago, though little is known about actual plans for the event at this point. Green also shared the source for the data collection in response to another user in the thread:

Tesla was initially planning to hold the Robotaxi unveiling event on August 8, and while the location wasn’t yet disclosed until a few days ago, the company elected to delay the event until October 10. Elon Musk said that he requested “an important design change to the front,” adding that the “extra time allows [Tesla] to show off a few other things.”

The upcoming Robotaxi will be based on Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD), currently available in a Supervised release to anyone who purchases it. Unlike other driverless ride-hailing companies, FSD Supervised uses the data from those who drive it, regardless of where in the U.S. or Canada they’re located, in order to help train an AI neural network to make the software increasingly safe and good at driving.

As a result, Tesla has claimed that the software would be more scalable than those of competitors such as the Alphabet-owned Waymo and General Motors (GM) self-driving subsidiary Cruise—both of which are based on pre-mapped service areas.

Tesla gives first look at Robotaxi-powered ride-hailing service app

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 increasing data collection in LA and SF ahead of Robotaxi unveil





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Tesla owner shares aftermath of apparent anti-Cybertruck incident

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A Tesla owner and Cybertruck farmer has shared a short video showing the aftermath of a frightening incident that seemed to have been partly caused by a motorist’s disapproval of the all-electric pickup truck. The time may be right to call for parties with strong feelings towards the Cybertruck to tone down their sentiments. 

Braden Smith, who runs a TikTok channel about his family’s farm in Idaho, has garnered quite a following on social media by showing how he uses his Cybertruck as a regular farm vehicle. In previous videos, the Tesla owner noted that the all-electric pickup truck has been taking the daily punishment of regular farm work really well. 

As noted by Smith in a recent video, however, some motorists’ feelings about the Cybertruck may be getting too much. While he was reportedly getting ready to load his boat up on his vehicle, another motorist driving a conventional pickup truck seemed to get quite sensitive about the presence of his Cybertruck. The motorist allegedly went wide open throttle, resulting in the pickup’s trailer hitting a tree. The driver reportedly overcorrected and hit a boulder, resulting in the truck falling down a ravine, trailer and boat and all. 

Fortunately, the Tesla owner noted that the occupants of the pickup truck were safe despite the incident, though he highlighted that the trend of hating on the Cybertruck — some of which he has experienced firsthand — is getting out of hand. When lives are put at risk because of a vehicle simply existing, after all, then one could argue that things have definitely gotten too far. 

In a way, the negative sentiments surrounding the Cybertruck are unsurprising. The vehicle looks polarizing already just by its looks, and the vehicle is created by a company led by Elon Musk, who is extremely polarizing today himself. Mainstream media reports about the Cybertruck have also been quite negative, and social media has tolerated if not promoted the practice of users expressing their dislike of the vehicle in an open manner. 

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

Tesla owner shares aftermath of apparent anti-Cybertruck incident





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Tesla Sentry Mode captures vandal taking a bat to a Model 3 Performance

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Another vandal has been caught by Tesla’s Sentry Mode, this time following a person who took a bat to a new Model 3 Performance.

On Thursday, Model 3 Performance owner and TikTok user adidasemoji posted video footage from his car’s Sentry Mode of a person parking beside his vehicle, getting out, and smashing the vehicle’s rear passenger-side panel with a bat. In the video, the owner says he took delivery of the Model 3 Performance just three days earlier. However, by Friday, the vandal had already been found by authorities.

The user followed up with another video on Friday, noting that the vandal’s identity had been found, and adding that he was planning to press charges. The incident took place in Somerset, New Jersey while the user was at work, and you can check out the original footage below.

@adidasemoji

uhm somone help find this person thank you un advance this was in Somerset New jersey police report was made hopefully something can be done about this ! #tesla #vandalized #model3 #cars

♬ original sound – adidasemoji

The user also went on to explain in another Friday video that, after contacting his insurance company, he found out that the issue will require a deductible to pay for and will show up in the future as an accident for the vehicle. Now, he’s debating if he should go through insurance after all, though he’s still thankful that police have found the vandal.

The news comes as the latest in a string of vandalism efforts targeting Tesla’s vehicles, and particularly against the somewhat newly released Cybertruck. Last month, a Tesla Cybertruck’s windows were smashed with children in the backseat, as captured on Ring video.

A fleet of Tesla Cybertrucks in June were spray painted with “F**k Elon” in Florida, to which Musk responded on X, saying “Message received.”

While the vandals in some of these incidents were found, others were not, though Sentry Mode has been a useful tool for law enforcement in a few cases over the last few years.

Just last week, Tesla’s Sentry Mode assisted police in a search for a suspect who had been on the run for eight months, while others have managed to find suspects who have vandalized their own Teslas, like the example above.

Shocking Tesla Sentry Mode video shows man allegedly setting Model S on fire

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

Tesla Sentry Mode captures vandal taking a bat to a Model 3 Performance





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