Latest Updates

Tesla’s long-awaited Robotaxi service officially hit the streets of Austin, Texas, on June 22, 2025, marking a significant milestone in autonomous transportation. The pilot program features a fleet of approximately 10 to 20 Model Y vehicles operating within a geofenced area of South Austin. Each ride is priced at a flat fee of $4.20 and is currently available to a select group of invited users. While the vehicles are designed for full self-driving, a Tesla employee occupies the front passenger seat during these initial runs to monitor safety and intervene if necessary. 

Tesla’s approach to autonomy relies solely on cameras and neural networks, eschewing the use of radar and LiDAR systems employed by competitors like Waymo. This camera-only strategy has been a point of contention among experts, especially given reports of early test rides where vehicles exhibited behaviors such as swerving into the wrong lane and exceeding speed limits . Despite these incidents, initial user feedback has been largely positive, with many praising the smoothness of the rides and the technology’s potential.

The launch has also had a notable impact on Tesla’s financial standing. Following the announcement, Tesla’s stock experienced an 8% surge, and CEO Elon Musk’s net worth increased by $19 billion . Musk has long championed the vision of autonomous vehicles, and this rollout represents a tangible step toward that goal.

However, the journey is far from over. Regulatory scrutiny remains a significant hurdle, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reviewing Tesla’s safety protocols in light of the Robotaxi’s deployment . Additionally, scaling the service to other cities and achieving true Level 4 autonomy will require overcoming technical challenges and gaining public trust.

For EV enthusiasts and Tesla owners, the Robotaxi launch is more than just a new service—it’s a glimpse into the future of transportation. As Tesla continues to refine its technology and expand its autonomous offerings, the implications for urban mobility, vehicle ownership, and the broader automotive industry could be profound.

Tesla has rolled out refreshed versions of its flagship Model S and Model X. While the updates are real, they’re more of a minor tune-up than a major overhaul, with the most noticeable change being a $5,000 price increase.

What’s New with the Model S and Model X?

Let’s break down the updates by category:

1. A New Look (Sort of)

• Frost Blue Paint: A fresh paint option priced at $2,500.

• New Wheels:

  • Model S: 19-inch Magnetite wheels or optional 21-inch Velarium wheels ($4,500 upgrade).

  • Model X: New 20-inch Perihelix and 22-inch Machina wheels.

   

• Minor Styling Tweaks: A matte (not chrome) front badge and a slightly revised rear diffuser on the Plaid Model S.

2. Tech & Comfort Updates

• Front Bumper Camera: Helps detect road conditions for ADAS systems.

• Dynamic Ambient Lighting: Now includes entry animations on the dash and doors.

• Adaptive Driving Beams: Already seen in other Tesla models, now added to S and X.

• Improved Cabin Sound: Tesla claims less wind and road noise, but didn’t share data.

3. Performance & Ride

• Range Gains:

  • Model S Long Range: Now rated at 410 miles — a 5-mile bump thanks to the new wheel design.

  • On 21-inch wheels: Actually drops 2 miles in range to 380.

• Smoother Ride: Thanks to updated suspension and new bushings, according to Tesla.

• Plaid Model S Enhancements: Slight changes to the front end and rear diffuser for better high-speed stability.

4. Interior Space (for Model X)

• Tesla says there’s “more space for third-row occupants and cargo,” though exact figures weren’t shared.

The Biggest Change: Price

Despite the modest updates, both vehicles now cost $5,000 more across the board:

Model S

• Long Range: $84,990

• Plaid: $99,990

Model X

• Long Range: $89,990

• Plaid: $104,990

That’s a significant price jump for what are mostly subtle updates, especially as newer tech features like ambient lighting have already been available in the more affordable Model 3 and Y.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re already planning to buy a Model S or X, the updates might feel like a bonus. But if you’re comparing across Tesla’s lineup, the value gap between the flagship models and the more budget-friendly Model 3 and Model Y just got wider.

Tesla’s 2025 Model S and X updates are more refinement than revolution. You’ll get a smoother ride, minor style changes, and new tech perks, but you’ll also need to shell out an extra $5K.

Source: Electrek

Earlier this year, Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk said that Grok AI is coming to Tesla vehicles soon. Since this was said in the ‘Elon Time’, ‘soon’ can be anywhere from weeks to months.

After around 5 months, strong rumors are spreading over Musk’s social media empire X that Grok AI has been integrated into the upcoming Tesla software update version 2025.20.

Soon after Musk’s announcement of Grok’s integration in Tesla vehicles, xAI released Grok-3, the latest version of its artificial intelligence chatbot Grok-3.

Multiple Tesla influencer accounts who have sources at Tesla, Inc. (TSLA), are spreading strong rumors of Grok’s integration in Tesla cars and the Cybertruck in the upcoming over-the-air (OTA) update 2025.20.

When driving your Tesla, or any vehicle for that matter, text conversation is nearly impossible. The rumors further suggest that in addition to voice commands, the 2025.20 Tesla update includes Grok conversational AI.

This means that Tesla owners with the software update 2025.20 and its subversion point releases will be able to talk to their vehicles. It makes driving much more fun and interesting.

The additional benefit is that you will have an AI companion on your journeys that’s intelligent enough to have a highly intellectual discussion with you in addition to guiding you through the shortest and safest paths.

“You’ll be able to talk to your Tesla and ask for anything,” Elon Musk said in a live podcast earlier in January.

My wild imagination says that if at some point in the future, Tesla FSD AI and Grok AI are merged together, the experience of owning a Tesla vehicle will be unmatched.

🔥 The Tesla 2025.20.x software update is rumored to include Grok! The version was detected a few days ago and would currently be undergoing internal testing. Take this with a grain of salt. https://t.co/OaZ0ZFO64c pic.twitter.com/dROW0fG8XF — Tesla Newswire (@TeslaNewswire) June 1, 2025

Expected Rollout Schedule and New Features

According to various reports, the 2025.20 Tesla software update has already rolled out to Tesla employees last week.

After careful testing of the new features and Grok AI, Tesla is expected to release the 2025.20 update to non-employee Tesla owners in June.

In addition to Grok AI integration in Tesla vehicles, the 2025.20 update is reported to have other features bundled as well. It’s expected to have better visualizations for trailers to improve the detection of these vehicles for safety.

Recently, there have been incidents where Tesla FSD wasn’t able to correctly identify an empty semi truck trailer, resulting in human intervention. The 2025.20 and its subsequent point releases are expected to solve this safety issue.

Tesla has redesigned the Supercharger UI in the 2025.20 update to support dynamic pricing (depending on time and location, etc.).

The rollout schedule of the 2025.20 Tesla update coincides with the launch of the Robotaxi service in June.

Tesla vehicles (new Model Ys in the first phase) operating as Robotaxis will require additional keys for riders of the vehicles. The 2025.20 update is also expected to have the ability to use these new ‘Rider Keys’.

In the initial phase of the Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, the fleet will be owned by Tesla. In the future, Tesla vehicle owners will be able to use their cars as money-making Robotaxis (Cybercabs) as well.

🚨TESLA SOFTWARE UPDATE 2025.20 RELEASED TO EMPLOYEES – WHAT MAY BE INCLUDED $TSLA • Grok integration for advanced voice commands and conversational AI • New vehicle keys: “Rider Keys” for Robotaxi and “Pre-delivery” keys • Trailer visualizations for improved detection and… pic.twitter.com/2AOYP29HYN — Tesla Archive (@tesla_archive) May 31, 2025

 

===

Featured image: @TeslaNewsWire via X (Twitter).

Note: This article was published earlier on Tesla Oracle. Author: Iqtidar Ali.

Renault has announced updates to its SUV lineup for the 2026 model year, introducing a more powerful full hybrid powertrain for the Captur and Symbioz models, along with enhanced standard […]

The post Renault updates SUV range with more powerful hybrid engine and enhanced features appeared first on Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International.

In a move that feels like it’s straight out of a sci-fi future, BYD has announced a massive expansion of its megawatt charging infrastructure plan—upping the ante from 10,000 to a jaw-dropping 15,000 megawatt-level chargers across China. Yes, megawatt chargers. That’s 1,000 kW of power, capable of delivering up to 400 km (250 miles) of range in just 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, here in North America, some people are still debating whether EVs are a “fad.”

The announcement came during the 2025 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Auto Show, the same event that saw the launch of Huawei’s Maextro S800. Days later, BYD revealed new partnerships with Xiaoju Charging (the charging arm of ride-hailing giant Didi) and LongShine, adding serious weight behind the buildout.

• Xiaoju Charging will open 10,000 megawatt-level units.

• LongShine, active in 400+ cities, will add 5,000 more.

This isn’t just about convenience—it’s strategic. The infrastructure is designed to support BYD’s newest high-performance EVs: the Han L and Tang L, which are already delivering strong numbers. In their first month alone:

• Han L: 10,483 units sold

• Tang L: 11,406 units sold

For comparison, Tesla’s total combined sales in the EU, EFTA, and UK during the same time period were just 7,261—down nearly 49% year-over-year.

BYD’s progress underscores something important: the EV race is global, and China is sprinting.

What This Means

• Megawatt charging isn’t a pipe dream—it’s here, and it’s scaling fast.

• Range anxiety? About to become a relic of the past.

• Automakers in North America and Europe need to stop thinking in kilowatts and start planning in megawatts.

The takeaway? While the West argues over charger compatibility and rollout timelines, BYD is laying down the future of EV infrastructure at scale—and driving off into it at full speed.

Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk just made an announcement: starting in July 2025, some new Tesla vehicles might drive themselves directly to customers.

Yup, you read that right. According to Musk, Tesla EVs will soon be able to deliver themselves from the factory. No delivery driver, no car hauler, no dealership middleman. Just a car that shows up at your doorstep.

 

How It Would Work

Musk made the claim on X (formerly Twitter), saying: “Next month, first self-delivery from factory to customer.”

For the past several days, Tesla has been testing self-driving Model Y cars (no one in driver’s seat) on Austin public streets with no incidents.

A month ahead of schedule.

Next month, first self-delivery from factory to customer.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 29, 2025

But how exactly would this work? That part remains unclear.

At the start of 2024, Tesla shared videos of new EVs – like the Model Y – driving without human drivers on a 1.2-mile route inside the Fremont factory grounds. These videos showed cars navigating from the production line to their designated delivery docks with no one behind the wheel.

So far, though, that’s all happening on private property, not public roads.

Could Tesla Deliver Cars on Public Streets?

That’s the big question. If Tesla intends to deliver vehicles across public streets to customers’ homes, it would need to overcome some serious legal and regulatory hurdles. Most states in the U.S. don’t allow fully autonomous vehicles on public roads without a safety driver or teleoperator.

Tesla hasn’t shared how it plans to make this happen, or whether the “self-delivery” Musk mentioned just means getting the car to a nearby pickup zone on factory grounds.

Still, even that would be a novel twist on the delivery process. No sales rep, no dealership, just a car making its way to you on its own.

Robotaxi Hints Behind the Scenes

This announcement comes just as Tesla prepares to launch a commercial robotaxi pilot in Austin, Texas. Starting next month, a small fleet of 10–12 driverless Teslas will hit the streets, monitored by remote operators. Musk says thousands more vehicles could follow soon after.

The bigger vision? You buy a Tesla, and it eventually becomes a money-making robotaxi that drives itself around while you’re at work.

That dream isn’t new, it’s been promised for years. But if this “self-delivering Tesla” idea pans out, it could be a small step toward that larger goal.

Skeptical? You’re Not Alone.

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system has been in development for years, with a track record of missed deadlines and overhyped claims. So, while Musk’s latest statement sounds exciting, many are watching with caution.

Still, if Tesla manages even partial self-delivery, it’s a sign that the future of car buying might look very different.

Source: InsideEVs 

With a range of compact battery electric machines now established, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has begun the next chapter in its electrification journey, with the announcement of two midsized […]

The post FEATURE: Volvo Construction Equipment appeared first on Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International.

Tesla just made an interesting move, adding Jack Hartung, President and Chief Strategy Officer of Chipotle Mexican Grill, to its Board of Directors. The announcement comes at a critical time for the EV maker, as it navigates slowing sales and increased pressure on CEO Elon Musk’s leadership.

So why does a burrito chain exec belong on Tesla’s board? Let’s break it down.

Who Is Jack Hartung?

Hartung is no newcomer to big business. He spent over two decades at Chipotle, helping scale the fast-casual brand to more than 3,700 locations worldwide. Before that, he worked nearly 20 years at McDonald’s. He knows what it takes to grow a brand, manage supply chains, and keep financials tight, skills Tesla could use more of right now.

What Will He Do at Tesla?

Hartung officially joins the Tesla board on June 1, 2025, and will also sit on the Audit Committee. That’s the group that oversees financial reporting and internal controls, making his CFO background especially valuable.

He’s also opted to waive all compensation, no cash, no stock options, for his role, staying consistent with what many Tesla board members do.

Why Now?

Tesla is under the microscope. Sales have dipped globally, and there’s growing talk about Elon Musk’s influence on the company. The board is even reviewing his massive pay package. Hartung’s appointment looks like a move to bring fresh eyes and corporate discipline to the table.

And here’s something interesting: Tesla is planning a retro diner and charging station concept in L.A. which some see as a nod to Hartung’s food-industry roots. Could this be part of a bigger strategy to improve the Tesla customer experience?

Any Controversy?

Tesla did disclose that Hartung’s son-in-law works for the company as a service technician. But they say his role is non-executive, and his pay is in line with others doing similar work.

Final Thoughts

Tesla’s board just got a little spicier, literally and figuratively. Whether Hartung’s experience in scaling one of America’s most recognizable restaurant brands will translate to electric vehicles remains to be seen. But if nothing else, it’s clear Tesla is trying to bring more operational muscle into the room.