#Tesla

Tesla has long avoided advertising, opting instead to use the money to improve its products, or at least that’s what CEO Elon Musk initially said. That said, he’s changed his tune, and purchasing an ad-funded social media likely played a role. Musk recently told shareholders that Tesla would “try out a little advertising and see how it goes.”

Tesla owners are passionate about their vehicles, especially when it comes to all the cool things they can do compared to other EVS. It wasn’t surprising to see them sue the automaker in 2016 over claims that a new software update limited their driving range, though it’s a little surprising to see it happening again in 2023. 

If you’re “the automotive person” in your family or friend group, you’ve likely gotten at least a question or two about EV range and battery life. It seems that people are getting over range anxiety as automakers release vehicles with ever-longer estimates, but there are still a lot of questions about how long EV batteries last. The answer is “at least 100,000 miles” because everybody’s required to offer eight-year/100,000-mile warranties on the batteries, but it turns out that some can drive much longer than that with surprisingly little degradation. 

BYD, China’s largest electric automaker, isn’t as gung-ho about autonomous vehicles as many other auto industry giants. A company spokesperson recently said that BYD believes self-driving tech that is “fully separated from humans is very, very far away, and basically impossible.” 

Not that long ago, there was a time when Tesla vehicles seemed to defy the laws of depreciation, and some actually gained value on the used market. That’s changing, as the automaker has cut prices more than once in 2023, with the latest round of decreases landing this week. 

Tesla's growth has cooled.

We've often worried about inappropriate surveillance via in-car cameras. Sometimes, I personally wonder if that's irrational paranoia. A new report concerning Tesla suggests it probably isn't.

The worldwide wait for Tesla’s all-electric semi-trucks seemed unimaginably long due to the hype that had been built up around them. But Tesla ultimately made good on its promise by finally commending deliveries in December of 2022. Sadly, no manufacturer seems to be able to produce new models without a few hiccups these days and the company has issued a voluntary recall on the rigs.

Changes in the EV tax credit rules have been confusing and made it hard to determine which cars are eligible for credits. Some automakers argued that the rules would unfairly harm their business and ability to compete, and we’re now starting to see how some of the changes are shaking out. Automotive News reported that the top eight EVs in the U.S. in January were built in North America, while Hyundai and Kia fell back.

In case you were counting, the Tesla Cybertruck “debuted” more than three years ago, and there hasn’t been a single one sold to any of the thousands of deposit-paying reservation holders. Despite that, the automaker and its fans have continued to insist that it’s coming soon, and one lucky shareholder claims to have insider knowledge of the production version of the truck. 

I’m guilty of complaining about EV charging infrastructure, but I’ve never been in a situation where charging times or lack of access ruined my day. That’s the exact opposite of the experience two thieves recently had in Georgia, as their stop to charge their Tesla Model X was their undoing. 

Earlier this year, Tesla heavily cut prices, stirring anger from some owners over the steep decrease in vehicle values. That hasn’t deterred the automaker, as it recently lowered prices on the Model S and Model X.

Tesla just wrapped its annual Investor Day, where the automaker invites fans and shareholders to hear it brag about its accomplishments and future products. At yesterday’s event, Tesla confirmed the poorly-held secret that a Gigafactory is coming to Mexico.

Telsa's Investor Day will be starting soon after this publishes -- and I am wondering what, if anything, you're expecting in terms of news from the company.

One of Tesla’s most significant competitive advantages could be fading, as the White House recently announced a deal with the automaker that would open part of its previously-exclusive charging network to owners of other EV brands. The wheels are in motion, as Tesla tweeted last night that the first round of chargers is now open.