Tesla has unveiled a new rear-wheel drive version of their Model 3 for the Singapore market, called the “Drive 110”. This version prioritizes affordability over raw performance, making it a potentially attractive option for Singaporean consumers due to the country’s unique car ownership regulations.

The new Model 3 sacrifices some performance for that lower price tag.

This new version boasts a lower price tag of SGD 69,300 (approximately 372,700 Yuan) compared to the standard rear-wheel drive variant. However, it sacrifices some performance with a total power output of 110 kW and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 8.6 seconds (compared to 6.1 seconds for the standard model). Interestingly, both versions share the same WLTP driving range of 513 km.

Whether this version will be available in mainland China remains unclear, as it’s specifically designed to comply with Singapore’s regulations.

So, why the “Drive 110”? Singapore’s car ownership system requires bidding for a Certificate of Ownership (COE) before purchasing a vehicle. There are two COE categories: Class A (up to 110 kW) and Class B (above 110 kW). Class A COEs are significantly cheaper. Taking both the COE cost and car price into consideration, the “Drive 110” with its Class A COE becomes the more affordable option for Singaporean consumers, despite the reduced performance compared to the standard rear-wheel drive version.

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Tesla‘s latest iteration of the Model 3, nicknamed “Highland,” isn’t just a mere facelift of its popular electric vehicle; it represents a significant leap in pedestrian safety. Among its upgrades, such as a classier interior and a quieter ride, the most striking addition is the “Active Hood” feature, aimed at safeguarding pedestrians during collisions.

The car’s hood elevates in case of an impact to protect the pedestrian

This innovative safety mechanism is designed to activate during impacts with pedestrians at speeds between 30 and 52 kilometers per hour. When a collision is detected, the rear part of the hood elevates by approximately 80 millimeters, acting as a protective cushion for the pedestrian’s head. This not only showcases Tesla’s commitment to safety but also highlights an often-overlooked aspect of vehicle design: pedestrian protection.

Moreover, the Model 3’s safety arsenal doesn’t end there. Another hidden gem is the addition of metal hooks on the lower part of the doors, ensuring they remain aligned during crashes, thereby enhancing the structural integrity of the vehicle. This thoughtful design choice underscores Tesla’s holistic approach to safety, addressing both occupants and external parties.

Interestingly, the Model 3 also tackles driver safety with a novel feature – the “Driver Drowsiness Warning.” Utilizing the cabin-facing camera, this system monitors the driver’s yawns and blink rate, alerting them of potential fatigue. This proactive approach to driver alertness could be a game-changer in preventing accidents caused by drowsiness.

Although these features are currently available in European models, they are expected to be included in the North American versions soon.

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According to new data, Tesla is selling more cars in China and fewer abroad. The China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reports that in August, Tesla’s Made-in-China (MIC) Model 3 and Model Y sales went up by 9% compared to last year, totaling 84,159 units. However, this growth is mainly from local sales in China.

The Highland Model 3 has a refreshed design and

Here’s the breakdown:

• Local sales in China were 64,694 cars last month, an 88% increase from last year.
• Exports were down, with just 19,465 cars shipped out, a 54% drop from a year ago.

These changes come as Tesla is preparing to launch a new version of the Model 3, known as Highland. Tesla typically focuses on exports early in a quarter, so this shift toward the local market is noteworthy.

For the first eight months of this year, Tesla’s total local sales were 390,000 MIC electric cars, a 62% increase from last year. In contrast, Tesla exported 234,761 MIC cars from China this year, still a 47% increase from the previous year despite last month’s dip. The data suggests Tesla is doing well in China after some price cuts, but it’s not clear how this will affect the company’s profits in the long run. The focus on local sales could be temporary due to the upcoming Model 3 upgrade or it may signal a new long-term strategy for Tesla in China.

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After years of taking the EV market by storm, Tesla’s Model 3 is ready to win over more of the mainstream crowd with its recent updates. Codenamed Project Highland internally, the revamped Model 3 aims to strike a balance between high-tech and daily drivability.

The New Tesla Model 3 has a distinct, cleaner look

The first thing you’ll notice is how Tesla has fine-tuned the design. The front end sports new character lines and more modern headlamp housing, lending it a cleaner, almost utilitarian look. The sharper lines extend to the hood, making the car look both stylish and functional. Gone are the days when the Tesla logo dominated the rear end; now, the company’s name is spelled out, flanked by new, eye-catching C-shaped taillights.

The focus isn’t just on the looks; it’s also about performance. Tesla’s Italian press release underlined improvements in aerodynamics for better range and quieter rides. These updates are currently available for the rear-wheel-drive and long-range versions, targeting the majority of everyday drivers rather than just tech enthusiasts or luxury seekers.

New color options like Ultra Red and Stealth Gray add to the car’s mainstream appeal. But it’s not just the aesthetics; Tesla has made strategic moves to make this the go-to electric vehicle for a wide range of consumers.

As we steer into a future where electric vehicles are the norm rather than the exception, Tesla’s updated Model 3 could be the frontrunner in making EVs more accessible and appealing to the average driver. It’s no longer just a car for early adopters and Tesla fans; it’s shaping up to be the electric car of choice for the everyman.

Could this be the most anticipated EV of the year? It certainly has the potential. And with these enhancements, Tesla might just have widened its net to capture a broader market.

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A prototype of the highly-anticipated upgraded Tesla Model 3 (2023), internally referred to as the “Highland” version, was recently photographed on a road in Xinjiang, China. The model was earlier spotted on a highway in California.

Tesla Model 3 Project Highland expected to start production in September

The vehicle, wrapped in black fabric to conceal its design, aligns with the pattern of camouflage often seen on pre-production models. The sighting has fueled speculation that Tesla might start production in September and initiate deliveries as early as October.

The prototype likely originated from Tesla’s Giga Shanghai production facility, and the road test covered a distance of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 miles from Shanghai to Xinjiang.

This enhanced Model 3 has been developed to strengthen Tesla’s position in the competitive Chinese automotive market. The upcoming model boasts noticeable improvements in both its interior and exterior design.

Sources indicate that the new iteration is slightly longer, lending it a more dynamic appearance. Subtle yet distinct changes, such as the revised front bumper and headlights, have been captured in leaked images. Notably, the vehicle will incorporate Tesla’s advanced Hardware 4.0, enhancing its capabilities for autonomous driving, alongside a sleeker interior design.

While details about the powertrain and battery specifics remain undisclosed, rumors point to the potential use of the 66 kWh M3P battery from CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.), possibly featuring lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. If accurate, this could translate to improved affordability, safety, and extended range capabilities for the new Model 3.

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The competition in the Chinese electric vehicle market is heating up. Especially between Tesla and BYD, it’s unclear who will come out on top. For example, BYD is standing out with its variety of products and prices, while Tesla impresses users with its technology. Furthermore, the company founded by Elon Musk hasn’t shown all its cards yet. According to latest reports, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) might be getting ready to launch in China. Here are the details…

Tesla Gathers Data for Self-Driving FSD in China

Tesla‘s Full Self-Driving technology is coming to China. The Tesla China Analyst tweeted that the FSD test version has been released in China and is operating in “shadow mode” to gather data. Once Tesla is satisfied with the data, it will activate FSD on a small scale for trials. This means that FSD Beta could soon be available in China.

Tesla China has not responded to these rumors, but there have been many speculations about FSD coming to China since the beginning of the year. Tesla has denied these rumors in the past, but it seems like they are finally ready to bring FSD to China. China is the world’s largest market for electric vehicles, so it would be a big mistake for Tesla to miss out on this market.

NIO, XPeng, and Huawei are already rolling out their own driver-assist features in China, so Tesla needs to make sure that FSD is ready to compete. The Tesla China Analyst also said that Tesla is gathering data from external cameras, journey details, map locations, and vehicle status to improve FSD. This is similar to Tesla’s previous “shadow mode” approach, where the driving system is active but does not interfere with the driver’s actions.

There have been concerns about data privacy and safety with FSD. Apple, for example, ensures that all iCloud data from Chinese users remains in China. Tesla may need to do something similar by establishing a local driving database and developing a native R&D team for self-driving in China.

It remains to be seen how Tesla’s FSD will be received in China. While it is acclaimed overseas, it has yet to demonstrate the complete autonomous driving capability it claims to have. However, with Tesla’s strong brand and the large Chinese market, FSD could be a big success in China.

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Researchers from Germany have successfully performed a ‘jailbreak‘ on a Tesla Model 3, thereby gaining free access to in-car features normally reserved for paid upgrades. The white hat hackers, three of whom are students at Technische Universität Berlin, utilized a unique hardware manipulation technique to bypass the vehicle’s in-built security measures.

The researchers managed to extract the encryption key that authenticated the car to Tesla’s network

Christian Werling, one of the students involved, explained that this approach could be beneficial for owners unwilling to pay additional fees for upgrades already incorporated into their vehicle, such as heated rear seats. He stated, “We’re not the evil outsider; we own the car. And we don’t want to pay these $300 bucks for the rear heated seats.” This intriguing revelation suggests a shift in traditional perspectives on ‘jailbreaking’.

The team achieved this feat using a technique known as “voltage glitching,” manipulating the supply voltage of the AMD processor running the infotainment system. The strategic timing of this process causes the CPU to ‘hiccup’, skipping an instruction, thereby accepting manipulated code.

In addition to unlocking features, the researchers were able to extract the encryption key authenticating the car to Tesla’s network. This extraction facilitated access to sensitive personal data including contact details, call logs, calendar appointments, location history, Wi-Fi passwords, and email session tokens. While this vulnerability could be exploited, the team maintains that their research is exploratory, not malicious.

The researchers have cautioned that Tesla’s only defense against this hardware-based attack is a complete hardware replacement. As they prepare to present their research at the upcoming Black Hat cybersecurity conference in Las Vegas, their groundbreaking discovery might pose significant implications for vehicle cybersecurity and the ‘right-to-repair’ debate.

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The electric vehicle market is getting more competitive. BYD is currently the leader, but Tesla is trying hard to catch up. Tesla recently announced major price cuts, and it seems that Elon Musk is not done yet. A refreshed Tesla Model 3, also known as “Project Highland,” has been spotted on the highway. Here are the details…

Tesla Model 3 Gets Major Facelift, New Features

If you have been following the electric vehicle world closely, you may have heard rumors about a refreshed Tesla Model 3. The vehicle was first spotted under a tarp in a garage a few months ago. The model was expected to make production easier for the company and add various features to the Model 3. Of course, no official announcement has been made about the vehicle, which is codenamed Project Highland, so all of this was just speculation. However, a video recently posted on Reddit gave us a live look at the refreshed Tesla Model 3.

As you can see in the video posted on Reddit, a prototype of the updated Model 3, known as Project Highland, was recently spotted cruising on a highway in California. The prototype was covered in black camouflage, but it was still possible to clearly see some of the changes that Tesla has made. The front end appears to have been redesigned, with new headlights and a different bumper. The rear end has also been updated, with revised taillights and a diffuser.

In addition to the exterior changes, the refreshed Model 3 is also expected to get a number of interior upgrades. These include a new steering wheel, a redesigned dashboard, and a new sound system. However, the most intriguing part is the price. As I mentioned above, one reason why Tesla made such a decision is to reduce costs. According to rumors, the new Model 3 will not contain the errors of the previous version and will be much easier to produce. This will save the company both parts and time, making the prices even more affordable than they are now.

However, it is worth mentioning again that these are just rumors that have not gone beyond speculation. Profitability is also important to Tesla, so the company may sell the new Model 3 at the same price as the old one, even though it is produced more cheaply. As you can guess, the release date is not yet known.

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The competition in the electric vehicle market continues at full speed. Although Tesla is a technological leader in the sector, it lags behind BYD in terms of sales. To change this situation, the company recently offered discounts on several Tesla models. Now, they have reopened orders for the long-range Model 3 after putting them on hold last August. Here are the details…

Tesla’s Long-Range Model 3 Back on Sale in US with Reduced Price and Delivery in June

In August of last year, Tesla made a shocking decision to halt sales of the long-range Model 3. The growing waiting list was cited as the reason for this decision. Tesla, founded by Elon Musk, had faced production challenges for a long time, which made waiting times seem normal. However, it was believed that the electric vehicle manufacturer had resolved this issue shortly before the pandemic. At the time, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that the company would resume taking orders once production capacity had increased.

After a wait of almost nine months, Tesla has reopened orders for the long-range Model 3. The company has also reduced the price of the long-range Model 3. The starting price now stands at $47,240, a significant decrease from the previous $57,990. It’s worth noting that orders are currently open only in the United States, so prices for other regions remain uncertain for now. The online configurator currently shows an estimated delivery window of June for the long-range Model 3.

Beyond the price, another notable change is in the range. As you may know, Tesla redesigned its existing models last November. This did not result in significant cosmetic or technical changes but did provide cost and time savings in production. However, the long-range Tesla Model 3 is now listed as having a range of 325+ miles, a decrease from the previously advertised 358 miles on a single charge. This relatively small change doesn’t seem too important, considering the reduction in price.

Tesla Model 3 specs

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Tesla had announced that it is working on a Model 3 refresh a couple of months earlier. But prior to its official release, the company’s Model 3 Project Highland has been leaked, offering us a look at the refreshed electric vehicle.

For those unaware, the Model 3 refresh carries the codename “Project Highland”. The upcoming EV is expected to arrive with several changes and refreshes. These updates could range from its infotainment system to its external design and more. As of right now, the American automobile maker is expected to begin the Project Highland in the third quarter of this year. Recently, the new EV has been spotted in the US, with the latest sighting revealing more of its design.

A Redditor shared an image, which reportedly offers us a first proper look at the Tesla Model 3 Project Highland. Looking at this image, parts of the EV is still covered, although we can see still see the front of the refreshed model. One of the more immediate change that can be noticed is the headlights. The next gen Model 3 appears to have a headlight design that is similar to Tesla Roadster or even its Model S.

The headlights are sleeker and offer a more sportier look compared to the version that is available for purchase right now. Another notable aspect noticeable is the absence of the fog lights. Apart from this, there also appear to be changes to the front bumper. However, the authenticity of this image being a Project Highland leak is still questionable since the upcoming Model 3 refresh has typically been spotted with protective covers on the front ends. So stay tuned for more updates regarding this matter.

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A dedicated Tesla owner is turning heads with his ambitious and innovative DIY project – the CyberRoadster. David Andreyev, known as @Cyber_Hooligan_ on Twitter, has been meticulously combining the best of Tesla’s electric vehicles in a quest to create the ultimate two-seater CyberRoadster. Here are the details…

Merging Supercar and Cybertruck Features in a One-of-a-Kind Electric Vehicle

Inspired by the Cybertruck and next-generation Roadster, Andreyev’s project car is based on a salvaged Model 3 Performance. With its dedicated Track Mode, the Model 3 Performance provides an ideal starting point for the CyberRoadster build. Andreyev has documented his progress on his YouTube channel, showcasing the intricate work that has gone into the project so far.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the CyberRoadster is its use of parts from other Tesla vehicles. For example, the front bumper is sourced from a new Model S, and recent videos suggest that the rear bumper will also come from a new Model S. This creative combination of components demonstrates Andreyev’s passion for Tesla and electric vehicles.

Although the project is far from completion, Andreyev’s journey has been captivating to follow. It is evident that the CyberRoadster is a labor of love, and the final result promises to be nothing short of spectacular. In a world where Tesla modifications often tend toward gimmicks rather than serious automotive projects, enthusiasts like Andreyev remind us of the exciting possibilities that electric vehicles can offer. The CyberRoadster represents a unique fusion of Tesla’s best features, and it is sure to make a statement on the road once it’s finished.

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Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla made a recent announcement regarding the next-generation small EV that the company was working on. Musk said that the next-gen budget car will generally operate in autonomous mode and there was a clear path to make and deliver a car that cost half as much as the Tesla Model 3 Sedan. 

Musk did not give any more details fo the vehicle. However, this is not the first time that Musk promised to deliver a budget EV. In 2020, Tesla announced that it was planning to make a small-budget car that would be fully autonomous and cost less than $25,000. The company promised to deliver the car within three years by 2023.

The low-end budget car which is unofficially referred to as Tesla Model 2 will be smaller and cheaper than Tesla Model 3 which at around $42,990 is the cheapest EV offered by the company.  Experts speculate that Model 2 will come with a 25% smaller battery and 15% smaller body as compared to Model 3. It will also be 30% lighter than Model 3. 

Since its inception, Tesla customers and fans have lamented about the need for a budget EV from the company. The cheapest vehicle is the Model 3 Sedan which costs around $43,000. While there was a time when you could buy the base variant of Model 3 for $35,000, today the base model is priced at $43,000. However, Tesla claims that the net cost after tax credits and gas savings for the Model 3 base variant in California comes to around $29,000 and the Model 3 base variant is already offered at a competitive price and is cheaper than the famous Toyota Corolla. 

The company is planning to launch its budget car for less than $30,000. Tesla has always run its business on the philosophy of making them better and cheaper at the same time. The company is essentially trying to convert a car into a computer and use advanced technology, to not only improve the performance of the vehicle but also make it cost-effective. Though the company has not always achieved this goal, with the Model 2 budget EV it plans to launch a smaller, cheaper, and better car than before. 

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Tesla is going to shut down parts of its mega factory Giga Shanghai, this weekend. The production lines of Giga Shanghai will be closed for upgrading the manufacturing plant that will roll out the upcoming Tesla Model 3 Refresh. 

According to Bloomberg, people familiar with the matter said that the plant has two phases for vehicle manufacturing, and some workers on the first phase won’t be allowed on production lines from as soon as Sunday, as the work on improving them is undertaken. The factory upgrades will take almost a month to complete and will directly affect the production and assembly of the new Model 3 which is expected to launch soon in China. 

Last month Tesla failed to get approval for expanding its Giga Shanghai factory from Chinese authorities. Though the Chinese government did not give an official reason for withholding the license, experts suggested that the delay was due to Beijing’s concerns over data security, related to Starlink. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is also the head of the internet-from-space initiative Starlink, and government authorities are worried about security issues relating to the satellite internet project. 

Giga Shanghai and Model 3 Refresh

Giga Shanghai also known as Gigafactory 3 is Tesla’s first overseas factory located in Shanghai, China. Established in 2018, it is one of the five Gigafactories owned by Tesla. The factory specializes in assembling both Model 3 a compact Sedan and Model Y a crossover. 

The Tesla Model 3 Refresh is a soon-to-be-launched, upgraded version of the Model 3. It is an important project for the company, as Tesla aims to make a comeback in China using the Model 3 Refresh. 

Code-named project ‘Highland’, the Model 3 Refresh will use Teslas’ largest casting technology. This new technology helps the company to increase its manufacturing efficiency and has already been used on Tesla Model Y.  The company remains tight-lipped about the exact upgrades for the refresh model. Still, images of the camouflaged test drives in California show that the new model will have a significant facelift. The new model is expected to come with Tesla’s Hardware 4.0 and weigh less than its predecessor. 

Tesla the pioneer and global leader in Electric Vehicles was once the number one EV seller in China. But last year, it was overthrown by Chinese EV maker BYD. BYD the Shenzen-based car maker sold a record number of  EVs in 2022 and dethroned Tesla as the number one EV seller in the world. 

Tesla faces stiff competition from companies like BYD and Nio Inc. which are dominating the Chinese market. To outpace the competition, the company is now pushing for the launch of the Model 3 Refresh and rushing to upgrade its facilities. 

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Electric cars are continuously gaining popularity, leading to increased production capacities and reduced costs. Major manufacturers such as Volkswagen and Ford have taken advantage of this and have produced relatively affordable models. When this occurs, attention turns to Tesla, the first name that comes to mind when thinking about electric vehicles. So, will we see an affordable Tesla model in the near future? Here are the details…

As you know, Tesla is a publicly traded company and holds meetings with its shareholders at certain times of the year. The upcoming event is the “Tesla Investor Day” scheduled for March 1. Tesla may unveil a new low-cost EV platform at this event. During Tesla’s Q3 earnings call in October last year, CEO Elon Musk revealed that the new platform will be smaller in size than the Model 3/Model Y platform.

He also indicated that the company will work to reduce costs. This will be the third vehicle platform for Tesla, following the trajectory of its “Master Plan,” which aims to shift the company from high-cost/low-volume designs to low-cost/high-volume designs. The first platform was for the Model S and X, and the second platform is used for the Model 3 and Y. Unfortunately, there is no information about the expected affordable Tesla models. However, some analysts claim that these cars will start at $25,000.

So, if Tesla is indeed working on a low-cost car, why hasn’t any information been leaked yet? The answer is simple: the new model is likely still in the design and planning stage and there may still be a long time before it goes into production. As a comparison, Elon Musk introduced the CyberTruck in 2019 and started pre-orders, but the car has not yet been released. A similar situation may occur with these affordable models. We will see on March 1 whether all these gossips are true or not.

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Tesla owners in China have been protesting the company’s decision to cut prices on its electric vehicles (EVs) for the second time in three months. The protesters, who are recent buyers of Tesla cars, are demanding refunds for the vehicles they purchased prior to the announcement of the price cuts on Friday. Here are the details…

Tesla owners in China protest price cuts as delivery times extend on higher demand

According to the latest reports, the new price cuts saw the Chinese-made Model 3 fall by 13.5%, which now starts at $33,515, and the Model Y cut by 10%, which now starts at $37,899. The protesters reportedly purchased the cars just before the end of 2022 in order to take advantage of expiring government subsidies for EVs.

The demonstrations took place at Tesla showrooms in locations such as Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu. In Chengdu, the protesters reportedly shouted “Return the money, refund our cars.” A Tesla China spokesperson told the press that the company is not planning to compensate new buyers who took delivery before Friday’s price cut.

The price cuts, which were also implemented in Australia, Japan, and South Korea, are reportedly driving new demand for Tesla vehicles in China. The company’s China website shows that the waiting times for both the rear-wheel drive and long-range versions of the Model Y are a week longer after the price cuts, with delivery wait time for these versions pushed to two to five weeks.

However, the wait time for all Model 3 versions and the Model Y performance edition remains at one to four weeks. The extended wait times in China are seen as a bullish sign on the street, but Wedbush analyst Dan Ives predicted that more price cuts would be needed in China in order to boost demand.

“The major worry now overhead for Tesla is that the demand story especially out of China is showing heavy cracks in the armor at a time that EV competition is steadily increasing domestically with NIO, BYD, Xpeng, and others fighting for a smaller pie with the Chinese consumer weakening,” Ives wrote on January 4th. “With China representing 40%+ of the global growth story for Tesla this is a heavy concern for the Street which will likely result in more significant price cuts over the coming months to spur demand as a potential pricing war takes place to gain market share in a darker macro backdrop.”

With the Chinese market being one of the most important markets for Tesla, this recent development is something to be watched closely. As production for the Chinese New year is approaching (January 22) and Tesla has an extended break for Giga Shanghai, the company needs to make sure they can strike the right balance to keep the demand high but also to keep customers satisfaction intact.

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Tesla has just officially launched two new electric models in Thailand. The new cars are two of its popular electric cars, including the Model 3 and Model Y, that are now available for orders as of today (7th December 2022).

The known EV maker has just announced the two models in the region, with the Model 3 starting from 1,759,000 baht (roughly 50,115 US Dollars) and the Model Y will start from 1,959,000 baht (roughly 55,810 US Dollars). Furthermore, the company has promised that the deliveries for these cars will be done sometime by the first quarter of 2023. Tesla is also planning on setting up new Supercharge service points as well, which are also expected to be installed in the first quarter of next year.

As per official notes, at least one of the installations will be in the central areas and the plan will include expansion to 10 points by the end of 2023. Talking about the EVs themselves, the Model 3 is an electric sedan that will offer a maximum operational range of 681 kilometers with a top speed of 261 km/h. This car can also reach 0-100km/r in just 3.3 seconds. On the other hand, the Model Y is an electric SUV that will offer a maximum operational range of 623 kilometers. It as a top speed of 250 km/h and can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds.

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(Via)

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Tesla‘s charging stations have in recent times become easy targets for vandals who place a premium on the charging cables. A report out of the UK shows that EV charging cable theft was rapidly replacing catalytic converter thefts from ICE vehicles. It was recently reported in China that Tesla charging stations are being vandalized and the cables sold for cash. Apparently, a group of criminals in Germany decided to take things a notch higher as they busted a Tesla delivery center in Weiterstadt, making away with the wheels and aero caps in 11 different Tesla models comprising the Model 3 and Model Y that are waiting to be delivered to their owners.

This obviously is a new form of theft as it is the first such incident we are getting despite Tesla having several delivery hubs located in different cities across Europe.

A report by the local police states that the robbery looks to have taken place sometime between 6:00pm on Friday, March 11, and 9:00am on Saturday March 12, obviously taking advantage of the cover of darkness. The criminals succeeded in removing the complete set of wheels on a combination of 11 Model 3 and Model Y EVs, leaving the cars suspended on cinder blocks. It is likely this may have caused some damages to the undercarriage and battery packs of the models.

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Apart from making away with the wheels, the vandals also stole the aero caps from another five Teslas. The criminals also deliberately smashed the glass roof on one of the vehicles but it was stated if it is a Model 3 or Model Y.

Investigations are already ongoing and the police are encouraging locals who may have witnessed the crime to come forward. It is unclear if there were security personnel manning the hub as of the time of the robbery. We expect more details to emerge in no distant time.

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(source)

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Tesla has recently made changes to an advertisement in South Korea. The ad was related to the driving range of its Model 3 electric vehicle. However, South Korean antitrust regulator apparently discovered that the company made exaggerated claims in the ad, which prompted it to make the changes.

For those unaware, the American automobile manufacturer had advertised the Model 3 sedan on its official South Korean website with a range of “more than” 528 kilometers. But now, the EV maker has changed the description to show that the vehicle “maximum range” of 528 kilometers on a single full charge. Earlier this week, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) had sent a report to Tesla, in which it stated that the company had exaggerated the mileage of some of its models.

In other words, the report said that the Model 3 was in violation of the Act of Fair Labeling and Advertising. Furthermore, analysts also added that most electric vehicles would also see lose in driving range in cold weather as well. According to a commission official speaking to Reuters “The KFTC plans to give the automaker the opportunity to respond to our finding and then hold a general meeting to review and determine the extent to which the automaker has violated the law and decide the level of sanctions.”

So now, the South Korean website is in line with Tesla’s official US website, which reads “Go anywhere with “up to” 358 miles of estimated range on a single charge.” 358 miles equates to around 576 kilometers. Despite facing the antitrust probe, analysts believe that the company’s performance in the market would likely not be impacted by this.

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Tesla is apparently working on a new feature for its popular electric vehicles. Although, this might not be a highly anticipated one, as it oddly locks users out of seat controls, if they fiddle with it a bit too much.

According to hacker and researcher @greentheonly on Twitter, the new feature from the American EV maker will be rolled out to prevent excessive abuse of seat controls. The company recently began installing new seat motors in some of its Model 3 and Model Y series EVs, which aren’t made from China’s Yangfeng and its on in house production. These new motors are made by Brose.

But the striking difference between the two other motors and the Brose one is what the hacker dubbed as a “seat abuse” metric. In other words, this new feature will issue warning to users if they make too many adjustments. Furthermore, it will outright disable seat controls as well, if the user does not take note of these warnings. This also implies that the Tesla Model EV is keeping track of the number of adjustments a user is making.

While this might sound like the brand is taking control away from the users, keep in mind that the feature will apparently kick in only when seat controls are used “excessively.” Meaning, it could be for children that tend to mess around with buttons. The first warning shows the message “Excessive use of seat track motor detected,” which is displayed after 90 seconds of use within a 5 minute period. So it doesn’t sound that bad right now. But we will have to wait and see just how this works in real life scenarios.

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The China arm of electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has instituted a court proceeding against a social media influencer for allegedly disseminating false information about the Model 3. The influencer has more than 14 million followers and is alleged to have simulated the malfunction of the Model 3 EV, and then published false claims relating to the car.

The automotive influencer in question, Xiaogang Xuezhang is seen as a car expert in many quarters and has a very large followership. The legal charge put together by Tesla China’s legal department against the media influencer was defamation, as noted by an official release by Tesla China. The case is the culmination of an extensive campaign by Tesla to warm bloggers and social media influencers to desist from publishing damaging and false information about Tesla vehicles. Defaulting persons were advised to publicly denounce such false claims or await a lawsuit. Several bloggers later publicly admitted that their claims were misleading.

There had been a few lawsuits against some of the false accusers who refused to denounce their claims. The latest lawsuit against the influencer with huge followership is the biggest lawsuit yet. Xiaogang Xuezhang has made several videos about testing and tuning cars which are placed on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. He is alleged to have published two videos in April 2021 where he compared the automatic emergency braking system in the Tesla Model 3 with that of the XPeng P7, saying that the Tesla vehicle’s emergency braking system failed twice, which was a false claim.

Xuezhang’s claim has been challenged by some Tesla owners, stressing that the influencer may have stepped his foot on the accelerator deliberately. There are also claims that he was on a de-marketing campaign at the instance of Tesla’s competitors. It is unclear how the case will pan out but Tesla hopes it will serve as a further deterrent for persons who consistently make false claims against its vehicles.

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(source)

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NIO has just announced new electric vehicle. The new car in question is the ET5 Electric Sedan that joins its larger ET7 model as an entry model and will likely rival the popular Tesla Model 3.

The new ET5 arrives with an interior design that is quite similar to the ET7, albeit, in a more compact form factor. This new car will basically be the Chinese electric vehicle maker’s entry level EV, which offers a sleek and modern design that enables it to offer a a drag coefficient as low as 0.24. The NIO ET5 electric sedan is powered by a 150kW at the front and 210kW at the rear, which produces a combined 360kW or 483 hp and 700Nm or 516 lb-ft of torque.

In simpler terms, its engine is capable of offering a 0 to 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds. This is further supplemented by the in house developed 4 piston fixed calipers with aluminum casting that enables it to completely stop in just 33.9 meters from the same speed. Talking about its range, the ET5’s range was tested in China’s light-duty vehicle test cycle (CLTC) and achieved 550 km with the 75 kWh Standard Range Battery. With its long range 100 kWh Long Range Battery, it achieved over 700 km while its 150 kWh Ultralong Range Battery had it see range of more than a whopping 1,000 km.

Other interesting features include, a 10.2 inch HDR display on the center console and support for PanoCinema that features AR and VR tech that can be used along with the respective custom built ET5 glasses. The new NIO ET5 will hit Chinese dealerships by September 2022 and is priced at 328,000 Yuan (roughly 51,500 US Dollars). Unfortunately, the automobile maker has yet to announce any launch date for markets outside of China, although, it is confirmed to meet the five-star C-NCAP and Euro NCAP standards, so we can expect to hear more about this soon.

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The global chip shortage is wreaking havoc on many microchip-dependent industries, like the automotive industry, including Tesla, which for the most part has managed to avoid the brunt of it. This has been possible thanks to quick decision-making like pivoting to microcontrollers and developing newer firmware to work with new chips from different suppliers.

However, Tesla might be facing a new PR nightmare in the form of missing USB ports in their latest Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.

In the last few days, reports have surfaced that some new Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles have been delivered with missing USB-C ports. Most affected cars seem to be missing the USB-C ports along the back wall of the center console, with one claiming that the rear-seat USB ports are missing. These owners have also complained about the wireless charging not working.

According to Electrek, an auto-tech website, Tesla blames the missing parts on the global chip shortage.

As a new Tesla owner, it is understandable that due to the ongoing semiconductor shortages, some non-essential parts of your vehicle might be missing. The concern, however, comes with the lack of communication or transparency from Tesla.

These units are often delivered without informing the customer about the missing parts. Many customers have pointed out that this issue can be easily solved if Tesla marked these vehicles beforehand and made a priority list to install the missing parts on the latest date of availability.

If you are a new Tesla owner, we advise you to check if all the USB ports are available in your vehicle.

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During the month of August, electric vehicle sales reached 506,000 units. A new report shared the figure and found that our of the half a million figure, more than 50 percent of all sales for electric vehicles were in China.

According to TheElec, the report arrives from EV Volumes who added that the overall figure is likely higher than 510,000 units when including the nations who’s data was unavailable. This also marked total sales doubling over the same month from a year ago. Notably, out of this total figure, 260,000 units or more than half of the EV sales in August were made in China. In Germany, around 52,000 units of EVs were sold, while the US market saw around 44,000 units being sold.

Similarly, France accounted for 17,000 units and Norway saw 14,000 EV units sold. In South Korea, electric vehicle sales reached 9,600 units, which marked a sizeable 172 percent growth year on year. EV Volumes further added that the launch of the Tesla Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5 boosted sales in August, while electric trucks from Hyundai and Kia were also quite popular.

In terms of total units sold, the Tesla Model 3 was the most popular electric car, which sold around 282,000 units across the globe during this month. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV was the second most popular EV that sold 245,000 units, followed by Tesla Model Y with 180,000 units sold. The model 3 was popular in Europe, while the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV was popular in China. EV Volumes projects total sales of electric vehicles to hit 6.41 million unit this year.

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While the arrival of Tesla in India has been highly anticipated, the wait for the popular electric vehicles from the company might be longer due to the high import duty in the region.

According to a TimesNowNews report, the high import duty is one of the primary reasons why the American automobile maker hasn’t entered the Indian market. While it is possible to simply import a car from the company’s Gigafactory in China, the duty would make the car’s price surge, making it less viable in the market. So, the only way to avoid this would mean manufacturing and assembling the cars locally under the Indian government’s EV scheme.

At the moment, the Tesla Model 3 is one of the most affordable models from the company and is offered for a price of around 39,990 USD in the US (roughly 3,000,000 INR or 30 Lakhs). However, the Model 3 in India could reach prices as high as 60 lakhs in the region due to the import duties. This could make the affordable model be too expensive for the local market. As per industry experts, these import duties on fully imported cars to India are a great concern to Elon Musk.

As of right now, India leview a 100 percent tax on the imported cars that are priced over 40,000 USD inclusive of insurance and shipping expenses. Meanwhile, cars priced less than the 40,000 USD mark only have a 60 percent import tax. According to a Counterpoint Research analyst, “Musk has also criticized the government policies for electric vehicles (EV), as they attract the same import tariffs as for petrol and diesel cars.”

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Tesla may be selling more electric vehicles (EVs) by the day but there still quite a number of persons who don’t even know that the car offers way more than just no carbon emission. This was proven recently when a woman who perhaps didn’t realize Teslas have self-driving capabilities was caught on tape chasing one down the parking lot thinking it was rolling away, obviously trying to help out.

The video was captured by Tesla’s Sentry Mode onboard the Model 3. In case you don’t know, the Sentry Mode is a surveillance system integrated into the vehicles Autopilot cameras which can help capture incidents such as potential vandalism and others. The feature is actually a response to a spate of car vandalism targeted at Tesla owners in San Francisco’s Bay Area. The owner will have to plug in a storage device in any of the USB ports in the center console and footages both from the surveillance camera and dashcam will be stored there.

The footage which was shared by the Model 3 owner in Pennsylvania shows the woman jumping out of her own SUV and dashing after the Model 3 in a bid to stop the car from rolling. The owner even disclosed that the woman even attempted to stop it by putting her weight on the front left pillar but that wasn’t captured in the video.

The truth is the Smart Summon is a relatively new feature released by Tesla in September 2019 and so not many people may have seen it working. It allows owners to summon their Tesla cars from a maximum distance of 200 feet and as long as the car is within their line of sight, even in a difficult parking zone. The feature builds on the “Summon” which allows the car to only move a few feet in their driveway or from a tight parking space where there isn’t enough room for the owner to get inside the car.

Tesla is even planning to take things a step further by releasing a “reverse summon” which will give owners the leverage to disembark from the car at an entrance and have the car find a parking spot autonomously.

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Earlier this week, Elon Musk tweeted out stating that he had planned on selling Tesla to Apple, during its “darkest days” back when the Model 3 rolled out. However, Apple CEO, Tim Cook, “refused” to take the meeting regarding the acquisition.

The Twitter post from the billionaire SpaceX and Tesla CEO arrived after reports surfaced that the Cupertino based giant is working on its own electric vehicle. For those unaware, numerous rumors have recently surfaced regarding the Apple Car, which is the company’s self developed the electric and autonomous vehicle. Elon Musk said that Tesla was then worth one tenth of its value now. The electric vehicle brand has seen a rather successful year, with its stock prices shooting up and making it the most valuable automobile maker in the world.

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Back in 2017, Elon Musk had considered selling off Tesla after facing ‘production hell.’ The company was bleeding money and had yet to produce an electric vehicle available for mass production. During this time, Musk said that the brand was just “single digit weeks” away from completely collapsing, as he directed all of the company’s resources towards ramping up production of the Model 3 sedan. We now know how the story goes as Tesla has not just survived, but also thrived with the brand launching new models since then.

During the darkest days of the Model 3 program, I reached out to Tim Cook to discuss the possibility of Apple acquiring Tesla (for 1/10 of our current value). He refused to take the meeting.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 22, 2020

The iPhone maker has been toying with the idea of launching its own electric car for a while now. While it was known that the company had focused on developing and selling its technologies to other companies, a recent report had revealed that Apple is still working on its own electric self driving car. This report talked about the potential breakthrough in battery technology, which would be lighter while also increasing its energy density.

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Tesla, a known automobiles maker, has become the top seller of electric vehicles in China for the first half of this year. The Elon Musk owned company saw great success with its China made Model 3 series, which gave consumers an affordable entry into luxury cars, and is starting to take orders for Shanghai built Model Y as well.

In the Chinese market, Tesla managed to double its sales of about 50,000 vehicles from 2019. This news arrives despite the world’s electric vehicle market declining by about 50 percent in the same period, down to 235,000 vehicles sold. According to a Nikkei report, Tesla’s market share jumped from 6 percent to 21 percent, with the majority of this boost coming from the Model 3 sedan.

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Tesla began shipping the Model 3 from its Shanghai factory back in January 2020 and it is the company’s most affordable vehicle that goes for about 270,000 Yuan (roughly 39,000 US Dollars). This is after subsidies are applied, which lowered the cost of the same model imported from the US by more than 30 percent. Buyers were also drawn in by the fact that a used Tesla vehicle retains its value better than other electric vehicles.

Furthermore, the company is showing no signs of stopping as it has begun taking orders of another vehicle it built in its Shanghai factory, namely Model Y series SUVs. According to a CaixinGlobal report, the new SUVs will arrive in two different variants, including the long range version and the performance version. The former is priced at 488,000 yuan (roughly 70,800 US Dollars) while the latter is priced at 535,000 yuan (roughly 77,700 US Dollars). The long range variant can travel up to 505 kilometers on a single charge and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 5.1 seconds while the performance variant can reach up to 480 kilometers but can accelerate to 100 kph in only 3.7 seconds.

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The safety of electric vehicles has over the years been called to question in some quarters especially after reports of a few EVs going up in flames. A new report from China hints at a recent accident involving a Tesla Model 3.

Tesla Model 3 clinched the 2019 Top Safety Pick+ award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after achieving a “good” performance in all six IIHS crash tests. However, the report first carried by Sina News Media claims the Model 3 accident occurred in Jiangxi after the car suddenly accelerated to 127 km/h while the owner was driving. All efforts to reduce the speed proved abortive as the brakes failed. The car then crashed and burst in flame.

The highly graphic image of the fire scene suggests the fire apparently started from the engine bay after the crash and spread to the rear of the car, resulting in thick black smoke rising into the sky.

Tesla did issue an official response a few days back. The US company stated that the accident is being investigated in coordination with the relevant government agency in China. Since all Tesla is connected, data including videos before the crash will be analysed to determine what went wrong. The crash is likely caused by a defective autopilot system which is increasingly becoming a concern on Teslas.

In January this year, The Associated Press reported on three crashes involving Teslas in December in which three people were killed. The crashes further heightened scrutiny of the company’s Autopilot driving system.

One of the crashes reportedly occurred on December 29, 2019 and involved a Tesla Model S sedan which left a freeway in Gardena, California, at a high speed, ran a red light and struck a Honda Civic, killing two people inside. On the same day, a Tesla Model 3 hit a parked firetruck on an Indiana freeway, killing a passenger in the Tesla. On December 7 last year, yet another Model 3 struck a police cruiser on a Connecticut highway but thankfully, no one was hurt.

In 2016 a Tesla crashed in Florida killing the driver after neither Tesla’s Autopilot system nor the driver had braked before the car went underneath a semi-trailer that had turned in front of the car.

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(source)

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