Tesla: New Mannequin 3 Possibility, VIP Remedy for Elon’s FSD, Robotaxi Prototype Delay? – CleanTechnica – Uplaza

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There are a couple of new Tesla tales this week, and I’m rolling all of them collectively right here right into a Tesla information sandwich for you. There’ll in all probability be one other Tesla story pop up earlier than I get this printed. If that’s the case, we’ll get that one tonight or this weekend.

New Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary

This morning, Tesla despatched out an e-mail to folks on its e-mail checklist (like me) to tell us there’s a brand new Mannequin 3 choice in the marketplace. That’s the Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary with rear-wheel drive (RWD). Beforehand, you can purchase a Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary with all-wheel drive (AWD) or a Mannequin 3 (not Lengthy Vary) RWD.

Again when the Tesla Mannequin 3 was fairly new to the market, in 2018, there was a long-range RWD choice, and it was fairly common, however it didn’t final lengthy and Tesla separated the higher-cost Mannequin 3 from the lower-cost Mannequin 3 extra distinctly — presumably, to squeeze extra income out of individuals wanting extra vary. (Apparently, three of our writers bought that unique Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary RWD.)

As I wrote a pair days in the past, Tesla appears to be dealing with client demand challenges within the US, Europe, and China. The corporate retains looking for new strategies of stimulating extra demand — providing Full Self Driving (FSD) transfers to new autos, reducing costs, providing artificially low rates of interest, and so forth. — and this looks as if one other try and fire up extra demand, or no less than shake some potential patrons off the fence and into their nearest Tesla supply heart.

What is definitely being provided on this case? “Travel up to 363 miles (EPA est.) on a single charge and enjoy the performance and handling of our rear-wheel drive powertrain for longer,” Tesla writes. “Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive is here, starting at $29,990* after federal tax credit and estimated gas savings.” That was the complete pitch within the e-mail.

It’s really a compelling provide, so I assume it should certainly fire up a couple of extra gross sales. Get one whereas they’re scorching!

Tesla Robotaxi Reveal Reportedly Delayed

It’s been rumored or leaked that Tesla goes to delay its robotaxi reveal occasion for someday in October relatively than August 8. Reportedly, Tesla engineers want extra time to each construct and check prototypes of the robotaxi.

Assuming that is true (and we’ll discover out quickly), it confirms some issues I and lots of others assumed. To begin with, it appears to verify that this reveal occasion is for a robotaxi automobile idea, one thing under no circumstances able to hit the streets and begin working in a metropolis close to you. For some purpose, I noticed lots of people considering that the 8/8 occasion would launch business Tesla robotaxi service someplace. That appeared impossible, and it appears rather more unlikely now.

In fact, it additionally tells us that Elon Musk’s estimate for when a robotaxi prototype could possibly be prepared was overly optimistic, and one even has to marvel if it wasn’t a rush announcement with out a lot or any prep really resulting in it. Was it only a sudden announcement to distract from dropping automobile gross sales at Tesla? Was it primarily based on fast progress in FSD and confidence that now was the time to finalize a automobile design for robotaxi service? Possibly we’ll get a report on that sooner or later.

Elon Musk’s Automobile & YouTubers Prioritized for Tesla FSD Enhancements?

One other report out this week reveals that Elon Musk’s automotive and sure “VIP” FSD testers on YouTube had been getting preferential remedy for FSD analysis, and thus additionally enhancements that may be seen on their common driving routes. “BI spoke with over a dozen current and former Tesla employees, all but one who spoke on condition of anonymity, who said images and video clips from Musk’s Teslas received meticulous scrutiny, while data from high-profile drivers like YouTubers received ‘VIP’ treatment in identifying and addressing issues with the Full Self-Driving software. The result is that Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD software may better navigate routes taken by Musk and other high-profile drivers, making their rides smoother and more straightforward.”

I didn’t even should get to that half earlier than I spotted what the story have to be about. After I noticed the headline in a crew author chat, I wrote, “I haven’t read the article yet, but I gather it’s saying that Elon’s car gets special treatment? That’s been speculated or was even revealed a couple years ago. And it’s been one of the only things that has explained to me him raving about how much better it’s gotten when I haven’t seen such progress.” And relating to sure VIP YouTubers and X customers getting preferential consideration as properly, I added, “it’s why I stopped paying attention to what others were saying about it and started just using it myself before I believed anything.” For a very long time, I had seen tons of hype on social media about how a lot better FSD had gotten, however then after I’d use it, it could nonetheless behave horribly. In some unspecified time in the future, I simply determined it made no sense to comply with what these different FSD customers had been saying as a result of it didn’t match up with my actuality.

Nevertheless, model 12 was the exception. With model 12, FSD did enhance by leaps and bounds and bought rather more pure in its driving conduct. It nonetheless runs into issues, however it’s far, much better than it was beforehand.

I do now marvel if Elon’s automotive nonetheless will get preferential consideration and remedy, and if distinguished social media customers additionally nonetheless get “VIP” remedy.

Nevertheless, one of many larger points with this report, assuming it’s all true, is that optimizing FSD for distinguished YouTubers could possibly be a approach of manipulating public opinion about FSD. Many have gone as far as to say that it’s a approach of defrauding prospects and buyers. I don’t actually discover myself in that camp, although. I feel that other than taking a look at an infinite quantity of knowledge and making an attempt to sift by it, whereas avoiding the noise, Elon Musk or others on the FSD crew pointed the broader crew to good, reliable FSD testers among the many public who they may study from and whose experiences could possibly be used to enhance the expertise. Or perhaps the reality is someplace in between and it’s some combination of the pessimistic and optimistic views of this information. Tell us what you assume and why.