Model S
Tesla's Model S is the Best-Selling Luxury Sedan in America. By a Lot
The surprising takeaway reflects a huge shift in the auto industry: The Model S is now the top-selling luxury sedan in the U.S, beating out cars from established rivals like Audi, Mercedes, and Lexus. Moreover, the car, according to Tesla, is still gaining market share.
Enhancing Safety and Convenience with Summon
Summon lays important groundwork for an increasingly autonomous world. One where the convenience and safety of transport vastly exceed what we are used to today. Autopilot began this process on the highways. Summon begins it in your garage. As the technology advances, the complementary capabilities of each will converge.
Tesla updates auto-park feature after Consumer Reports raises safety concern
But there was a crucial flaw in the design of the Summon feature: Prior to Tesla's fix, you could summon the car from your key fob, and you didn't have to be constantly holding the button down on the fob or app to keep the car moving. That means if you dropped your keys, accidentally hit the button or closed the app, the car could start driving on its own -- for up to 33 feet.
See a guy summon his Tesla with an Apple Watch
Tesla's Summon feature, which lets you call upon the car to unpark itself out of the garage and arrive at your doorstep, is cool enough by itself, but it's infinitely more cooler when you do it from an Apple Watch. With the latest version of the app, released Wednesday, you can also access Summon. Press hard on the map screen, tap the button, and your car will exit the garage and come to you.
Model X
Elon Talks European Factory and Superchargers at Tesla Paris
According to Musk, production of the Model X is continuing to accelerate and should equal that of the Model S by the second quarter of this year. He said if they have a Model X on order, they could expect delivery some time this summer. “You’re going to love it,” he assured them. “It is really something special. The X is a better SUV than the S is a sedan.”
Tesla Allows Cameras In Fremont Factory For Rare Tour
KPIX 5 shows a behind-the-scene tour of the Fremont Factory, including some scenes of the Model X being built.
Jaden Smith Takes Delivery Of Tesla Model X
Jaden Smith has likely become the world’s youngest Tesla Model X owner. At just 17 years old, Jaden (son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith) was spotted with his new Titanium Model X on Monday in Los Angeles, California.
Model 3
Elon Musk: Tesla to accept orders on new Model 3 car
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter early Thursday that pre-orders of the Model 3 would start in stores March 31 and online April 1.
Tesla Model 3 Debuts March 31st, Higher Options Cars Made First
Given past history, we had assumed that Tesla might prioritize the more heavier optioned/higher priced Model 3 orders, pushing back those looking for the entry level model…as it had done with both the Model S and Model X. Update: Tesla will indeed release more expense versions ahead of entry level cars. “Our default plan as we have done in the past is that the initial sales are relatively highly optioned versions of the car, because we’ve got to pay back the investment of the tooling and everything, so it makes sense to have the higher optioned versions first. That’s what we did with the S and obviously again with the X.”
Tesla Energy
Elon Musk: Version 2 of the Tesla Powerwall is coming this summer
Now, in a recent appearance in Paris, Tesla founder Elon Musk upped the battery ante by delivering a bit of news: an updated version of the Powerwall is already being prepared for market. "We'll be coming out with a version two of the Powerwall probably around July or August of this year, which will see a further step change in capabilities," said Musk during the appearance, which mostly focused on the automobile aspects of Tesla.
TSLA
Shareholder letter: Tesla guides 80,000 to 90,000 vehicles in 2016
We expect to generate positive net cash flow and achieve non-GAAP profitability for the full-year 2016. Thus our cash balance at the end of 2016 should increase from the year end 2015 level. We plan to fund about $1.5 billion in capital expenditures without accessing any outside capital other than our existing sources that support our leasing and finished goods inventory. We plan to invest in equipment to support cell production at the Gigafactory, begin installation of Model 3 vehicle production machinery, open about 80 retail locations and service centers, and energize about 300 new Supercharger locations. To achieve these goals we plan to deliver 80,000 to 90,000 new Model S and Model X vehicles in 2016, representing accelerating growth over 2015 at the midpoint of the range. We expect our average vehicle transaction price to increase slightly during 2016, as Model X grows to become a larger share of our deliveries throughout the year.
Tesla Shares Rise on Higher Revenue
Tesla Motors Inc forecast deliveries of Model S sedans and Model X SUVs that topped analysts’ estimates and said it expects to turn in a profit in 2016, sending its shares nearly 11% higher in after-hours trading. Tesla said it planned to deliver 80,000-90,000 Model S and Model X vehicles of in 2016, ahead of Wall Street’s average expectation for about 79,000 vehicles, according to research firm FactSet StreetAccount.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk exercised another $108 million worth of options
As Tesla’s management was starting the conference call to discuss the company’s fourth quarter financial results today, the company released a new SEC filing confirming that CEO Elon Musk exercised another $108 million worth of options just a few weeks after exercising over $100 million.
Musk added 676,000 shares to his stake in Tesla, which now stand at 29,579,342 shares.
Elon Musk
Was Tesla CEO Elon Musk Right to Cancel VC Capitalist Stewart Alsop’s Model X Order?
Here, we can see blame on both sides, and perhaps a little less talking than we would have liked. If both men were children, we’d be sitting them down on the round mat and teaching them how to play nicely. But as we’re sure you know, the real world isn’t like Kindergarten. Do you think Musk was right to halt Alsop’s order? Was Alsop acting inappropriately when he aired his grievances with Tesla in a very public way? Who do you think is to blame — and how would you have liked the situation to have been resolved?
Other News
Faraday poached Tesla employees
According to a quick LinkedIn search, there are 410 people that list Faraday as their current employer. And about 73 of those listed also have Tesla as a former employer.
Promotion
Ride the Lightning: Tesla Motors Unofficial Podcast
If you listen to podcasts on your commute or run, check out Ryan McCaffrey's unofficial Tesla Motors podcast. He publishes the podcast every week and he does a great job.