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Elon Musk gets Governor’s welcome to build Tesla Cybertruck in Alaska

The Tesla Cybertruck made tougher. (Photo: arnold_design/Instagram)

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The Tesla Cybertruck may be polarizing, but it is a vehicle that has captured the interest of the motoring world and beyond. And while neither Tesla nor Elon Musk has announced any details about where the upcoming all-electric pickup truck would be produced, this has not deterred a government official from extending an offer to the CEO. 

In a recent tweet, Alaska governor Governor Mike Dunleavy invited Tesla CEO Elon Musk to consider utilizing the state’s resources to build the electric car maker’s premium vehicles. The governor specifically mentioned the company’s recently-unveiled Cybertruck in his offer, stating that AK stands above other areas when it comes to balancing resource development. 

“Hey @elonmusk & @Tesla: Let’s talk about utilizing #Alaska’s vast resources to help build #Tesla cars and the new Cybertruck. Nobody in the world balances resource development and environmental stewardship better than us,” he wrote. 

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Dunleavy’s invitation is quite notable considering that the governor has reportedly maintained a controversial stance on climate action, a topic that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is very particular about. Over his tenure as Alaska’s governor, critics have argued that Dunleavy’s administration has done very little to combat climate change, as shown when he disbanded the state’s climate response task force just months after assuming office.  

Neither Tesla nor Elon Musk has posted a response to the governor’s open invitation so far. 

Yet, behind Dunleavy’s controversies with his administration, it is difficult to deny that Tesla and Elon Musk are now being perceived as a potential economic booster for areas where its facilities are located at. Reno, NV, for example, is seeing businesses come to the area due to the presence of Gigafactory 1. A facility that produces electric cars in Alaska will likely have the same effect. 

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The Tesla Cybertruck is Tesla’s most radical creation to date. Built with a rigid ultra-strong stainless steel exoskeleton, the all-electric pickup truck is tough and capable of being put through serious punishment. This is something that was highlighted by auto veteran Jack Rickard in a discussion on YouTube’s EVTV channel. Rickard noted that the Cybertruck’s polarizing design was not just put in place to make the vehicle unique; it is also functional. 

Thanks to its polarizing XY design, the Cybertruck will not require a stamping press or a paint shop. This makes the vehicle easy to make, and this opens up the potential of a production line that is more compact and efficient than those adopted by the company for its previous cars like the Model 3. With this in mind, Tesla may be able to produce the Cybertruck in facilities that are not as expansive as the Fremont factory of Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai. This, of course, could accelerate the rollout of Elon Musk’s boldest, most futuristic vehicle to date.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Texas township wants The Boring Company to build it a Loop system

The township’s board unanimously approved an application to The Boring Company’s “Tunnel Vision Challenge.”

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Credit: The Boring Company

The Woodlands Township, Texas, has formally entered The Boring Company’s tunneling sweepstakes. 

The township’s board unanimously approved an application to The Boring Company’s “Tunnel Vision Challenge,” which offers up to one mile of tunnel construction at no cost to a selected community.

The Woodlands’ proposal, dubbed “The Current,” features two parallel 12-foot-diameter tunnels beneath the Town Center corridor near The Waterway. Teslas would shuttle passengers between Waterway Square, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Town Green Park and nearby hotels during concerts and large-scale events, as noted in a Chron report.

Township officials framed the tunnel as a solution for the township’s traffic congestion issues. The Pavilion alone hosts more than 60 shows each year and can accommodate crowds of up to 16,500, often straining Lake Robbins Drive and surrounding intersections.

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“We know we have traffic impacts and pedestrian movement challenges, especially in the Town Center area,” Chris Nunes, chief operating officer of The Woodlands Township, stated during the meeting.

“The Current” mirrors the Loop system operating beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center, where Tesla vehicles transport passengers through underground tunnels between venues and resorts.

The Boring Company issued its request for proposals (RFP) in mid-January, inviting cities and districts to pitch local uses for its tunneling technology. The Woodlands must submit its application by Feb. 23, though no timeline has been provided for when a winning community will be announced.

Nunes confirmed that the board has authorized a submission for “The Current’s” proposal, though he emphasized that the project is still in its preliminary stages.

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“The Woodlands Township Board of Directors has authorized staff to submit an application to The Boring Company, which has issued an RFP for communities interested in leveraging their technology to address community challenges,” he said in a statement. 

“The Board believes that an underground tunnel would provide a safe and efficient means to transport people to and from various high-use community amenities in our Town Center.”

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Tesla Model Y wins 2026 Drive Car of the Year award in Australia

The Model Y is already Australia’s best-selling EV in 2025 and the tenth best-selling vehicle overall.

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Credit: Tesla

The Tesla Model Y has been named 2026 Drive Car of the Year overall winner, taking the top honor after being judged as the vehicle that “moves the game forward the most for Australian new car buyers.” 

The Model Y is already Australia’s best-selling EV in 2025 and the tenth best-selling vehicle overall, but the vehicle’s Juniper update strengthened its case with new ownership benefits and expanded software capability.

Drive’s overall award compares category winners and looks at which model most significantly advances the local new car market. In 2026, judges pointed to the Model Y’s five-year warranty and the availability of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) as a monthly subscription as key differentiators.

Priced from AU$58,900 before on-road costs, the all-electric crossover SUV offers a lot of value compared to similarly sized petrol and hybrid rivals. The ability to access Tesla’s Supercharger network across Australia also reduces friction for buyers moving to EV ownership.

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Owners can add FSD (Supervised) for AU$149 per month. While it still requires driver oversight, the system expands the vehicle’s advanced driver-assistance capabilities and reflects Tesla’s software-first approach.

“The default choice for a reason. The Tesla Model Y makes the transition to electric both effortless and rewarding,” Drive wrote.

The 2025 Model Y facelift also sharpened the vehicle’s exterior, highlighted by a distinctive rear light bar that gives the crossover SUV a more modern road presence.

Drive described the Model Y as a benchmark for combining practicality, efficiency and technology at an accessible price point. With eligibility for federal Fringe Benefit Tax exemptions through novated leasing, its value proposition has improved for numerous buyers.

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For 2026, the Model Y’s combination of range efficiency, charging access and software capability proved decisive. Ultimately, the award all but cements the Model Y’s position as one of the most influential vehicles in Australia’s evolving new-car market today.

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Elon Musk reiterates rapid Starship V3 timeline with next launch in sight

Musk shared the update in a brief post on X, writing, “Starship flies again next month.”

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Credit: SpaceX/X

Elon Musk has confirmed that Starship will fly again next month, reiterating SpaceX’s aggressive timeline for the first launch of its Starship V3 rocket.

Musk shared the update in a brief post on X, writing, “Starship flies again next month.” The CEO’s post was accompanied by a video of Starship’s Super Heavy booster being successfully caught by a launch tower in Starbase, Texas. 

The timeline is notable. In late January, Musk stated that Starship’s next flight, Flight 12, was expected in about six weeks. This placed the expected mission date sometime in March. That estimate aligned with SpaceX’s earlier statement that Starship’s 12th flight test “remains targeted for the first quarter of 2026.”

If the vehicle does indeed fly next month, it would mark the debut of Starship V3, the upgraded platform expected to feature the rocket’s new Raptor V3 engines.

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Raptor V3 is designed to deliver significantly higher thrust than earlier versions while reducing cost and weight. Starship V3 itself is expected to be optimized for manufacturability, a critical step if SpaceX intends to scale production toward frequent launches for Starlink, lunar missions, and eventually Mars.

Starship V3 is widely viewed as the version that transitions the program from experimental testing to true operational scaling. Previous iterations have completed multiple integrated flight tests, with mixed outcomes but steady progress. Expectations are high that SpaceX is now working on Starship’s refinement.

An aggressive launch schedule supports several priorities at once. It advances Starlink’s next-generation satellite deployment, supports NASA’s lunar ambitions under Artemis, and keeps SpaceX on track for its longer-term Moon and Mars objectives.

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