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Porsche opens orders for Taycan (Mission E), sees warm reception from buyers
Porsche Managing Director Alexander Pollich has announced that interested customers have already begun ordering the all-electric Taycan, formerly known as the Mission E. The Porsche executive stated that the reception to the Taycan has been incredibly positive, ahead of next year’s official unveiling.
Pollich noted that Porsche opened orders for the all-wheel drive, high-performance electric sedan earlier this month. Although he did not quote the exact number or orders the Taycan has received, he did state that the reaction from customers has been “fantastic.” Pollich stated that the Taycan is, in a way, a return to Porsche’s roots, especially considering that the company started with an electric car back in 1898.
“The reaction from customers has been fantastic – from the moment we announced the car to now, when we have asked customers to register their interest for the first cars. The history of Porsche began with an electric car in 1898 and that provides some inspiration and motivation for us. Of course, there was a big gap, but we have led with the introduction of hybrids, and now we will use our heritage and learnings to offer a class-leading electric car,” he said.
Ultimately, the Porsche executive stated that the warm reception to the Taycan is indicative of how keen car buyers are about zero-emissions vehicles. Pollich also acknowledged the importance of Tesla, its biggest rival in the electric car industry, for helping make EVs as viable and even preferable alternatives to gas-powered vehicles. The Porche exec further noted that it would be adopting a similar strategy as Tesla by creating a fast charger network for the Taycan and its future electric car offerings like the Mission E Cross Turismo.
“The next 18 months will be fascinating, as we develop and reveal the car, but what is already clear is that customers are keen. They are talking to our dealers asking how to get to the top of the priority lists and asking to access more information. (Tesla has) been the pioneers and they have set a big challenge. What’s clear is that at Porsche we are planning to rise to that challenge, not just with our car, but in providing owners with the full 360-degree view to allow seamless ownership, including creating a supercharger network,” Pollich said.
Overall, if there is anything highlighted by the warm reception to the Taycan among Porsche’s buyers, it is the fact that interest in electric vehicles is ever-expanding. Porsche, after all, is known as a legacy automaker that makes some of the best sports cars on the market. It is also a carmaker that caters to a rather exclusive customer base. Thus, seeing its demographic being so supportive of the Taycan is indicative of the encouraging future of electric mobility.
The Porsche executive’s statements about Tesla and its own fast-charging network are encouraging for future Taycan owners. One of Tesla’s key strengths, after all, is its Supercharger network, which is the one factor that makes its electric vehicles capable of long-distance travel. Porsche has already committed to its own fast-charging system, partnering with the BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford and the Volkswagen Group in a project to develop a fast charging network in Europe dubbed as IONITY. The legacy automaker also expects to install 500 fast chargers in the United States ahead of the Taycan’s rollout sometime next year.
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Tesla Cybercab test fleet expands in Austin and Bay Area
In total, the Robotaxi fleet is comprised of 139 total vehicles in both Austin and the Bay Area. The vast majority of these units are Model Y cars, but the Cybercab is the most recent addition to the fleet.
Tesla has expanded its fleet of Cybercab test units in both Austin and the Bay Area of California, as the vehicle is heading toward the first production stages, hopefully early this year.
As the first few units were spotted in Austin late last year, Tesla is now operating seven total Cybercab units in testing, three of which were spotted over the weekend in Texas. Bay Area testing just started on January 3, with both units also being added to the fleet on Saturday and Sunday.
In total, there are seven Cybercabs now operating, according to Robotaxi Tracker, each with different license plates that have been observed over the course of the last several weeks; the first unit was spotted in Austin on December 18.
The future should look like the future, indeed.
The Cybercab really changes the look of the roads, but without the shock factor of the Cybertruck. It’s a pretty good balance, imo.pic.twitter.com/PM0KbjzhxR
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) December 22, 2025
The expansion of the Cybercab test fleet is a slow but steady process that Tesla is taking to get the car on public roads ahead of its initial production stages.
CEO Elon Musk said last week that Tesla has already started some test production phases of the vehicle at Gigafactory Texas, which is located outside of Austin.
Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units
However, it will likely be some time before Tesla actually adds it to the fleet for rides that are available to the public. Tesla plans to build it without a steering wheel or pedals, so the company will have to reach Level 5 autonomy at that point before customers can hail rides and take it to their destination.
In total, the Robotaxi fleet is comprised of 139 total vehicles in both Austin and the Bay Area. The vast majority of these units are Model Y cars, but the Cybercab is the most recent addition to the fleet.
News
Tesla Germany’s “Giga Train’s” improved service gets rave reviews
As per recent reports, Tesla’s free “train”Giga Train” service will increase its daily trips to six starting this week.
Tesla has expanded its employee shuttle service from Berlin Ostbahnhof East Station to the Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. As per recent reports, Tesla’s free “train”Giga Train” service has increased its daily trips to six starting this week.
The service has so far received positive reviews from the facility’s employees, some of whom noted that the upgraded shuttle train has reduced their travel time by a notable margin.
Giga Berlin’s expanded shuttle service
As noted in a rbb24 report, Giga Berlin’s free shuttle train now operates six times daily, up from one previously. The service also goes directly to the Model Y production facility without stopping at other stations. Tesla employee Dené Schunck described the service to rbb24 in a comment: “The shuttle goes directly to the factory site, without any transfers, which reduces the commute time for our employees by almost half,” Schunck stated.
Operated by Ostdeutsche Eisenbahngesellschaft (Odeg) after switching from Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB), Giga Berlin’s shuttle train, which also stops at Ostkreuz and Erkner, remains free for all riders, including non-Tesla employees. It has been fully funded by Tesla Germany since September 2023.
Employees praised the changes: One Giga Berlin worker stated that it “definitely makes the journey easier” because employees “used to need two hours for the round trip from Berlin, but now it’s significantly faster.”
Tesla Germany’s previous comments
In late 2025, reports emerged stating that Tesla Germany will be expanding its shuttle train service by adding direct rail trips from Berlin Ostbahnhof to Giga Berlin-Brandenburg. In a comment, Tesla Germany stated that the updated service would mirror the shift changes for the Model Y factory’s employees.
“The service includes six daily trips, which also cover our shift times. The trains will run between Berlin Ostbahnhof (with a stop at Ostkreuz) and Erkner station to the Gigafactory,” Tesla Germany noted.
At the time, Tesla Germany also stated that despite construction being done at Fangschleuse and Köpenick stations, the route of the Giga Train has been optimized to maintain a predictable 35-minute travel time. This should provide Tesla Germany’s employees with a convenient way to travel to and from Giga Berlin.
Elon Musk
Tesla stands to gain from Elon Musk’s rekindled friendship with President Trump
“He’s 80% super genius and 20% he makes mistakes, but he’s a good guy. He’s a well-meaning person.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump are back in each other’s good graces, and after a lengthy period where the two were at odds, the pair seemed to make up back in September.
The two were spotted at dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach over the weekend, which was followed by a press conference on Air Force One, where the President called Musk, “great.”
He continued:
“He’s 80% super genius and 20% he makes mistakes, but he’s a good guy. He’s a well-meaning person.”
Musk previously had a position in Trump’s White House, as he was in charge of reducing government spending and waste by leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk stepped back from his role in the government last year to focus on Tesla and SpaceX, as well as other projects.
Trump tonight on @elonmusk: “Elon’s great. He’s 80% super genius and 20% he makes mistakes, but he’s a good guy. He’s a well meaning person.” pic.twitter.com/QUprw06bie
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) January 5, 2026
However, Musk, back in Trump’s good graces, stands to get some assistance for Tesla from the White House moving forward, especially as he and the President are back to being friends and allies.
Reduced Scrutiny from a Regulatory Standpoint
Tesla has been the subject of several National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) probes, including ones that dive into Autopilot and Full Self-Driving and incidents involving the two.
Trump has already initiated a more relaxed environment for autonomous vehicle oversight. Last January, he proposed a voluntary framework system for self-driving vehicles, which reduced barriers for companies involved with autonomy.
In April, he relaxed crash reporting and exemptions for autonomous vehicles, creating a clearer pathway for companies to innovate and easing compliance burdens.
In September, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy led efforts to update FMVSS, eliminating redundant human-driver requirements. This aimed to create a single national standard, boosting deployment and eliminating much of the bureaucracy that stalls innovation.
Favorable Autonomous Vehicle Framework
Some of the moves that were mentioned previously will assist Tesla in rolling out its Robotaxi network across the country, and although it currently has to go through the process on a state-level, things could become easier for Tesla and other companies exploring self-driving vehicles.
Musk could have a direct line to Trump that would help create fewer regulatory barriers for the companies involved in developing autonomous vehicles, which would directly benefit Tesla, but also its competitors like Waymo.
Protection from International Competition via Trade Policies
It is no secret that the President is focused on domesticating manufacturing, AI efforts, and everything in between. This is enforced by the tariffs the White House enforced last year, which have prioritized U.S.-based companies.
This could shield Tesla from potential foreign competitors, especially ones like BYD, which have been formidable opponents.
Overall, these gains stem from a more aligned political environment, where Musk’s influence could prioritize deregulation over enforcement; this leads to more innovation and relaxed regulations, but there are some risks. However, outcomes are dependent on the depth of President Trump and Musk’s reconciliation.
Long-term benefits to Tesla would require concrete policy actions.
Tesla Cybercab test fleet expands in Austin and Bay Area
Tesla Germany’s “Giga Train’s” improved service gets rave reviews
