News
Is the affordable Tesla Model Y’s features hiding in plain sight?
Variants of the Model Y that could bring down the vehicle’s price would likely be appreciated by consumers.

Just recently, rumors emerged in China suggesting that a more affordable Tesla Model Y variant internally dubbed the ”E80” would be produced in Giga Shanghai this May. A look at Tesla’s current affordable vehicles suggests that the features of the upcoming Model Y variant may be hiding in plain sight.
Model Y “E80” Rumors
Reports from Chinese publications suggested that the affordable Model Y “E80” will be a stripped down version of the new Model Y. Thus, the vehicle may be equipped with smaller wheels, single-layer windows on its sides, no rear display, half the number of speakers, single-color ambient interior lighting, fabric seats with no heating or ventilation functions, and a manual trunk.
These reductions, the rumors suggested, would allow Tesla China to offer the Model Y “E80” at an affordable price of 190,000–210,000 ($26,000–$28,800). Other rumors suggested that the vehicle will be priced even more aggressively, at around 150,000-170,000 yuan ($20,500-$23,300).
Hiding in Plain Sight
What is quite interesting about the Model Y “E80” rumors is the fact that Tesla has actually released stripped-down versions of its vehicles to make them more affordable. Based on the features that were bundled in these vehicles, one could make an inference about the features that the Model Y “E80” will have, at least considering its rumored aggressive pricing.
In August last year, Tesla Mexico launched a variant of the Model 3 sedan that is quite unlike the vehicle’s base variant in the United States. The vehicle was priced at MXD 749,000 (USD 40,000), which was MXD 50,000 (USD 2,670) lower than the Model 3 RWD’s previous price in Mexico, which stood at MXD 799,000 (USD42,730).
With its more affordable price, Tesla Mexico’s base Model 3 featured textile seats instead of vegan leather, acoustic glass only on its front windows, and no secondary display for rear passengers. Its ambient lights were also limited to just white. Lastly, the vehicle did not have heated or cooled seats or a heated steering wheel. These reductions are very similar to the rumored feature set of the Model Y “E80” in China.
The Tesla Cybertruck Long Range Rear Wheel Drive is another base variant that could provide hints at the affordable Model Y’s features. Similar to Tesla Mexico’s base Model 3, the Cybertruck LR RWD features textile seats and no second-row display. Interestingly enough, the Cybertruck LR RWD is $10,000 cheaper than the Cybertruck. That’s similar to the rumored price difference between the new Model Y in China and the vehicle’s supposed affordable “E80” variant.
Still Compelling Enough?
Perhaps the biggest question at this point would be if the rumored Model Y “E80,” even with its stripped-out features, will be compelling enough for consumers. While such concerns are valid, one must not forget that the Model Y is still a premium vehicle.
Thus, variants of the Model Y that could bring down the vehicle’s price would likely be appreciated by consumers. The fact that the rumored “E80” will be produced in Giga Shanghai speaks volumes as well, especially since China is home to the most competitive EV market in the world. Giga Shanghai also exports vehicles to several territories worldwide.
Elon Musk
“We Pay for Performance”: Tesla drops details of Elon Musk’s new pay plan on X
Musk’s pay package will be voted on by Tesla shareholders at the annual meeting of stockholders this coming November 6.

Tesla has published a video highlighting Elon Musk’s new CEO Performance Award, which is expected to take the company all the way to a market cap of $8.5 trillion.
Musk’s pay package will be voted on by Tesla shareholders at the company’s upcoming annual meeting of stockholders this coming November 6.
Tesla’s proposal
In its post, Tesla noted that the company pays for outstanding performance, not promises. Tesla noted that Musk’s previous pay plan, which has been fully accomplished, was intended to deliver billions to TSLA shareholders. This time around, the company is looking to deliver trillions to stockholders.
“We pay for outstanding performance – not for promises. In 2018, shareholders approved a groundbreaking CEO Performance Award that delivered extraordinary value. At our Annual Meeting on November 6, Tesla shareholders can vote on a pay-for-performance plan designed to drive our next era of transformational growth and value creation. Seven years ago, Elon Musk had to deliver billions to shareholders – now it’s trillions.
“This plan creates a path for Elon to secure voting rights and will retain him as a leader of the company for many years to come. But as explained below, Elon only receives voting rights after he has delivered economic value to you. Your vote matters. Vote ‘FOR’ Proposal 4!” Tesla wrote in its post on X.
Ambitious targets
The package calls for Elon Musk to grow Tesla’s market capitalization from its current $1.1 trillion to $8.5 trillion within the next decade. At that size, Tesla would surpass every other public company in history. For context, Nvidia, today’s most valuable company, is worth about $4.4 trillion, while Microsoft and Apple follow at $3.8 trillion and $3.7 trillion, respectively. Even Saudi Aramco, long among the world’s giants, holds a valuation of just $1.6 trillion.
To hit the $8.5 trillion target, Tesla must more than practically double Nvidia’s present value and expand nearly eightfold from its current scale. The plan also requires operating profit to soar from $17 billion in 2024 to $400 billion annually, while meeting ambitious product milestones: 20 million cumulative vehicle deliveries, 10 million active FSD subscriptions, 1 million Tesla Bots, and 1 million Robotaxis.
If achieved, Musk’s stake in TSLA would rise to 25%, with compensation topping $900 billion in Tesla stock. In a post on X, Musk explained that his priority with is new compensation plan is not about gathering wealth, it was about securing influence. “If I can just get kicked out in the future by activist shareholder advisory firms who don’t even own Tesla shares themselves, I’m not comfortable with that future,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
News
Tesla hits 1 million km on FSD Supervised in Australia and New Zealand
The achievement comes just days after a Model Y successfully covered 13,500 km of Australia’s roads using FSD Supervised.

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised software has reached a major milestone in Australia and New Zealand. In less than two weeks since its public release, owners have collectively driven over 1 million kilometers with the advanced driver-assist system engaged.
The achievement comes just days after a Model Y successfully covered 13,500 km of Australia’s roads using FSD Supervised.
Rapid adoption
The electric vehicle maker confirmed the FSD Supervised milestone in a post on its official Tesla Australia and New Zealand X account, noting that drivers are averaging about 80,000 kilometers per day with FSD Supervised active. To highlight the milestone, Tesla noted that the distance was equivalent to 67 laps around Australia or 625 trips from Auckland to Invercargill.
“In less than 2 weeks, owners have travelled 1 million kilometres on FSD Supervised in AU & NZ. That’s roughly 67 laps around Australia or 625 trips from Auckland to Invercargill,” the electric vehicle maker wrote in its post.
Australia has become one of the newest markets for FSD Supervised’s rollout, with public access opening on September 18. The country also stands as the first right hand drive market to receive Full Self Driving (Supervised).
Subscription service
The quick adoption of FSD in Australia highlights the enthusiasm of local owners, even as most of the regional Tesla fleet still uses older Hardware 3 systems that do not support FSD’s latest versions. Once updates roll out to HW3 vehicles, the adoption of FSD in Australia and New Zealand will likely see an even more notable rise, as noted in a report from techAU.
The milestone also arrives ahead of the official launch of Tesla’s FSD Supervised subscription program, priced at $149 per month in Australia and $159 in New Zealand, as noted in a report from The Driven. The subscription is expected to provide FSD access to drivers who opted not to purchase the system at its full price.
News
Waymo responds to shocking video that would have gotten Tesla FSD crucified
As per Waymo, there is actually a pretty good reason why one of its self-driving cars ended up driving around a golf course.

Waymo has provided some clarification on a video that has been spreading recently on social media. The video, as hilarious as it was, would likely have resulted in Tesla getting crucified if a Robotaxi running FSD had been involved instead.
As per Waymo, there is actually a pretty good reason why one of its self-driving cars ended up driving around a golf course.
The viral video and Waymo’s response
This weekend, a video emerged on social media showing a Waymo self-driving car driving around a golf course. Unlike other Waymos, this particular vehicle was operating on the grass itself, just a few meters away from people. Spectators could be heard laughing in the video as the Waymo slowly drove over the golf course.
Amidst speculations online, Waymo has stated that the vehicle in the viral video was actually operated by a human driver. In a post on social media platform X, Waymo’s official account clarified that the vehicle was not self-driving at the time the video was taken. “Hey there, this was a human-driven car, getting ready for an event at the Penmar Golf Course,” Waymo wrote in its X post.
Had a Tesla been involved…
The video caught a lot of attention among Tesla enthusiasts, with many stating that such a video involving a Robotaxi could have easily crucified the electric vehicle maker in the media. It is no secret that Tesla receives overwhelmingly negative media coverage, so even a small scratch on a Robotaxi or other minor incidents on the road tend to result in dramatic headlines.
Had a Tesla running FSD been spotted operating on a golf course just meters away from people, calls for banning Robotaxis and headlines about the self-driving cars nearly killing golf players would have been abundant. The news would probably have been international as well, with dramatic media hosts allocating notable portions of their shows to the alleged dangers of Teslas and FSD, or why Elon Musk was directly responsible for the incident.
It’s an insane scenario, but anyone who’s followed the Tesla story for years would know it is feasible.
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