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BMW and VW says Tesla’s Grohmann Engineering must fulfill past contractual obligations
BMW and VW are pushing back against the newly formed partnership between Tesla and Grohmann Engineering amid reports that the Silicon Valley automaker has requested Grohmann to cease work on existing customers, as it pushes to bring Model 3 to market in July.
Recently publicized spats over wages and benefits arising from fears over job instability from Grohmann’s 700 employees, and reported clashes between Grohmann founder and Tesla Chief Elon Musk, has led to strong tensions behind closed doors. BMW and VW claim that the rebranded Tesla Grohmann Automation has sent mixed messages about its intentions, yet Germany’s largest automakers continue to take a strong stance and asking Grohmann to fulfill its contractual obligations.
However, a report from German publication Wirtschaftswoche indicates that Grohmann’s work counselor Uwe Herzig said (via Google Translate) that “the workload caused by new Tesla projects was so great that it has only been working on Tesla projects for a few weeks.”
It is clear that a competitor buying up a key supplier is cause for concern, but at this point what is not clear is whether or not Tesla has failed to fulfill any of its contractual obligations. BMW and VW have both gone on record stating that they both expect the new Tesla Grohmann Automation unit to fulfill existing contracts.
While the short-term pressure is causing tension for Tesla and headaches for its entrenched competition in Germany, Tesla is confident that there is a bright future for Grohmann. A Tesla spokeswoman (via Google Translate) shared that the company is confident that Tesla Grohmann Automation will “grow significantly over time, despite concentration on internal orders.”
Beyond just retaining existing employees, Tesla Grohmann has flooded the local market with job advertisements even going so far as to hire headhunters to find skilled workers, according to local reports. One of the job descriptions for an Engineer can be seen on Tesla’s careers page, listed below.
Engineer
Department: Engineering
Location: Prüm, Germany
Req. ID44211
Job Type: Perm Eu
Supercharge your career!
We are hiring world-class Engineering talent to help us build the machine that builds the machine. Looking for excellence in Electrical/Mechanical/Automation Engineering and other technical disciplines. A passion for technically complex tasks and problem solving is essential.
Tesla is committed to hiring and developing top talent from across the world for any given discipline. Our world-class teams operate with a non-conventional product development philosophy of high inter-disciplinary collaboration, flat organizational structure, and technical contribution at all levels. You will be expected to challenge and to be challenged, to create, and to innovate. These jobs are not for everyone; you must have a genuine passion for solving some of the most challenging problems in the world.
Wir suchen Weltklasse-Ingenieure, die uns dabei helfen, die Maschine zu entwickeln, die die Maschine baut. Gesucht wird nach exzellenten Experten für Elektrotechnik / Maschinenbau / Automatisierungstechnik und anderen technischen Disziplinen. Besonders wichtig ist die Leidenschaft für technisch komplexe Aufgaben und der Wille Probleme zu lösen.
Tesla sucht weltweit Toptalente aus den unterschiedlichsten Bereichen, die sich weiterentwickeln möchten. Unsere Weltklasseteams arbeiten im Rahmen einer unkonventionellen Entwicklungsphilosophie, die auf enge fachübergreifende Zusammenarbeit setzt. Flache Hierarchien und intensiver technischer Austausch auf allen Ebenen sind weitere Merkmale. Wir erwarten, dass Sie genau so herausfordern wie Sie Herausforderungen annehmen, um Neues zu konzipieren und zu schaffen. Diese Aufgabe nicht für jeden geeignet. Sie müssen die unbedingte Leidenschaft haben einige der schwierigsten Probleme der Welt zu lösen.
Wir freuen uns auf Ihre Bewerbung!
The Tesla Semi was spotted mounted with ground truth validation equipment as the company nears its looming launch. The Semi is Tesla’s Class 8 all-electric truck, and has been utilized in its earlier stages by many companies like PepsiCo. and Frito-Lay, who have been using it in a pilot program.
The Semi was spotted in Sunnyvale, California, and sports a typical ground truth validation unit that Tesla routinely uses on its vehicles. Ground truth validation is essentially the process of training supervised algorithms to ensure they can perform reliably. Tesla typically performs this on vehicles that are being released soon:
Spotted the new semi adorned with ground truthing equipment. Haven’t seen anyone post this so figured I’d share.
The future is autonomous!!@SawyerMerritt @wholemars pic.twitter.com/qkPDHPUQZ6
— Danny (@dannywinner1) June 21, 2026
The Semi being spotted with this type of validation rig is important because it means the company is working on solidifying a Full Self-Driving model for its commercial vehicle offering. This would be a massive development for not only Tesla but also the logistics industry as a whole.
There are strict regulations on driving hours for commercial truck drivers, and autonomy is a way to potentially combat these issues. FSD is already a widely effective way that owners of typical passenger vehicles take stress out of travel. Even launching a semi-autonomous platform for truck drivers to use to increase safety, reduce fatigue, and increase productivity would be a huge development.
Tesla Semi gets strange-but-understandable comparison from Jay Leno
The Semi has already proven to be an ideal solution for companies that use commercial logistics. It has increased efficiency and reduced operating costs for many companies that have been able to use it in pilot programs.
There are expected to be some bumps along the way. Tesla saw some challenges with FSD on the Cybertruck, as it had never had a vehicle with cameras at that height, so some of the features with FSD were not immediately available. Just a week ago, Tesla launched Actually Smart Summon (ASS) for Cybertruck, nearly three years after the vehicle was first delivered to customers.
President Donald Trump unveiled an upgraded Boeing 747-8 at Joint Base Andrews on June 19, 2026, describing the Qatar-gifted aircraft as an interim Air Force One equipped with advanced communications systems, including Starlink, Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite internet service.
The plane, valued at around $400 million and modified for presidential use, serves as a bridge until the delayed VC-25B replacements arrive. Trump highlighted its luxury features and new technology during remarks to service members.
Trump stated:
“We have communication equipment up there that nobody’s ever seen before. It’s the highest level and, uh, including Starlink. My friend Elon is going to be very happy, but, uh, Starlink and we have, uh, four or five different sets of double and triple communications like people haven’t seen.”
He added:
“And it represents what can happen with hard work, innovation, and aggressive timelines because we did this quickly and yet there’s never been communication like is on this plane.”
🚨 President Trump confirmed today that the new Air Force One is equipped with Starlink:
“We have communication equipment up there that nobody’s ever seen before, it’s the highest level and including Starlink…my friend Elon is going to be very happy.” pic.twitter.com/IhkDmtr5hL
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 20, 2026
The aircraft features a redesigned red, white, and blue livery and has been outfitted with Starlink satellite connectivity alongside other secure systems.
Trump praised the plane’s uniqueness, calling it among the world’s most luxurious. The gift from Qatar and subsequent modifications have drawn attention, with the jet positioned as a solution for presidential travel. It is expected to support operations, including potential ceremonial roles such as Fourth of July flyovers.
The event marked the formal introduction of the converted jet, which will help maintain capabilities while the primary Air Force One fleet undergoes modernization. Defense observers note the inclusion of commercial satellite technology like Starlink as part of efforts to ensure resilient communications, crucial to keep the country running as the President is in the sky.
President Trump’s comments underscored appreciation for rapid upgrades and innovation in equipping the aircraft. The plane remains a U.S. government asset and is slated for eventual transfer related to presidential library purposes after its service.
Tesla just gave what is perhaps its biggest signal yet that the launch of the Cybercab, its autonomous ride-hailing-geared car, is imminent.
The Cybercab has been spotted outside of Gigafactory Texas in massive numbers over the past few days, with hundreds of units being stored on property just days after the vehicle received a Certificate of Conformity from the EPA.
Today, things were a bit different.
Cybercabs spotted on Giga Texas property today had an addition: a Cybercab decal on the side, reminiscent of the “Robotaxi” ones that were placed on Model Ys just as the company launched its ride-sharing platform about a year ago.
Giga Texas drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer noticed the change today:
Tesla Cybercabs are now getting “Cybercab” logos on the side of them!
Tesla did the same with Model Ys that were given “Robotaxi” logos: https://t.co/DanANtw1m7 pic.twitter.com/FqOhH0S9Ks
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 19, 2026
Tesla could be signaling that the Cybercab is preparing to enter the Robotaxi fleet in the coming weeks or months with this move. It seems more symbolic than anything; Tesla is ready to throw Cybercabs in the ride-hailing platform just as it did with Model Ys last year.
The addition of the Certificate of Conformity awarded to the Cybercab is another major factor working to Tesla’s advantage. The company now has permission from the EPA to allow the vehicle to operate on public roads and enter the chain of commerce. It’s officially street legal.
Tesla Cybercab specs revealed: range, curb weight, range ratings, and more
The big question that remains is whether Tesla will be able to operate the car without a safety monitor, especially considering it plans to put the car out there without a steering wheel or pedals. With the Cybercab only having a seating capacity of two, it is hard to believe Tesla will even consider putting a Safety Monitor in the car.
It did recently self-certify as Level 4 and has the ability to operate driverless vehicles in the State of Texas under a law that took effect on May 28. You can read more about that here:
Tesla’s Robotaxi dreams just took a massive step toward reality
We’d imagine Cybercabs will be on the roads as soon as July, but August will likely be a better estimate of when the car will be entered into the Cybercab fleet. It all depends at where Tesla is, as they’ve truly prioritized safety with the rollout of the Robotaxi platform.
Tesla Semi spotted with ground truth validation equipment as launch looms
President Trump touts new Air Force One with Musk technology
