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The Boring Company skeptics’ ‘tunnels for the rich’ argument is missing the point
The Boring Company’s Las Vegas Convention Center Loop is nearing its completion, and with it comes the emergence of Elon Musk critics arguing that the tunneling startup’s efforts are practically useless. Over the past months, the LVCC Loop has received varying degrees of skepticism and mockery that are very reminiscent of the criticisms that have been thrown at Tesla and SpaceX on a consistent basis.
A look at the comments of a video showcasing the theoretical capacity of the LVCC Loop would show this. While a good number of responses expressed some open-mindedness about the tunneling startup’s public transportation project, comments mocking the company for just building a subway or a train system are abounding. Criticism about the Loop system being “tunnels for the rich” have also been expressed.
Inasmuch as these arguments may be compelling to some, the arguments, especially those about the Loop system being a way for Elon Musk to get more money to line his pockets, do not really hold water. This argument is debunked by a simple look into Elon Musk’s other businesses, SpaceX and Tesla, and the strategy that he has employed so far.
Musk’s Strategies
Simply put, if Musk were only focused on gaining as much money as he can, SpaceX launches would not be among the cheapest in the industry. Crew Dragon flights would definitely not be as affordable as they are now. The Dragon capsule is far more modern than Russia’s Soyuz capsule but it’s less expensive in price. What does this mean? Perhaps for Musk, it’s not just about making as much money as possible.
This point is highlighted by Tesla in its Q3 earnings call, with Musk and CFO Zachary Kirkhorn emphasizing that the company’s production savings are usually passed on to customers. The prices of the Model S over the years prove this. The Model S Long Range Plus variant now costs $69,420 to start. That’s a great value for a fairly large vehicle with over 400 miles of range, tons of storage, and impressive performance, somewhat dated design notwithstanding.
The same thing is true with Teslas as a whole. Teslas are still expensive, but comparable vehicles are more expensive for what they offer. The Plaid Model S may cost about $140K, but the Taycan Turbo S, arguably the best that legacy auto has to offer, starts at about $180K. Cheaper EVs like the Hongguang MINI EV in China may be far more affordable, but they offer very little tech. GM’s MINI EV has outsold the Model 3 in China, but that’s a bare-bones electric car that doesn’t even have airbags. Ultimately, when it comes to rival vehicles with comparable specs like the Xpeng P7, Tesla’s cars like the Model 3 are still bang-for-your-buck.
Long-term Affordability
If there’s anything about products and services that Musk develops with his team, it is the fact that they are relatively cheap to maintain. SpaceX’s rockets can get refurbished at a pretty good cost, allowing the company to be even more aggressive with its launch pricing. Tesla’s cars are cheaper to maintain than comparable gas or diesel-powered vehicles. The Boring Company’s Loop systems will likely be the same way—simple and affordable to maintain.
Pair this with the fact that Musk does not seem to be focused solely on squeezing as much profit from every customer and it seems that the Loop system is bound to be quite affordable when it does get released. The Boring Company notes that rides in the Loop would be less than half of the price of a regular taxi ride. That’s a great start, and it would likely be improved even further as the tunneling startup optimizes its operations over time.
The Boring Company’s tunnels, thanks to the company’s use of smaller tunnel boring machines and all-electric people-movers, are dirt-cheap compared to traditional tunnels such as those used in subway systems. Ultimately, these tunneling innovations are where the true disruption of the Boring Company lies. The Boring Company can build tunnels faster and cheaper—and that, ultimately, is why in the case of the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop, it wouldn’t really be as smart or innovative to “just build a train.”
News
Tesla gamifies Supercharging with new ‘Charging Passport’
It will also include things like badges for special charging spots, among other metrics that will show all of the different places people have traveled to plug in for range.
Tesla is gamifying its Supercharging experience by offering a new “Charging Passport,” hoping to add a new layer to the ownership experience.
While it is not part of the Holiday Update, it is rolling out around the same time and offers a handful of cool new features.
Tesla’s Charging Passport will be available within the smartphone app and will give a yearly summary of your charging experience, helping encapsulate your travel for that year.
It will also include things like badges for special charging spots, among other metrics that will show all of the different places people have traveled to plug in for range.
Tesla has just introduced “Charging Passport,” a new yearly summary of your charging.
• Charging badges: Iconic Charging badge (for visiting places like the Tesla Diner, Oasis Supercharger, etc), Explorer badge, green saver badge, etc.
• Total unique Superchargers visited
•… pic.twitter.com/c1DHTWXpj7— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) December 8, 2025
Tesla will include the following metrics within the new Charging Passport option within the Tesla app:
- Charging badges: Iconic charging badges for visiting places like the Tesla Diner, Oasis Supercharger, etc., Explorer Badge, and more
- Total Unique Superchargers Visited
- Total Charging Sessions
- Total Miles Added during Charging Sessions
- Top Charging Day
- Longest Trip
- Favorite Charging Locations
This will give people a unique way to see their travels throughout the year, and although it is not necessarily something that is needed or adds any genuine value, it is something that many owners will like to look back on. After all, things like Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay have been a great way for people to see what music they listened to throughout the year.
This is essentially Tesla’s version of that.
With a handful of unique Superchargers already active, Tesla is also building some new ones, like a UFO-inspired location in New Mexico, near Roswell.
Tesla is building a new UFO-inspired Supercharger in the heart of Alien country
News
Tesla launches its coolest gift idea ever just a few weeks after it was announced
“Gift one month of Full Self-Driving (Supervised), which allows the vehicle to drive itself almost anywhere with minimal intervention.”
Tesla has launched its coolest gift idea ever, just a few weeks after it was announced.
Tesla is now giving owners the opportunity to gift Full Self-Driving for one month to friends or family through a new gifting program that was suggested to the company last month.
The program will enable people to send a fellow Tesla owner one month of the company’s semi-autonomous driving software, helping them to experience the Full Self-Driving suite and potentially help Tesla gain them as a subscriber of the program, or even an outright purchase.
Tesla is going to allow owners to purchase an FSD Subscription for another owner for different month options
You’ll be able to gift FSD to someone! https://t.co/V29dhf5URj
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) November 3, 2025
Tesla has officially launched the program on its Shop. Sending one month of Full Self-Driving costs $112:
“Gift one month of Full Self-Driving (Supervised), which allows the vehicle to drive itself almost anywhere with minimal intervention. All sales are final. Can only be purchased and redeemed in the U.S. This gift card is valued at $112.00 and is intended to cover the price of one month of FSD (Supervised), including up to 13% sales tax. It is not guaranteed to cover the full monthly price if pricing or tax rates change. This gift card can be stored in Tesla Wallet and redeemed toward FSD (Supervised) or any other Tesla product or service that accepts gift card payments.”
Tesla has done a great job of expanding Full Self-Driving access over the past few years, especially by offering things like the Subscription program, free trials through referrals, and now this gift card program.
Gifting Full Self-Driving is another iteration of Tesla’s “butts in seats” strategy, which is its belief that it can flip consumers to its vehicles and products by simply letting people experience them.
There is also a reason behind pushing Full Self-Driving so hard, and it has to do with CEO Elon Musk’s compensation package. One tranche requires Musk to achieve a certain number of active paid Full Self-Driving subscriptions.
More people who try the suite are likely to pay for it over the long term.
News
Tesla expands Robotaxi app access once again, this time on a global scale
Tesla said recently it plans to launch Robotaxi in Miami, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Dallas.
Tesla has expanded Robotaxi app access once again, but this time, it’s on a much broader scale as the company is offering the opportunity for those outside of North America to download the app.
Tesla Robotaxi is the company’s early-stage ride-hailing platform that is active in Texas, California, and Arizona, with more expansion within the United States planned for the near future.
Tesla said recently it plans to launch Robotaxi in Miami, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Dallas.
The platform has massive potential, and Tesla is leaning on it to be a major contributor to even more disruption in the passenger transportation industry. So far, it has driven over 550,000 miles in total, with the vast majority of this coming from the Bay Area and Austin.
First Look at Tesla’s Robotaxi App: features, design, and more
However, Tesla is focusing primarily on rapid expansion, but most of this is reliant on the company’s ability to gain regulatory permission to operate the platform in various regions. The expansion plans go well outside of the U.S., as the company expanded the ability to download the app to more regions this past weekend.
So far, these are the areas it is available to download in:
- Japan
- Thailand
- Hong Kong
- South Korea
- Australia
- Taiwan
- Macau
- New Zealand
- Mexico
- U.S.
- Canada
Right now, while Tesla is focusing primarily on expansion, it is also working on other goals that have to do with making it more widely available to customers who want to grab a ride from a driverless vehicle.
One of the biggest goals it has is to eliminate safety monitors from its vehicles, which it currently utilizes in Austin in the passenger’s seat and in the driver’s seat in the Bay Area.
A few weeks ago, Tesla started implementing a new in-cabin data-sharing system, which will help support teams assist riders without anyone in the front of the car.
Tesla takes a step towards removal of Robotaxi service’s safety drivers
As Robotaxi expands into more regions, Tesla stands to gain tremendously through the deployment of the Full Self-Driving suite for personal cars, as well as driverless Robotaxis for those who are just hailing rides.
Things have gone well for Tesla in the early stages of the Robotaxi program, but expansion will truly be the test of how things operate going forward. Navigating local traffic laws and gaining approval from a regulatory standpoint will be the biggest hurdle to jump.
Tesla gamifies Supercharging with new ‘Charging Passport’
Tesla launches its coolest gift idea ever just a few weeks after it was announced
