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Chevy’s big US win bodes well for the Tesla Model Y’s potential domination
The United States’ auto market may be reeling hard due to the ongoing pandemic, but there are still vehicles that are proving successful even in these trying times. One of these is the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer, which currently stands as the country’s fastest-selling new car. These results, especially considering the ongoing outbreak, bodes well for the Tesla Model Y and its potential domination of the premium crossover market.
According to a recent study from car search engine iSeeCars.com, the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer is the United States’ fastest-selling new car, spending only an average of 19 days on dealer lots before being sold. This is extremely impressive, especially considering that the study revealed that the average new car spends a whopping 97 days for sale before being bought.
In a way, the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer’s impressive rankings among the United States’ new car sales suggest that the crossover SUV market is alive and well, even in the midst of a pandemic. The 2021 Trailblazer, after all, is a subcompact SUV that represents pretty much what is expected of the crossover segment. It’s reasonably priced, practical, and it has a pretty hefty amount of features. These are things that the Model Y also excels in, albeit at a more premium price point.
The Tesla Model Y is arguably the electric car maker’s most bang-for-your-buck vehicle so far, being priced close to the Model 3 yet featuring utility that’s closer to the far more expensive Model X. Considering that crossovers remain popular, it appears that the Model Y could still find a good foothold in the US this year. This could benefit Tesla, especially since the Model Y already proved profitable in its first quarter of production despite the vehicle not being fully ramped. Tesla CFO Zachary Kirkhorn discussed this in the company’s Q2 2020 earnings call.
“Model Y, as we mentioned last quarter, was profitable in its first quarter of production. And despite the inefficiencies that we had due to the shutdown, we did see a pretty substantial improvement in the Model Y margin. And as we said before, the Model Y cost structure and Model 3 cost structure will converge. They’re not quite there. Model Y is still slightly more expensive than Model 3, and it’s not yet at full production. And with Model Y carrying a slightly higher price point, you can kind of back into the math there on the relative gross margins,” he said.
One thing that truly bodes well for the Model Y’s chances in the US’ new auto market is the fact that it is arguably one of the best premium crossovers in the market today, electric or otherwise. The vehicle has seen stellar reviews from noted veterans such as teardowns specialist Sandy Munro, and though the Model Y still has several areas of improvement, it appears that the crossover is well on its way to joining its sibling, the Model 3, as one of Tesla’s best-selling electric cars.
The Model 3, after all, has met its own set of doubters during its initial release, with Tesla critics insisting that the vehicle will not find a foothold in the midsize sedan market. Despite this, Model 3 demand proved stable enough that the vehicle practically dominated Tesla’s sales numbers in previous years, all the while beating cars like the BMW M3 in the US. Part of this is likely due to the Model 3’s uniqueness in the market. After all, very few vehicles could offer as much tech and performance at its price point. The same will likely be true for the Model Y.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s xAI Secures $3B Investment From Saudi AI Firm HUMAIN
The transaction converts HUMAIN’s xAI stake into SpaceX shares, positioning the Saudi-backed firm as a significant minority shareholder in the newly combined entity.
Saudi artificial intelligence firm HUMAIN has confirmed a $3 billion Series E investment in xAI just weeks before the startup’s merger with SpaceX.
The transaction converts HUMAIN’s xAI stake into SpaceX shares, positioning the Saudi-backed firm as a significant minority shareholder in the newly combined entity.
The investment gives HUMAIN exposure to what has been described as one of the largest technology mergers on record, combining xAI’s artificial intelligence capabilities with SpaceX’s scale, infrastructure, and engineering base, as noted in a press release.
“This investment reflects HUMAIN’s conviction in transformational AI and our ability to deploy meaningful capital behind exceptional opportunities where long-term vision, technical excellence, and execution converge, xAI’s trajectory, further strengthened by its acquisition by SpaceX, one of the largest technology mergers on record, represents the kind of high-impact platform we seek to support with significant capital” HUMAIN CEO Tareq Amin stated.
The investment also positions HUMAIN for potential long-term equity upside should SpaceX proceed with a public offering.
The investment expands on an existing partnership announced in November 2025 at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum. Under that agreement, HUMAIN and xAI committed to jointly develop more than 500 megawatts of next-generation AI data center and compute infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
The collaboration also includes deployment of xAI’s Grok models within the kingdom, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to build domestic AI capacity and attract global technology players.
HUMAIN, backed by the Public Investment Fund, is positioning itself as a full-stack AI player spanning advanced data centers, cloud infrastructure, AI models, and applied solutions. The Series E investment deepens its role from development partner to major shareholder in the Musk-led AI and space platform.
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Tesla Giga Berlin plant manager faces defamation probe after IG Metall union complaint
Prosecutors in Frankfurt (Oder) confirmed they have opened a defamation probe into Gigafactory Berlin plant manager André Thierig.
Tesla’s Giga Berlin plant manager is now under investigation after a complaint from trade union IG Metall, escalating tensions ahead of next month’s works council elections.
Prosecutors in Frankfurt (Oder) confirmed they have opened a defamation probe into Gigafactory Berlin plant manager André Thierig, as per a report from rbb24.
A spokesperson for the Frankfurt (Oder) public prosecutor’s office confirmed to the German Press Agency that an investigation for defamation has been initiated following a criminal complaint filed by IG Metall against Thierig.
The dispute stems from Tesla’s allegation that an IG Metall representative secretly recorded a works council meeting using a laptop. In a post on X, Thierig described the incident as “truly beyond words,” stating that police were called and a criminal complaint was filed.
“What has happened today at Giga Berlin is truly beyond words! An external union representative from IG Metall attended a works council meeting. For unknown reasons, he recorded the internal meeting and was caught in action! We obviously called police and filed a criminal complaint!” Thierig wrote in a post on X.
Police later confirmed that officers did seize a computer belonging to an IG Metall member at Giga Berlin. Prosecutors are separately investigating the union representative on suspicion of breach of confidentiality and violation of Germany’s Works Constitution Act.
IG Metall has denied Tesla’s allegations. The union claimed that its member offered to unlock the laptop for review in order to accelerate the investigation and counter what it called false accusations. The union has also sought a labor court injunction to “prohibit Thierig from further disseminating false claims.”
The clash comes as Tesla employees prepare to vote in works council elections scheduled for March 2–4, 2026. Approximately 11,000 Giga Berlin workers are eligible to participate in the elections.
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Tesla wins FCC approval for wireless Cybercab charging system
The decision grants Tesla a waiver that allows the Cybercab’s wireless charging system to be installed on fixed outdoor equipment.
Tesla has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to use Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio technology in its wireless EV charging system.
The decision grants Tesla a waiver that allows the Cybercab’s wireless charging system to be installed on fixed outdoor equipment. This effectively clears a regulatory hurdle for the company’s planned wireless charging pad for the autonomous two-seater.
Tesla’s wireless charging system is described as follows in the document: “The Tesla positioning system is an impulse UWB radio system that enables peer-to-peer communications between a UWB transceiver installed on an electric vehicle (EV) and a second UWB transceiver installed on a ground-level pad, which could be located outdoors, to achieve optimal positioning for the EV to charge wirelessly.”
The company explained that Bluetooth is first used to locate the charging pad. “Prior to the UWB operation, the vehicular system uses Bluetooth technology for the vehicle to discover the location of the ground pad and engage in data exchange activities (which is not subject to the waiver).”
Once the vehicle approaches the pad, the UWB system briefly activates. “When the vehicle approaches the ground pad, the UWB transceivers will operate to track the position of the vehicle to determine when the optimal position has been achieved over the pad before enabling wireless power charging.”
Tesla also emphasized that “the UWB signals occur only briefly when the vehicle approaches the ground pad; and mostly at ground level between the vehicle and the pad,” and that the signals are “significantly attenuated by the body of the vehicle positioned over the pad.”
As noted by Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt, the FCC ultimately granted Tesla’s proposal since the Cybercab’s wireless charging system’s signal is very low power, it only turns on briefly while parking, it works only at very short range, and it won’t interfere with other systems.
While the approval clears the way for Tesla’s wireless charging plans, the Cybercab does not appear to depend solely on the new system.
Cybercab prototypes have frequently been spotted charging at standard Tesla Superchargers across the United States. This suggests the vehicle can easily operate within Tesla’s existing charging network even as the wireless system is developed and deployed. With this in mind, it would not be surprising if the first batches of the Cybercab that are deployed and delivered to consumers end up being charged by regular Superchargers.
Elon Musk’s xAI Secures $3B Investment From Saudi AI Firm HUMAIN
Tesla Giga Berlin plant manager faces defamation probe after IG Metall union complaint
