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Coastwide port workers strike to affect automotive shipments and more

Credit: ILA

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Around 45,000 workers at ports from Maine to Texas went on strike this week, as negotiations with one of the largest maritime unions continued past the deadline of previous contracts.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) union launched the strikes on Tuesday, after previous contract with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents port employers and container carriers, expired on Monday. The strike is blocking automotive shipments including light-duty cars and trucks, along with other products such as food and retail goods.

The strike came despite the fact that the USMX submitted new wage offers to the union within the last 24 hours, notably featuring a wage increase of nearly 50 percent, as Automotive News reports. The alliance also says that it requested an extension of the current contract prior to its expiration.

“We are hopeful that this could allow us to fully resume collective bargaining around the other outstanding issues – in an effort to reach an agreement,” USMX said in a statement on Monday.

The ILA called the recent wage offer “an unacceptable wage package that we reject.”

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The union is also the largest maritime union in North America with over 85,000 member workers total.

This also represents the first coast-wide ILA strike since 1977, affecting busy ports in New York, Houston, Baltimore, and elsewhere, considered to handle about half of the nation’s shipping. According to JPMorgan analysts, the strike could cost around $5 billion per day to the U.S. economy, and it could deal a particularly harsh blow to automotive shipments.

After marine terminals closed at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Monday, roughly 100,000 shipping containers are now expected to remain stored at the port until the strike ends, according to Rick Cotton, head of the New York and New Jersey Port Authority.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul quelled some immediate concerns surrounding food suppliers or essential goods, and the ILA has previously said strikes wouldn’t affect military cargo or cruise ship traffic. While some shipments have been able to be diverted to West Coast terminals, Hochul did highlight the impact to automotive imports, while longer strikes could affect a much wider array of industries.

“We’re deeply concerned about the impact a strike could have on our supply chains, especially when it comes to critical goods like medical supplies and others,” Hochul said in a statement.

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The UAW is urging Stellantis workers to authorize a strike

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

Zach is a renewable energy reporter who has been covering electric vehicles since 2020. He grew up in Fremont, California, and he currently lives in Colorado. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, KRON4 San Francisco, FOX31 Denver, InsideEVs, CleanTechnica, and many other publications. When he isn't covering Tesla or other EV companies, you can find him writing and performing music, drinking a good cup of coffee, or hanging out with his cats, Banks and Freddie. Reach out at zach@teslarati.com, find him on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

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Elon Musk

Elon Musk shares unbelievable Starship Flight 10 landing feat

Flight 10’s Starship upper stage demonstrated impressive accuracy when it came to its target landing zone.

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Credit: SpaceX/X

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recently shared an insane feat accomplished by Starship’s upper stage during its tenth test flight.

Despite the challenges it faced during its return trip to Earth, Flight 10’s Starship upper stage demonstrated impressive accuracy when it came to its target landing zone.

Against the odds

Musk’s update was shared on social media platform X. In a conversation about Starship upper stage’s return to Earth, Musk revealed that the upper stage splashed down just 3 meters (under 10 feet) from its intended target. Considering the size of the Starship upper stage and the ocean itself, achieving this accuracy was nothing short of insane.

Starship Flight 10 was a success as both the Super Heavy booster and Ship upper stage completed all their mission objectives. However, videos and images released by SpaceX showed the upper stage’s heat shield scorched golden-brown and parts of its aft skirt visibly missing. The flaps and other surfaces also bore signs of heavy stress from reentry.

SpaceX highlighted this in a post on X: “Starship made it through reentry with intentionally missing tiles, completed maneuvers to intentionally stress its flaps, had visible damage to its aft skirt and flaps, and still executed a flip and landing burn that placed it approximately 3 meters from its targeted splashdown point,” SpaceX noted.

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A key milestone

The result stands in stark contrast to Starship’s earlier test flights this year, when all three prior upper-stage flights in 2025 ended in premature breakup before splashdown. Flight 10 not only marked the first successful splashdown of the year for the Starship upper stage, but it also delivered near-perfect precision despite its battered state, according to a Space.com report.

For SpaceX, this success is a critical proof point in developing a fully reusable launch system. A spacecraft capable of surviving severe reentry conditions and still landing within meters of its target underscores the robustness needed for future missions, including orbital payload deliveries and, eventually, landings on the Moon and Mars.

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New Tesla Model Y Performance launches from Giga Berlin

The vehicle is produced at Gigafactory Berlin and is available to order now in Europe and the Middle East.

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Credit: Tesla

It took some time, but the new Tesla Model Y Performance is finally here. The new Model Y Performance features a blend of aerodynamic improvements, upgraded interior comforts, and high range enabled by new battery cells. 

The updated Model Y Performance is produced at Gigafactory Berlin and is available to order now in Europe and the Middle East. First deliveries are expected in 1-2 months.

Key Model Y Improvements

The new Model Y Performance sharpens the vehicle’s design and driving dynamics while adding subtle interior refinements. The revised variant now delivers 0–60 mph in 3.3 seconds, slightly quicker than its predecessor’s 3.5 seconds, while offering an EPA-estimated 308 miles of range, just about 1% less than the non-performance Dual Motor All Wheel Drive variant. Top speed is listed at 155 mph.

The exterior of the new Model Y Performance features new front and rear fascias, along with a carbon fiber spoiler designed for greater downforce and reduced drag. Staggered wheels and tires provide improved steering precision and grip, while high-performance brakes offer enhanced pedal feel and better heat management. The ride is supported by adaptive suspension that adjusts damping based on road conditions, paired with unique drive modes tailored for high-speed performance. Ground clearance is listed at 6.1 inches, and weight is listed at 2,033 kilograms (4,482 pounds).

Tech and Interior

Inside, Tesla has added carbon fiber decor, expanded ambient lighting in the footwells and door pockets, and upgraded seating. The first-row sport seats now include power recline, power tilt, heating, ventilation, and powered thigh extensions for added support during cornering. Rear passengers receive perforated heated seats with power recline. A new 16-inch QHD center touchscreen anchors the cabin’s technology suite.

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Additional upgrades include eight exterior cameras, with the refreshed design introducing a new forward-facing unit. The high-density battery pack also boosts charge capacity but also helps maintain range despite the Performance model’s added power output.

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Elon Musk

Elon Musk reveals when SpaceX will perform first-ever Starship catch

“Starship catch is probably flight 13 to 15, depending on how well V3 flights go,” Musk said.

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Credit: SpaceX

Elon Musk revealed when SpaceX would perform the first-ever catch attempt of Starship, its massive rocket that will one day take life to other planets.

On Tuesday, Starship aced its tenth test flight as SpaceX was able to complete each of its mission objectives, including a splashdown of the Super Heavy Booster in the Gulf, the deployment of eight Starlink simulators, and another splashdown of the ship in the Indian Ocean.

It was the first launch that featured a payload deployment:

SpaceX Starship Flight 10 was so successful, it’s breaking the anti-Musk narrative

SpaceX was transparent that it would not attempt to catch the Super Heavy Booster, something it has done on three previous occasions: Flight 5 on October 13, 2024, Flight 7 on January 16, and Flight 8 on March 6.

This time, it was not attempting to do so. However, there are bigger plans for the future, and Musk detailed them in a recent post on X, where he discussed SpaceX’s plans to catch Starship, which would be a monumental accomplishment.

Musk said the most likely opportunities for SpaceX to catch Starship itself would be Flight 13, Flight 14, and Flight 15, but it depends on “how well the V3 flights go.”

The Starship launched with Flight 10 was a V2, which is the same size as the subsequent V3 rocket but has a smaller payload-to-orbit rating and is less powerful in terms of initial thrust and booster thrust. Musk said there is only one more V2 rocket left to launch.

V3 will be the version flown through 2026, as V4, which will be the most capable Starship build SpaceX manufactures, is likely to be the first company ship to carry humans to space.

Musk said that SpaceX planned to “hopefully” attempt a catch of Starship in 2025. However, it appears that this will likely be pushed back to 2026 due to timing.

SpaceX will take Starship catch one step further very soon, Elon Musk confirms

SpaceX would need to launch the 11th and 12th test flights by the end of the year in order to get to Musk’s expected first catch attempt of Flight 13. It’s not unheard of, but the company will need to accelerate its launch rate as it has only had three test flights this year.

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