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Electrifying Europe: An interview with Tesla’s Director of Western Europe [Video]
With so much recent buzz about electric vehicle developments in China, one might have forgotten about the tremendous potential for EVs in Europe. European August year-over-year “EV sales grew by roughly 68%… [and] after eight months of the year, sales have now crossed the 180,000 mark.” according to InsideEVs. Furthermore, “Compared to the U.S., sales in Europe are around 34% higher, and have also been gaining at a higher rate of late.” Sales have also been helped along by a myriad of European government incentives.
But what does this all mean for Tesla’s future in the region? Although Tesla is the leading automaker for EVs in the US, there’s still ample opportunity for growth in Europe. Tesla’s Model S and Model X year-to-date sales in Europe (through August), rank #7 and #9 behind other, more affordable electric models. That said, there’s plenty of runway for growth in Europe.
Tesla’s Supercharger station in Flachau, Austria (Flickr: Jakob Härter)
To uncover more about Tesla in the the region, Tesla’s George Ell recently gave an interview discussing the company’s market opportunity in Western Europe. And, he should know —in 2014 Ell started as Tesla’s Country Director for the UK and Ireland where he went on to grow Tesla’s regional footprint from a single store to 14 locations across the region. Later, in July 2016, he was promoted to Tesla’s Director of Western Europe. Today, Tesla has 20 locations in the UK and 13 across the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Above: Georg Ell, the Director of Tesla for Western Europe, provides his thoughts on the region and Tesla’s overarching vision (Youtube: Verdict)
Ell discusses hot button issues locally where he’s based in London, including CO2 emissions and poor air quality. In the auto industry, he notes that, “we see a take rate of diesel reducing over time” — and it’s no wonder — considering the cartels and collusion that continue to plague the German carmakers. Looking further out, he’s optimistic about efforts by European governments to crack down on carbon emissions. Recent news (see below, via Vox) on this front is, indeed, quite encouraging…
Europe: Fossil fuel phase-out plans
- In June, Norway agreed to end sales of gas and diesel cars by 2025. (Norway leads the world in EVs — almost 40 percent of its newly registered vehicles were hybrid, electric, or hydrogen in 2017.)
- In July, France announced it would end sales of gas and diesel cars by 2040.
- In July, Britain announced it would end sales of gas and diesel cars by 2040.
- In August, German Chancellor Angela Merkel hinted that her country would follow suit. “I cannot name an exact year yet,” she said, “but the approach is right, because if we quickly invest in more charging infrastructure and technology for electric cars, a general changeover will be structurally possible.”
- Last month, the Scottish government announced it would phase out gas and diesel cars by 2032.
- This week, the Dutch government announced that by 2030, all cars in the Netherlands must be emission free
So what’s Tesla’s customer base like in Europe? Ell notes that, “… people love the car. We have an incredibly engaged ownership base that feel emotionally and passionately about their Teslas.” When Ell is asked his opinion about the most exciting thing about working at Tesla, he says: “it’s the scale of our ambition… it feels like we’re having a positive impact on the planet.” Ell explains, “We don’t think of ourselves like just another automotive manufacturer… we think of ourselves as the first vertically integrated energy business.”
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Note: Article originally published on evannex.com, by Matt Pressman
Elon Musk
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX has issued an initial statement about Starship Booster 18’s anomaly early Friday. The incident unfolded during gas-system pressure testing at the company’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas.
SpaceX’s initial comment
As per SpaceX in a post on its official account on social media platform X, Booster 18 was undergoing gas system pressure tests when the anomaly happened. Despite the nature of the incident, the company emphasized that no propellant was loaded, no engines were installed, and personnel were kept at a safe distance from the booster, resulting in zero injuries.
“Booster 18 suffered an anomaly during gas system pressure testing that we were conducting in advance of structural proof testing. No propellant was on the vehicle, and engines were not yet installed. The teams need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause. No one was injured as we maintain a safe distance for personnel during this type of testing. The site remains clear and we are working plans to safely reenter the site,” SpaceX wrote in its post on X.
Incident and aftermath
Livestream footage from LabPadre showed Booster 18’s lower half crumpling around the liquid oxygen tank area at approximately 4:04 a.m. CT. Subsequent images posted by on-site observers revealed extensive deformation across the booster’s lower structure. Needless to say, spaceflight observers have noted that Booster 18 would likely be a complete loss due to its anomaly.
Booster 18 had rolled out only a day earlier and was one of the first vehicles in the Starship V3 program. The V3 series incorporates structural reinforcements and reliability upgrades intended to prepare Starship for rapid-reuse testing and eventual tower-catch operations. Elon Musk has been optimistic about Starship V3, previously noting on X that the spacecraft might be able to complete initial missions to Mars.
Investor's Corner
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) received fresh support from Piper Sandler this week after analysts toured the Fremont Factory and tested the company’s latest Full Self-Driving software. The firm reaffirmed its $500 price target, stating that FSD V14 delivered a notably smooth robotaxi demonstration and may already perform at levels comparable to, if not better than, average human drivers.
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Analysts highlight autonomy progress
During more than 75 minutes of focused discussions, analysts reportedly focused on FSD v14’s updates. Piper Sandler’s team pointed to meaningful strides in perception, object handling, and overall ride smoothness during the robotaxi demo.
The visit also included discussions on updates to Tesla’s in-house chip initiatives, its Optimus program, and the growth of the company’s battery storage business. Analysts noted that Tesla continues refining cost structures and capital expenditure expectations, which are key elements in future margin recovery, as noted in a Yahoo Finance report.
Analyst Alexander Potter noted that “we think FSD is a truly impressive product that is (probably) already better at driving than the average American.” This conclusion was strengthened by what he described as a “flawless robotaxi ride to the hotel.”
Street targets diverge on TSLA
While Piper Sandler stands by its $500 target, it is not the highest estimate on the Street. Wedbush, for one, has a $600 per share price target for TSLA stock.
Other institutions have also weighed in on TSLA stock as of late. HSBC reiterated a Reduce rating with a $131 target, citing a gap between earnings fundamentals and the company’s market value. By contrast, TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating and a $509 target, pointing to strong autonomous driving demonstrations in Austin and the pace of software-driven improvements.
Stifel analysts also lifted their price target for Tesla to $508 per share over the company’s ongoing robotaxi and FSD programs.
Elon Musk
SpaceX Starship Version 3 booster crumples in early testing
Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
SpaceX’s new Starship first-stage booster, Booster 18, suffered major damage early Friday during its first round of testing in Starbase, Texas, just one day after rolling out of the factory.
Based on videos of the incident, the lower section of the rocket booster appeared to crumple during a pressurization test. Photos of the incident’s aftermath suggest that Booster 18 will likely be retired.
Booster test failure
SpaceX began structural and propellant-system verification tests on Booster 18 Thursday night at the Massey’s Test Site, only a few miles from Starbase’s production facilities, as noted in an Ars Technica report. At 4:04 a.m. CT on Friday, a livestream from LabPadre Space captured the booster’s lower half experiencing a sudden destructive event around its liquid oxygen tank section. Post-incident images, shared on X by @StarshipGazer, showed notable deformation in the booster’s lower structure.
Neither SpaceX nor Elon Musk had commented as of Friday morning, but the vehicle’s condition suggests it is likely a complete loss. This is quite unfortunate, as Booster 18 is already part of the Starship V3 program, which includes design fixes and upgrades intended to improve reliability. While SpaceX maintains a rather rapid Starship production line in Starbase, Booster 18 was generally expected to validate the improvements implemented in the V3 program.
Tight deadlines
SpaceX needs Starship boosters and upper stages to begin demonstrating rapid reuse, tower catches, and early operational Starlink missions over the next two years. More critically, NASA’s Artemis program depends on an on-orbit refueling test in the second half of 2026, a requirement for the vehicle’s expected crewed lunar landing around 2028.
While SpaceX is known for diagnosing failures quickly and returning to testing at unmatched speed, losing the newest-generation booster at the very start of its campaign highlights the immense challenge involved in scaling Starship into a reliable, high-cadence launch system. SpaceX, however, is known for getting things done quickly, so it would not be a surprise if the company manages to figure out what happened to Booster 18 in the near future.
SpaceX issues statement on Starship V3 Booster 18 anomaly
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
