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Elon Musk’s Boring Company ‘Monty Python’ watchtower remains occupied

(Photos: Pauline Acalin/Teslarati)

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It appears that The Boring Company’s unveiling event last December left behind something special on top of Elon Musk’s Monty Python-style watchtower. As could be seen in an image taken last week, a dummy knight could be seen standing at the top of the Boring Brick-laid structure.

Teslarati photographer Pauline Acalin was able to get a shot of the solitary figure atop the Boring Company watchtower during a trip to Hawthorne, CA last Thursday. The tunneling startup’s knight is dressed in full armor, which is different from the costume worn by actor John Cleese in the iconic Monty Python and the Holy Grail watchtower scene.

A lone sentry occupying Elon Musk’s ‘Monty Python’-style watchtower. (Photo: Pauline Acalin/Teslarati)

Just like many of SpaceX and Tesla’s Easter Eggs, Elon Musk’s Boring Company watchtower is a nod to pop culture. During the sequence in the movie, a sharp-tongued and quick-witted French knight stationed at a watchtower relentlessly threw numerous and creative insults at King Arthur and his knights. Some of the knight’s insults, such as “I fart in your general direction” and “Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries” have stood the test of time, surviving the years since the film’s release in 1975 until the present date, where they live on in internet meme culture.

The buildout of Elon Musk’s Monty Python-style watchtower was a feat of quick, practical engineering. To construct the tower, the tunneling startup first set up a metal framework for the structure, which was then overlaid with large pre-made sections of Boring Bricks. Using this system, workers were able to complete the multi-story structure on time for the tunneling startup’s opening party on December 18.

Elon Musk’s Monty Python-style watchtower under construction. (Photos: Pauline Acalin/Teslarati)

To say that the opening party of The Boring Company’s test tunnel was fun is a gross understatement. Attendees of the event were treated to activities such as smores-making using Not-a-Flamethrowers, as well as one-on-one battles between knights in full battle garb. A shrine to Gary the Snail, which Elon Musk noted is faster than a conventional Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), was also set up at the party. Of course, a sharp-tongued knight stationed at the watchtower was also present to hurl insults at some of the event’s attendees. Teslarati photographers Tom Cross and Pauline Acalin were not spared.

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It remains to be seen how long Elon Musk would keep his Monty Python watchtower standing near the SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne. For now, passers-by would best be advised to look up when they pass the area, as they might just glimpse the tunneling startup’s stationary knight atop the watchtower — standing guard and (fortunately) unable to hurl insults.

Relive The Boring Company’s opening party in the video below.

https://twitter.com/_TomCross_/status/1076332552745508864

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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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.

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Credit: MarcoRP | X

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 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.

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Tesla is building a new UFO-inspired Supercharger in the heart of Alien country

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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.”

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Credit: Tesla

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 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.

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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.

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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.

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Credit: Grok

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

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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

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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.

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