News
Elon Musk corrects presidential candidate who misunderstood Tesla’s Master Plan Part 3
When Tesla Asia announced the company’s new Megafactory in China, US Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy had some reservations. The candidate noted that the update from Tesla was “concerning” since it would give China an unwarranted advantage. Elon Musk strongly disagreed.
Tesla’s new Megafactory in China will be built in Shanghai’s Lingang area. The facility is planned to be capable of producing 10,000 Megapacks per year, or nearly 40 GWh of energy storage. Construction of the factory is expected to start in Q3 2023, with Megapack production poised to start in Q2 2024. The facility will be supplying Megapacks to global markets.
Ramaswamy, who is running for US President under the Republican Party, stated that while he admires what Elon Musk is doing with Twitter, the CEO’s “doubling down with the CCP” is a completely different matter. The candidate also expressed his disdain for electric vehicle subsidies.
“This is concerning. When we’re all forced to drive electric vehicles, the real master won’t be Elon. It’ll be Xi Jinping, and the name ‘Master Plan 3’ is eerily spot-on. I love what Elon Musk is trying to do with Twitter but doubling down with the CCP is another matter.
“Companies should & will continue to do whatever allows them to be most successful, but it’s the job of US policymakers not to let American companies sell Xi Jinping the rope today that he’ll use to hang us tomorrow. That’s exactly what the climate cult accomplishes, and electric vehicle subsidies are one of many small pawns in that game,” Ramaswamy wrote.
The US Presidential candidate’s comments drew quite a bit of criticism and sarcastic comments from users of the social media platform, several of whom noted that Ramaswamy completely misunderstood Tesla’s Master Plan Part 3. Among these was noted investor David Sacks, who joked that he didn’t know Chinese President Xi Jinping had taken over Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas facility. Sacks’ comment drew a follow-up from Musk.
Musk explained that Ramaswamy’s take on the matter is “wrong on many levels,” particularly since Tesla is growing rapidly in the United States. Plus, Musk highlighted, if Tesla’s competitors are to receive subsidies, there is no reason why Tesla should not be included. That being said, the CEO reiterated his previous point that the EV sector is better off without subsidies at all.
“Yeah, wrong on many levels. Tesla is increasing production rapidly in Texas, California & Nevada. Our competitors require subsidies, not us. That said, if competitors get subsidies, Tesla should get them too. Tesla’s competitive position would improve if all subsidies ended,” Musk wrote.
It should be noted that Musk’s stance against EV subsidies is nothing new. During an interview with The Wall Street Journal at the publication’s CEO Council Summit in late December 2021, Musk actually advised against the Biden administration’s proposed subsidies of up to $12,500 per electric vehicle under the Build Back Better Act.
“It’s worth noting that the (electric) vehicle purchase tax credit, the $7,500, Tesla stopped getting that two years ago. Whereas everyone else except for GM gets the $7,500 tax credit. So all of our sales this year and last year had nothing to do with the tax credit because we’re no longer eligible because we’ve made so many electric cars. Tesla’s made roughly two-thirds of all the electric cars made in the United States. I’m not sure if most people are aware of that. So Tesla’s made roughly twice as many electric vehicles as everyone else has made. Honestly, I would just can this whole bill. Don’t pass it. That’s my recommendation,” Musk said then.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
News
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia surges to 5.6M articles, almost 79% of English Wikipedia
The explosive growth marks a major milestone for the AI-powered online encyclopedia, which was launched by Elon Musk’s xAI just months ago.
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia has grown to an impressive 5,615,201 articles as of today, closing in on 79% of the English Wikipedia’s current total of 7,119,376 articles.
The explosive growth marks a major milestone for the AI-powered online encyclopedia, which was launched by Elon Musk’s xAI just months ago. Needless to say, it would only be a matter of time before Grokipedia exceeds English Wikipedia in sheer volume.
Grokipedia’s rapid growth
xAI’s vision for Grokipedia emphasizes neutrality, while Grok’s reasoning capabilities allow for fast drafting and fact-checking. When Elon Musk announced the initiative in late September 2025, he noted that Grokipedia would be an improvement to Wikipedia because it would be designed to avoid bias.
At the time, Musk noted that Grokipedia “is a necessary step towards the xAI goal of understanding the Universe.”
Grokipedia was launched in late October, and while xAI was careful to list it only as Version 0.1 at the time, the online encyclopedia immediately earned praise. Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger highlighted the project’s innovative approach, noting how it leverages AI to fill knowledge gaps and enable rapid updates. Netizens also observed how Grokipedia tends to present articles in a more objective manner compared to Wikipedia, which is edited by humans.
Elon Musk’s ambitious plans
With 5,615,201 total articles, Grokipedia has now grown to almost 79% of English Wikipedia’s article base. This is incredibly quick, though Grokipedia remains text-only for now. xAI, for its part, has now updated the online encyclopedia’s iteration to v0.2.
Elon Musk has shared bold ideas for Grokipedia, including sending a record of the entire knowledge base to space as part of xAI’s mission to preserve and expand human understanding. At some point, Musk stated that Grokipedia will be renamed to Encyclopedia Galactica, and it will be sent to the cosmos.
“When Grokipedia is good enough (long way to go), we will change the name to Encyclopedia Galactica. It will be an open source distillation of all knowledge, including audio, images and video. Join xAI to help build the sci-fi version of the Library of Alexandria!” Musk wrote, adding in a later post that “Copies will be etched in stone and sent to the Moon, Mars and beyond. This time, it will not be lost.”
News
Tesla Model 3 becomes Netherlands’ best-selling used EV in 2025
More than one in ten second-hand electric cars sold in the country last year was a Tesla Model 3.
The Tesla Model 3 became the most popular used electric car in the Netherlands in 2025, cementing its dominance well beyond the country’s new-car market.
After years at the top of Dutch EV sales charts, the Model 3 now leads the country’s second-hand EV market by a wide margin, as record used-car purchases pushed electric vehicles further into the mainstream.
Model 3 takes a commanding lead
The Netherlands recorded more than 2.1 million used car sales last year, the highest level on record. Of those, roughly 4.8%, or about 102,000 vehicles, were electric. Within that growing segment, the Tesla Model 3 stood far ahead of its competitors.
In 2025 alone, 11,338 used Model 3s changed hands, giving the car an 11.1% share of the country’s entire used EV market. That means more than one in ten second-hand electric cars sold in the country last year was a Tesla Model 3, Auto Week Netherlands reported. The scale of its lead is striking: the gap between the Model 3 and the second-place finisher, the Volkswagen ID3, is more than 6,700 vehicles.
Rivals trail as residual values shape rankings
The Volkswagen ID.3 ranked a distant second, with 4,595 used units sold and a 4.5% market share. Close behind was the Audi e-tron, which placed third with 4,236 registrations. As noted by Auto Week Netherlands, relatively low residual values likely boosted the e-tron’s appeal in the used market, despite its higher original price.
Other strong performers included the Kia Niro, the Tesla Model Y, and the Hyundai Kona, highlighting continued demand for compact and midsize electric vehicles with proven range and reliability. No other model, however, came close to matching the Model 3’s scale or market presence.
News
Tesla Model Y Standard Long Range RWD launches in Europe
The update was announced by Tesla Europe & Middle East in a post on its official social media account on X.
Tesla has expanded the Model Y lineup in Europe with the introduction of the Standard Long Range RWD variant, which offers an impressive 657 km of WLTP range.
The update was announced by Tesla Europe & Middle East in a post on its official social media account on X.
Model Y Standard Long Range RWD Details
Tesla Europe & Middle East highlighted some of the Model Y Standard Long Range RWD’s most notable specs, from its 657 km of WLTP range to its 2,118 liters of cargo volume. More importantly, Tesla also noted that the newly released variant only consumes 12.7 kWh per 100 km, making it the most efficient Model Y to date.
The Model Y Standard provides a lower entry point for consumers who wish to enter the Tesla ecosystem at the lowest possible price. While the Model 3 Standard is still more affordable, some consumers might prefer the Model Y Standard due to its larger size and crossover form factor. The fact that the Model Y Standard is equipped with Tesla’s AI4 computer also makes it ready for FSD’s eventual rollout to the region.
Top Gear’s Model Y Standard review
Top Gear‘s recent review of the Tesla Model Y Standard highlighted some of the vehicle’s most notable features, such as its impressive real-world range, stellar infotainment system, and spacious interior. As per the publication, the Model Y Standard still retains a lot of what makes Tesla’s vehicles well-rounded, even if it’s been equipped with a simplified interior.
Top Gear compared the Model Y Standard to its rivals in the same segment. “The introduction of the Standard trim brings the Model Y in line with the entry price of most of its closest competition. In fact, it’s actually cheaper than a Peugeot e-3008 and costs £5k less than an entry-level Audi Q4 e-tron. It also makes the Ford Mustang Mach-E look a little short with its higher entry price and worse range,” the publication wrote.
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia surges to 5.6M articles, almost 79% of English Wikipedia
Tesla Model 3 becomes Netherlands’ best-selling used EV in 2025
