News
Is this Elon Musk’s personal Tesla Model 3 we just spotted at HQ?
Rumors swirled early Tuesday morning after a series of Model 3 photos rumored to be Elon Musk’s personal first production “SN1” vehicle were captured at Tesla’s Palo Alto headquarters.
US Air Force veteran Jeff Meinke, and Teslarati app user who goes by “Crush”, submitted detailed pictures of the Model 3 interior, including a close-up look at the never-before-seen mounting point for the center display.
Jeff tells Teslarati that he was running his usual weekly, early morning routine of charging up at Tesla HQ before heading to a nearby meeting. A local resident of the Bay Area and soon-to-be three-time Tesla owner – Jeff currently owns a Model S P85, Model X 75D and has an early reservation for the Model 3 – he circled the parking lot to find a charger, before coming across a gorgeous black Tesla Model 3.
Though Tesla Valet at headquarters knows Jeff well, he tells us, it was during the early hours before valet attendants arrived on scene, typically at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time and was on site before anyone had arrived. Not missing on the opportunity to take photos of the elusive Model 3, Jeff quickly snapped a few photos from his mobile phone and even had the opportunity to tinker with the Model 3 door handle.
With parking sensors throughout, well-finished interior and no signs of it being a release candidate, and the fact that it was at Tesla HQ, community members quickly noted that this black Model 3 might have been Elon Musk’s personal “SN1” car or Tesla’s first production Model 3.
-->From the photos we also get a detailed look at how Model 3’s interior cupholder and center console will look like.
In speaking with Jeff and asking him why he didn’t take a photo of the Model 3 VIN, which would have surely confirmed whether the vehicle was Musk’s personal car with a 0001 trailing serial number, he tells us that it was just a matter of nerves and he wasn’t thinking about it. “I was just excited to be able to see the Model 3 in person, and frankly just wanted to shoot as many photos as I can before valet arrived.”
Jeff took the photos, left for his meeting, and upon returning noticed that the valet had arrived to start their early morning shift. He also noticed that the Model 3 was no longer there.
“When I returned to pick up my car it was no longer there. The valets told me that it was rare that there was one there charging overnight.” According to Jeff, the valet moved the vehicle into a nearby garage. Engaging in friendly conversation with the attendants, valet noted that it could have been Musk’s personal Model 3, and that previous shifts from the day before could have left it on the charger for Musk.
The attendants also notified Jeff that a “truckload of Model 3” was seen at headquarters recently. There was no indication whether these were the first 30 production Model 3s to be presented at next week’s delivery event, or one of the hundreds of release candidates produced.
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News
Tesla’s new Holiday perk is timed perfectly to make FSD a household name
Tesla AI4 owners get FSD (Supervised) through Christmas, New Year’s Eve and well into the post-holiday travel season.
Tesla quietly rolled out a free Full Self-Driving (Supervised) trial for roughly 1.5 million HW4 owners in North America who never bought the package, and the timing could very well be genius.
As it turns out, the trial doesn’t end after 30 days. Instead, it expires January 8, 2026, meaning owners get FSD (Supervised) through Christmas, New Year’s Eve and well into the post-holiday travel season. This extended window positions the feature for maximum word-of-mouth exposure.
A clever holiday gift
Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt first spotted the detail after multiple owners shared screenshots showing the trial expiring on January 8. He confirmed with affected users that none had active FSD subscriptions before the rollout. He also observed that Tesla never called the promotion a “30-day trial,” as the in-car message simply reads “You’re Getting FSD (Supervised) For the Holidays,” which technically runs until after the new year.
The roughly 40-day period covers peak family travel and gatherings, giving owners ample opportunity to showcase the latest FSD V14’s capabilities on highway trips, crowded parking lots and neighborhood drives. With relatives riding along, hands-off highway driving and automatic lane changes could become instant conversation starters.
Rave reviews for FSD V14 highlight demo potential
FSD has been receiving positive reviews from users as of late. Following the release of FSD v14.2.1, numerous owners praised the update for its smoothness and reliability. Tesla owner @LactoseLunatic called it a “huge leap forward from version 14.1.4,” praising extreme smoothness, snappy lane changes and assertive yet safe behavior that allows relaxed monitoring.
-->Another Tesla owner, @DevinOlsenn, drove 600 km without disengagements, noting his wife now defaults to FSD for daily use due to its refined feel. Sawyer Merritt also tested FSD V14.2.1 in snow on unplowed New Hampshire roads, and the system stayed extra cautious without hesitation. Longtime FSD tester Chuck Cook highlighted improved sign recognition in school zones, showing better dynamic awareness. These reports of fewer interventions and a more “sentient” drive could turn family passengers into advocates, fueling subscriptions come January.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk predicts AI and robotics could make work “optional” within 20 years
Speaking on entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, Musk predicted that machines will soon handle most forms of labor, leaving humans to work only if they choose to.
Elon Musk stated that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and robotics could make traditional work unnecessary within two decades.
Speaking on entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, Musk predicted that machines will soon handle most forms of labor, leaving humans to work only if they choose to.
Work as a “hobby”
During the discussion, Musk said the accelerating capability of AI systems and general-purpose robots will eventually cover all essential tasks, making human labor a choice rather than an economic requirement. “In less than 20 years, working will be optional. Working at all will be optional. Like a hobby,” Musk said.
When Kamath asked whether this future is driven by massive productivity growth, Musk agreed, noting that people will still be free to work if they enjoy the routine or the challenge. He compared future employment to home gardening, as it is something people can still do for personal satisfaction even if buying food from a store is far easier.
“Optional” work in the future
Elon Musk acknowledged the boldness of his claim and joked that people might look back in 20 years and say he was wrong. That being said, the CEO noted that such a scenario could even happen sooner than his prediction, at least if one were to consider the pace of the advancements in AI and robotics.
-->“Obviously people can play this back in 20 years and say, ‘Look, Elon made this ridiculous prediction and it’s not true,’ but I think it will turn out to be true, that in less than 20 years, maybe even as little as ten or 15 years, the advancements in AI and robotics will bring us to the point where working is optional,” Musk said.
Elon Musk’s comments echo his previous sentiments at Tesla’s 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, where he noted that Optimus could ultimately eliminate poverty. He also noted that robots like Optimus could eventually provide people worldwide with the best medical care.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk reiterates why Tesla will never make an electric motorcycle
Tesla CEO Elon Musk preemptively shut down speculations about a Tesla road bike once more.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk preemptively shut down speculations about a Tesla road bike once more, highlighting that the electric vehicle maker has no plans to enter the electric motorcycle market.
Musk posted his clarification in a post on X.
Musk’s reply to a fun AI video
X user @Moandbhr posted an AI video featuring the Tesla CEO on the social media platform, captioning it with “Mr. Elon Musk Just Revealed the Game-Changing Tesla Motorcycle.” The short clip depicted Musk approaching a sleek, single-wheeled vehicle, stepping onto it, and gliding off into the distance amid cheers. The fun video received a lot of traction on X, gaining 3.1 million views as of writing.
Musk replied to the post, stating that a Tesla motorcycle is not going to happen. “Never happening, as we can’t make motorcycles safe. For Community Notes, my near death experience was on a road bike. Dirt bikes are safe if you ride carefully, as you can’t be smashed by a truck,” Musk wrote in his reply.
Musk’s Past Comments on Two-Wheelers
Musk also detailed his reservations about motorcycles in a December 2019 X post while responding to questions about Tesla’s potential ATV. At the time, he responded positively to an electric ATV, though he also opposed the idea of a Tesla road-going motorcycle. Musk did state that electric dirt bikes might be cool, since they do not operate in areas where large vehicles like Class 8 trucks are present.
-->“Electric dirt bikes would be cool too. We won’t do road bikes, as too dangerous. I was hit by a truck & almost died on one when I was 17,” Musk wrote in his post.
Considering Musk’s comments about dirt bikes, however, perhaps Tesla would eventually offer a road bike as a recreational vehicle. Such a two-wheeler would be a good fit for the Cybertruck, as well as future products like the Robovan, which could be converted into an RV.
Tesla’s new Holiday perk is timed perfectly to make FSD a household name
Elon Musk predicts AI and robotics could make work “optional” within 20 years
