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Farmer proves Tesla Cybertruck is an amazing real-world “work truck”

Credit: Cybertruck/X

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A Tesla owner who owns a farm is debunking the idea that the Cybertruck is not a “real work truck.” As could be seen in the Tesla owner’s videos on social media, the Cybertruck is very much a capable work vehicle, and it can be beaten and battered on a daily basis without breaking a sweat. 

The Smith family, who runs a TikTok channel about their farm in Idaho, has been posting some videos of their work Cybertruck. The family’s Cybertruck is being used as a regular farm vehicle, transporting tools and powering equipment like a 240V welder, plasma cutter, air compressor, and a variety of other tools. As per the Cybertruck owner, the all-electric pickup truck has been taking the daily punishment really well, and its features like its large, flat bed have been great. 

@meetthesmithfamily #cybertruck #tesla #farming #welding #tools #milwuakee #tractors ♬ original sound – The Smiths

The Cybertruck is a tough vehicle, but it has also been subjected to a very successful misinformation campaign from Tesla critics. It would not take too long to find comments on social media claiming that the Cybertruck can’t drive through rain, go through a car wash, or not get stuck when climbing the gentlest of inclines. Dedicated online groups such as the r/Cyberstuck subreddit, which focus on criticizing the vehicle, have all but ensured that the all-electric pickup truck is well criticized on a consistent basis. 

@meetthesmithfamily Replying to @bryannayrb511 #cybertruck #welding #agriculture #farming #tesla #trucks ♬ original sound – The Smiths

Some of this misinformation could be seen in the comments section of The Smiths’ TikTok videos. When the family demonstrated how the vehicle was being used for real farm work, for example, some users quickly claimed that it would only take a few minutes of welding before the Cybertruck’s battery is fully drained. Fortunately, the Tesla owners seem more than willing to address these comments, stating in a follow-up video that the Cybertruck’s battery pack is actually large enough to run power tools for a very long time. 

@meetthesmithfamily #cybertruck #trucks #farming #couplestiktok #tools #milwuakee #tesla #diy ♬ original sound – The Smiths

It might take some time before Tesla can shake off the misinformation that has surrounded the Cybertruck, particularly with regard to the vehicle’s alleged weakness. But thanks to Tesla’s constant improvements to the vehicle in the form of updates such as Off Road Mode, as well as real-world accounts from actual owners of the truck, perhaps a time would come when the Cybertruck could fully discard the negative reputation it’s been given by critics. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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 Cybercab sighting confirms one highly requested feature

The feature will likely allow the Cybercab to continue operating even in conditions when its cameras could be covered with dust, mud, or road grime.

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Credit: @DennisCW_/X

A recent sighting of Tesla’s Cybercab prototype in Chicago appears to confirm a long-requested feature for the autonomous two-seater. 

The feature will likely allow the Cybercab to continue operating even in conditions when its cameras could be covered with dust, mud, or road grime.

The Cybercab’s camera washer

The Cybercab prototype in question was sighted in Chicago, and its image was shared widely on social media. While the autonomous two-seater itself was visibly dirty, its rear camera area stood out as noticeably cleaner than the rest of the car. Traces of water were also visible on the trunk. This suggested that the Cybercab is equipped with a rear camera washer.

As noted by Model Y owner and industry watcher Sawyer Merritt, a rear camera washer is a feature many Tesla owners have requested for years, particularly in snowy or wet regions where camera obstruction can affect visibility and the performance of systems like Full Self-Driving (FSD).

While only the rear camera washer was clearly visible, the sighting raises the possibility that Tesla may equip the Cybercab’s other external cameras with similar cleaning systems. Given the vehicle’s fully autonomous design, redundant visibility safeguards would be a logical inclusion.

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The Cybercab in Tesla’s autonomous world

The Cybercab is Tesla’s first purpose-built autonomous ride-hailing vehicle, and it is expected to enter production later this year. The vehicle was unveiled in October 2024 at the “We, Robot” event in Los Angeles, and it is expected to be a major growth driver for Tesla as it continues its transition toward an AI- and robotics-focused company. The Cybercab will not include a steering wheel or pedals and is intended to carry one or two passengers per trip, a decision Tesla says reflects real-world ride-hailing usage data.

The Cybercab is also expected to feature in-vehicle entertainment through its center touchscreen, wireless charging, and other rider-focused amenities. Musk has also hinted that the vehicle includes far more innovation than is immediately apparent, stating on X that “there is so much to this car that is not obvious on the surface.”

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Tesla seen as early winner as Canada reopens door to China-made EVs

Tesla had already prepared for Chinese exports to Canada in 2023 by equipping its Shanghai Gigafactory to produce a Canada-specific version of the Model Y.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla seems poised to be an early beneficiary of Canada’s decision to reopen imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles, following the removal of a 100% tariff that halted shipments last year.

Thanks to Giga Shanghai’s capability to produce Canadian-spec vehicles, it might only be a matter of time before Tesla is able to export vehicles to Canada from China once more. 

Under the new U.S.–Canada trade agreement, Canada will allow up to 49,000 vehicles per year to be imported from China at a 6.1% tariff, with the quota potentially rising to 70,000 units within five years, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. 

Half of the initial quota is reserved for vehicles priced under CAD 35,000, a threshold above current Tesla models, though the electric vehicle maker could still benefit from the rule change, as noted in a Reuters report.

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Tesla had already prepared for Chinese exports to Canada in 2023 by equipping its Shanghai Gigafactory to produce a Canada-specific version of the Model Y. That year, Tesla began shipping vehicles from Shanghai to Canada, contributing to a sharp 460% year-over-year increase in China-built vehicle imports through Vancouver. 

When Ottawa imposed a 100% tariff in 2024, however, Tesla halted those shipments and shifted Canadian supply to its U.S. and Berlin factories. With tariffs now reduced, Tesla could quickly resume China-to-Canada exports.

Beyond manufacturing flexibility, Tesla could also benefit from its established retail presence in Canada. The automaker operates 39 stores across Canada, while Chinese brands like BYD and Nio have yet to enter the Canadian market directly. Tesla’s relatively small lineup, which is comprised of four core models plus the Cybertruck, allows it to move faster on marketing and logistics than competitors with broader portfolios.

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Elon Musk

Tesla confirms that work on Dojo 3 has officially resumed

“Now that the AI5 chip design is in good shape, Tesla will restart work on Dojo 3,” Elon Musk wrote in a post on X.

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla has restarted work on its Dojo 3 initiative, its in-house AI training supercomputer, now that its AI5 chip design has reached a stable stage. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the update in a recent post on X.

Tesla’s Dojo 3 initiative restarted

In a post on X, Musk said that with the AI5 chip design now “in good shape,” Tesla will resume work on Dojo 3. He added that Tesla is hiring engineers interested in working on what he expects will become the highest-volume AI chips in the world.

“Now that the AI5 chip design is in good shape, Tesla will restart work on Dojo3. If you’re interested in working on what will be the highest volume chips in the world, send a note to AI_Chips@Tesla.com with 3 bullet points on the toughest technical problems you’ve solved,” Musk wrote in his post on X. 

Musk’s comment followed a series of recent posts outlining Tesla’s broader AI chip roadmap. In another update, he stated that Tesla’s AI4 chip alone would achieve self-driving safety levels well above human drivers, AI5 would make vehicles “almost perfect” while significantly enhancing Optimus, and AI6 would be focused on Optimus and data center applications. 

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Musk then highlighted that AI7/Dojo 3 will be designed to support space-based AI compute.

Tesla’s AI roadmap

Musk’s latest comments helped resolve some confusion that emerged last year about Project Dojo’s future. At the time, Musk stated on X that Tesla was stepping back from Dojo because it did not make sense to split resources across multiple AI chip architectures. 

He suggested that clustering large numbers of Tesla AI5 and AI6 chips for training could effectively serve the same purpose as a dedicated Dojo successor. “In a supercomputer cluster, it would make sense to put many AI5/AI6 chips on a board, whether for inference or training, simply to reduce network cabling complexity & cost by a few orders of magnitude,” Musk wrote at the time.

Musk later reinforced that idea by responding positively to an X post stating that Tesla’s AI6 chip would effectively be the new Dojo. Considering his recent updates on X, however, it appears that Tesla will be using AI7, not AI6, as its dedicated Dojo successor. The CEO did state that Tesla’s AI7, AI8, and AI9 chips will be developed in short, nine-month cycles, so Dojo’s deployment might actually be sooner than expected. 

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