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German official rallies automakers to produce EV batteries in Europe
Recognizing how integral rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles will be for the future of the European car industry, the German Minister of Economic Affairs has called for a joint effort by Europe and its car manufacturers to produce batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).
Gabriel told publication Spiegel, “We should launch a major initiative to build independent battery cell production and research for all European car makers.” He called upon all eligible automotive manufacturers to participate, with the goal to maintain leading edge automotive production in Germany and Europe.
He went so far as to suggest that the state might assist in the project. “The funding of the European investment funds, which President Jean-Claude Juncker has set up, could help finance the company.”
EVs are considered the most promising alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles towards a cleaner transportation sector. However, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, EVs must contain adequate electricity generation needed to charge its batteries. Gabriel has repeatedly implored European auto manufacturers not to leave this field to competitors. Not every European car manufacturer is convinced.
Individual European automakers have struggled with the decision on whether to invest in costly battery R&D or source from an outside supplier. BMW CEO Harald Krüger explained only a few days ago that his company has not yet finalized the decision to he would enter lithium-ion battery production. “We still have to look at that.” Only a month earlier, Krüger had announced a new electric car strategy, with a range of models of existing series also with an electric drive, including a revised version of its BMW i3 capable of 114 miles per single charge. In contrast, Daimler announced earlier in the year that it would be investing 500 million euros to build another factory in the Kamenz district of Saxony for the production of lithium-ion batteries, which are intended to support electric and hybrid vehicles from the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands. On November 25, Daimler announced it is is planning to invest up to 10 billion euros ($11 billion) in developing electric vehicles.
Volkswagen (VW) CEO Matthias Müller included in an interview with the Bild that, by 2020, VW will offer 30 all-electric models. Müller had already predicted that, in 2025, approximately 20 to 25 percent of total sales will be achieved with electric cars. His comments arise amid strong signs of EV market expansion – followed by the worldwide response to climate change environmental concerns, deactivation of petroleum reliance, and reinforcement of exhaust gas regulation. And as part of the VW diesel emissions scandal, VW will spend $2 billion in the U.S. over the next 10 years on the Combined Charging System (CCS) and other charging infrastructure.
Porsche also expects a large demand for its first all-electric 600hp Mission E sports car scheduled to be released in 2019. “We have calculated the Mission E with a piece of the order of about 20,000,” said Porsche CEO Oliver Blume. The sports car built in Stuttgart should have a range of 310 miles (500 kilometers).
It will be up to European auto manufacturers to decide whether they will produce their own EV batteries, join in a mutual collaboration such as Gabriel has suggested, or look to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for their necessary battery components. Of course, the European auto manufacturers are fully aware that Tesla quietly joined the CCS consortium and, with five years of experience manufacturing and delivering EVS, is currently building its own Gigafactory.
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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.
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 has just introduced “Charging Passport,” a new yearly summary of your charging.
• Charging badges: Iconic Charging badge (for visiting places like the Tesla Diner, Oasis Supercharger, etc), Explorer badge, green saver badge, etc.
• Total unique Superchargers visited
•… pic.twitter.com/c1DHTWXpj7— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) December 8, 2025
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.
Tesla is building a new UFO-inspired Supercharger in the heart of Alien country
News
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.”
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 is going to allow owners to purchase an FSD Subscription for another owner for different month options
You’ll be able to gift FSD to someone! https://t.co/V29dhf5URj
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) November 3, 2025
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Tesla gamifies Supercharging with new ‘Charging Passport’
Tesla launches its coolest gift idea ever just a few weeks after it was announced
