

News
GM says Tesla can’t achieve Level 5 self-driving using Autopilot hardware
Director of autonomous vehicle integration for General Motors, Scott Miller, thinks Tesla’s goal to build a self-driving vehicle that meets SAE’s criteria for a fully autonomous Level 5 car is not physically possible when using Autopilot hardware.
“The level of technology and knowing what it takes to do the mission, to say you can be a full level five with just cameras and radars is not physically possible,” said Miller in speaking to the Australian press about Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s goal to produce a full self-driving vehicle using Autopilot technology.
“The mission” that Miller is speaking about is Musk’s plan to demonstrate a cross-country drive from California to a parking garage in NY, in a Tesla, and achieved completely without human intervention. Miller believes that Tesla’s perception of fully autonomous self-driving doesn’t take into account the safety levels and standards defined by the SAE for Level 5 autonomy. According to the SAE’s Automated Driving Guide, Level 5 allows for “the full-time performance by an automated driving system of all aspects of the dynamic driving task under all roadway and environmental conditions that can be managed by a human driver.”
“I think you need the right sensors and right computing package to do it. Think about it, we have LIDAR, radar and cameras on this. The reason we have that type of sensor package is that we think you need not be deeply integrated in to be level five, you should have redundancy.” says Miller.
“Do you really want to trust just one sensor measuring the speed of the car coming out of an intersection before you pull out? I think you need some confirmation. So, radar and LIDAR do a good job at measuring object speed, cameras do a great job at identifying objects. So, you can use the right sensor images to give you confidence in what you’re seeing, which I think is important if you’re going to put this technology out for general consumption.”
Miller adds, “Could you do it with less and be less robust? Probably. But could you do it with what’s in a current Tesla Model S? I don’t think so.”
“Could you do it with what’s in a current Tesla Model S? I don’t think so.”
The GM executive’s stance on using LiDAR in combination with radars and cameras goes completely against the grain of Musk who firmly believes that its LiDAR-less Autopilot hardware suite is capable of achieving full autonomy and at a consumer-friendly price point.
Musk reaffirmed his position that Autopilot hardware included in the latest Model S and Model X will be able to support self-driving features. “You can absolutely be superhuman with just cameras. You could probably do it 10 times better than a human with just cameras.” said Musk at TED2017.
“November or December of this year, we should be able to go all the way from a parking lot in California to a parking lot in New York with no controls touched in the entire journey.”
Still, the majority of technologists within the autonomous driving community believes that infrared LIDAR and its ability to create complex 3D maps to support autonomous cars is crucial when it comes to reliability and safety.
General Motors recently launched its SuperCruise system on the Cadillac CT6 that allows Level 2 autonomous driving. The Detroit-based automotive giant believes that achieving Level 5 full autonomy is still 15 years away.
What do you think about GM’s comments? Is Musk’s vision for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving capabilities overly optimistic?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rxW68ADldI
News
Tesla dominates JD Power tech survey with double VW’s score, but gets no award
Tesla was not eligible for awards because the company did not “meet study award criteria.”

Tesla has emerged as the clear leader in JD Power’s latest technology survey, dominating with a score twice that of veteran automakers like Volkswagen.
This was despite Tesla not receiving any official awards in the survey due to eligibility issues.
Survey results
As per JD Power, its 2025 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study collected responses from 76,230 owners of new 2025 model-year vehicles. This was the 10th year that the auto firm has conducted its study. Based on the raw scores of automakers in the survey, Tesla was the clear winner with a rating of 873 points out of 1,000. As noted in a CarUp report, Tesla’s ratings was more than twice as much as veteran automakers like Volkswagen or Toyota, which scored 432 and 436 points, respectively.
Rivian ranked second in the results with an impressive 730 points out of 1,000. That being said, JP Power noted in its press release that both Tesla and Rivian, the two highest-scoring automakers in its survey, are not eligible for awards because the companies do not “meet study award criteria.” In its report, CarUp alleged this criteria required automakers to be sold in all U.S. states.
As a result, Genesis was officially awarded the top rank in JD Power’s study despite its 538 score. Following Genesis was Cadillac, which received a score of 526, and Lincoln, which received a score of 523 out of 1,000.
Driver insights
According to JD Power, technology-related problems reported by drivers decreased by 6.3 per 100 vehicles compared to last year, contributing to a stronger user experience overall. Respondents identified automatic climate control as one of the most appreciated features, thanks to its ability to manage heating, ventilation, and air conditioning seamlessly.
“Smart technology not only seems to anticipate the driver’s needs but also reduces the cognitive workload and some of the difficulties that drivers face with digital systems,” said Kathleen Rizk, senior director of technology at JD Power.
Car wash mode, a feature meant to prepare vehicles for automated cleaning, was a frequent source of frustration due to its placement within infotainment menus. Drivers also voiced concerns over recognition systems that occasionally malfunction. In contrast, the blind spot camera received widespread praise, with 93% of drivers reporting regular use and 74% stating that they would like the feature in future vehicles.
News
Tesla trims Model 3 Long Range RWD price in China by RMB 10,000
The update was implemented by Tesla just weeks after the variant’s introduction.

Tesla has cut the price of its recently introduced long-range rear-wheel drive (RWD) Model 3 in China.
The update was implemented by the electric vehicle maker just weeks after the variant’s introduction.
Tesla China’s Model 3 lineup
The Model 3 RWD Long Range, which carries a CLTC range of 830 kilometers, is now priced from RMB 259,500 ($36,390), down RMB 10,000 ($1,400) from its initial RMB 269,500 ($37,800) price. Deliveries for the updated variant are currently listed at 1-3 weeks for new orders.
Tesla introduced the long-range RWD Model 3 in China on August 12, positioning it as a longer range alternative to the entry-level Model 3 RWD, which is priced at RMB 235,500 ($33,000). Despite the recent update to the price of the Model 3 RWD Long Range, the cost for the other three Model 3 trims remains unchanged.
Delivery times for the base Model 3 RWD and Model 3 Dual Motor AWD are listed at 1–3 weeks across the range, while the Model 3 Performance is listed at 3–5 weeks.
Sales momentum and exports
Tesla continues to offer purchase incentives this month, including five-year zero-interest financing and an RMB 8,000 insurance subsidy, as noted in a CNEV Post report.
Model 3 sales in China reached 9,851 units in July, down 0.78% year-on-year and 40.8% month-over-month compared to June. Still, cumulative sales for the Model 3 between January and July totaled 101,770 units, reflecting a 26.5% year-on-year increase in sales.
Exports of the Model 3 stood at 12,197 units in July, down 46.5% year-on-year but surging 228.8% from June. For the first seven months of 2024, Model 3 exports totaled 70,718 units, a 42% decline.
News
Mysterious smaller Tesla spotted at Giga Texas crash test facility
The vehicle happened to be sandwiched between Tesla Model Y units, emphasizing its seemingly smaller dimensions.

A rather mysterious Tesla vehicle was spotted during a recent drone flyover of the Giga Texas complex.
The vehicle, which was covered in a protective sheet, happened to be sandwiched between Tesla Model Y units, emphasizing its seemingly smaller dimensions.
A recent sighting
The covered vehicle was sighted by longtime Giga Texas watcher and drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer, who has long been following the developments and progress of the facility. In his recent flyover, which was done on August 29, the drone operator was also able to snap some footage near Giga Texas’ crash test facility.
Based on the video, one could see that Tesla has been busy crash testing some of its vehicles. A number of Model Y units could be seen near the test site, including one that had coverings on its front. In between two Model Ys was a vehicle that looked smaller and whose roofline looked a bit different. This vehicle has caught the attention of electric vehicle watchers, some of whom speculated whether it was the Cybercab or perhaps Tesla’s more affordable car.
Affordable models
During the second-quarter earnings call, Elon Musk highlighted that Tesla started production of more affordable models in June. These vehicles, the executive noted, would be made available to everyone this coming fourth quarter. “We’ll be running with the more affordable models available for everyone in Q4,” Musk said at the time. “The goal with those products was not to negatively impact revenue or gross margin, but just to make a car that everyone loves and wants at a more affordable price.”
While an affordable Tesla is exciting, some Tesla watchers also suggested that the covered vehicle in the drone operator’s recent flyover could have been a Cybercab, which has already been unveiled and which is notably smaller than a Model 3 or Model Y. The Cybercab is expected to start mass production sometime next year, with initial runs likely starting this 2025.
Watch the drone operator’s recent video of the Giga Texas facility below.
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