Jeep recently showed off its new EV prototypes based on the Jeep Wrangler, and the prototypes are called the Magneto and Magneto 2.0.
According to Motor Trend, Jeep displayed its Wrangler EV prototypes at its safari launch event. The vehicles were named Magneto and Magneto 2.0 and built off existing gas-powered Jeep Wrangler architecture, employing much of the same bodywork, interior, and even 4×4 system. The brand plans a 2024 release date for the vehicle’s production version, but it will likely not be its first EV.
The two prototype vehicles showed off impressive and somewhat unique specifications. Starting with the Magneto, based on the two-door Jeep Wrangler, the vehicle featured a manual transmission and 2-speed transfer case, both taken off of the gas-powered variant of the Jeep Wrangler. The 4×4 system was then hooked up to a single motor in the engine bay, producing 285 horsepower and 273-pound-feet of torque. A 70kWh battery powered the motor.
The Magneto 2.0 offered a significant upgrade; using a similar two-door Jeep Wrangler body, Jeep upgraded the vehicle with an 800-volt architecture and a more powerful motor. The second iteration of the Jeep Wrangler Magneto produced 625 horsepower and 850-pound-feet of torque.
Jeep is certainly staying true to its roots with the Magneto prototypes, but their dedication to Jeep’s heritage technology will likely pose challenges for them in the future. First, using the manual transmission and transfer case means that the vehicle is far heavier and must work the motor harder to overcome inefficiencies by going through the system. The traditional 4×4 system also means that the vehicle is far more complex and contains far more failure points than a direct drive alternative.
Jeep didn’t comment on the possible advantages of their system, and it is certainly true that they would not be the only manufacturer introducing traditional transmission technology to EVs. The Porsche Taycan has a two-speed gearbox, for example. However, Jeep’s approach remains unique.
The second issue Jeep will face has more to do with design language. Due to the Jeep’s lackluster aerodynamics, the vehicle will work far harder to punch through the air rather than cut through it (though the tag line “don’t cut through the air, punch it” does have a certain ring to it). On top of this, the vehicle’s large grippy tires mean yet another inefficiency is added to the system.
Doing some basic napkin math, with the 70kWh battery, if the vehicle must overcome so many inefficiencies, it would be surprising to see it achieve more than 2 miles per kW, giving the prototype a hypothetical range of only 140 miles. That said, the Jeep Wrangler Magneto 2.0 featured a higher voltage architecture that could allow incredibly fast charging and a production model would likely fit a larger battery system if it were designed off a new, independent platform instead.
It has always been true that Jeep buyers are buying more than a vehicle; they are buying into an idea, a lifestyle, and even a not-so-secret wave to other Jeep drivers. However, with the introduction of EV technology, Jeep buyers may be compromising more than ever.
What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!
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Tesla begins Robotaxi certification push in Arizona: report
Tesla seems serious about expanding its Robotaxi service to several states in the coming months.

Tesla has initiated discussions with Arizona transportation regulators to certify its driverless Robotaxi service in the state, as per a recent report from Bloomberg News. The move follows Tesla’s launch of its Robotaxi pilot program in Austin, Texas, as well as CEO Elon Musk’s recent comments about the service’s expansion in the Bay Area.
The Arizona Department of Transportation confirmed to Bloomberg that Tesla has reached out to begin the certification process for autonomous ride-sharing operations in the state. While details remain limited, the outreach suggests that Tesla is serious about expanding its driverless Robotaxi service to several territories in the coming months.
The Arizona development comes as Tesla prepares to expand its service area in Austin this weekend, as per CEO Elon Musk in a post on X. Musk also stated that Tesla is targeting the San Francisco Bay Area as its next major market, with a potential launch “in a month or two,” pending regulatory approvals.
Tesla first launched its autonomous ride-hailing program on June 22 in Austin with a small fleet of Model Y vehicles, accompanied by a Tesla employee in the passenger seat to monitor safety. While still classified as a test, Musk has said the program will expand to about 1,000 vehicles in the coming months. Tesla will later upgrade its Robotaxi fleet with the Cyercab, a two-seater that is designed without a steering wheel.
Sightings of Cybercab castings around the Giga Texas complex suggests that Tesla may be ramping the initial trial production of the self-driving two-seater. Tesla, for its part, has noted in the past that volume production of the Cybercab is expected to start sometime next year.
In California, Tesla has already applied for a transportation charter-party carrier permit from the state’s Public Utilities Commission. The company is reportedly taking a phased approach to operating in California, with the Robotaxi service starting with pre-arranged rides for employees in vehicles with safety drivers.
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Tesla sets November 6 date for 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting
The automaker announced the date on Thursday in a Form 8-K.

Tesla has scheduled its 2025 annual shareholder meeting for November 6, addressing investor concerns that the company was nearing a legal deadline to hold the event.
The automaker announced the date on Thursday in a Form 8-K submitted to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company also listed a new proposal submission deadline of July 31 for items to be included in the proxy statement.
Tesla’s announcement followed calls from a group of 27 shareholders, including the leaders of large public pension funds, which urged Tesla’s board to formally set the meeting date, as noted in a report from The Wall Street Journal.
The group noted that under Texas law, where Tesla is now incorporated, companies must hold annual meetings within 13 months of the last one if requested by shareholders. Tesla’s previous annual shareholder meeting was held on June 13, 2024, which placed the July 13 deadline in focus.
Tesla originally stated in its 2024 annual report that it would file its proxy statement by the end of April. However, an amended filing on April 30 indicated that the Board of Directors had not yet finalized a meeting date, at least at the time.
The April filing also confirmed that Tesla’s board had formed a special committee to evaluate certain matters related to CEO Elon Musk’s compensation plan. Musk’s CEO performance award remains at the center of a lengthy legal dispute in Delaware, Tesla’s former state of incorporation.
Due to the aftermath of Musk’s legal dispute about his compensation plan in Delaware, he has not been paid for his work at Tesla for several years. Musk, for his part, has noted that he is more concerned about his voting stake in Tesla than his actual salary.
At last year’s annual meeting, TSLA shareholders voted to reapprove Elon Musk’s compensation plan and ratified Tesla’s decision to relocate its legal domicile from Delaware to Texas.
Elon Musk
Grok coming to Tesla vehicles next week “at the latest:” Elon Musk
Grok’s rollout to Tesla vehicles is expected to begin next week at the latest.

Elon Musk announced on Thursday that Grok, the large language model developed by his startup xAI, will soon be available in Tesla vehicles. Grok’s rollout to Tesla vehicles is expected to begin next week at the latest, further deepening the ties between the two Elon Musk-led companies.
Tesla–xAI synergy
Musk confirmed the news on X shortly after livestreaming the release of Grok 4, xAI’s latest large language model. “Grok is coming to Tesla vehicles very soon. Next week at the latest,” Musk wrote in a post on social media platform X.
During the livestream, Musk and several members of the xAI team highlighted several upgrades to Grok 4’s voice capabilities and performance metrics, positioning the LLM as competitive with top-tier models from OpenAI and Google.
The in-vehicle integration of Grok marks a new chapter in Tesla’s AI development. While Tesla has long relied on in-house systems for autonomous driving and energy optimization, Grok’s integration would introduce conversational AI directly into its vehicles’ user experience. This integration could potentially improve customer interaction inside Tesla vehicles.
xAI and Tesla’s collaborative footprint
Grok’s upcoming rollout to Tesla vehicles adds to a growing business relationship between Tesla and xAI. Earlier this year, Tesla disclosed that it generated $198.3 million in revenue from commercial, consulting, and support agreements with xAI, as noted in a report from Bloomberg News. A large portion of that amount, however, came from the sale of Megapack energy storage systems to the artificial intelligence startup.
In July 2023, Musk polled X users about whether Tesla should invest $5 billion in xAI. While no formal investment has been made so far, 68% of poll participants voted yes, and Musk has since stated that the idea would be discussed with Tesla’s board.
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