News
How the Key Bridge Collapse impacts Tesla and other automakers from the Port of Baltimore
The Port of Baltimore and its logistics processes are under major exposure this morning following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge just outside of the City, and it could impact nearly every car company.
In the early morning hours of March 26, a large container ship known as the Dali lost power on two occasions as it approached the Key Bridge, which connects the East portions of Baltimore to Anne Arundel County.
The water under the bridge is the Patapsco River, which connects the Inner Harbor and the Port of Baltimore to the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The Port of Baltimore is the ninth-largest port in the United States but is the top location for vehicle handling in the country.
A major bridge in Baltimore, part of I-695, collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship early Tuesday, sending vehicles plunging into the water and setting off an emergency response.
Here’s the latest: https://t.co/JhDNWyOiZE pic.twitter.com/y1JGrWJoCG
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 26, 2024
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In my time at Teslarati, I have been fortunate enough to break some stories due to the Port of Baltimore’s position as a major handler of automotive imports and exports. The first Model S and Model X Plaid vehicles to be exported to Europe for deliveries were due to my sources at the Port.
Tesla ships more Model S, X Plaid to Europe en route to first 1M delivery year
Port of Baltimore’s Importance in Automotive Handling
The Port of Baltimore has a major position in the U.S. automotive sector. In 2022, it was the largest handler of U.S. automotive imports and exports. Data for 2023 has not yet been released.
However, the Port is widely responsible for hundreds of thousands of cars coming in and out of the country every year, and the potential issues this collapse could cause are wide-ranging.
-->How the collapse will affect Tesla and other automakers
Tesla is no different than any other car company in this instance, and it will feel the effects of the Key Bridge collapse. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen said the “thriving” Port of Baltimore will be impacted until the debris from the bridge is cleared from the river, and ships will not be able to enter the Port until then.
Sources inside the Port have also told Teslarati that the Port could be closed for up to three months. This means that any vehicles being shipped from Europe to the United States, or vice versa, will have to enter through alternative ports, including Miami, Savannah, Newark, or others.
The Port of Baltimore has handled the majority of light-duty cars and trucks, according to Bloomberg.
How will the crisis be averted?
Shifting goods to alternative ports is the primary strategy currently. Luckily for Tesla, it did not just launch delivery of a fresh vehicle to Europe, as Gigafactory Shanghai builds the Model 3 and can export units as it has for years. Tesla could also ship vehicles from the West Coast to China and then have units shipped to Europe from China as a result.
Sources have speculated that the Port could shift automotive deliveries to the Port of Philadelphia or Wilmington as a result of the Key Bridge collapse.
-->No official word or strategy has been released by the Port or its governing bodies.
I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.
News
Elon Musk makes a key Tesla Optimus detail official
“Since we are naming the singular, we will also name the plural, so Optimi it is,” Musk wrote on X.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk just made a key detail about Optimus official. In a post on X, the CEO clarified some key wording about Optimus, which should help the media and the public become more familiar with the humanoid robot.
Elon Musk makes Optimus’ plural term official
Elon Musk posted a number of Optimus-related posts on X this weekend. On Saturday, he stated that Optimus would be the Von Neumann probe, a machine that could eventually be capable of replicating itself. This capability, it seems, would be the key to Tesla achieving Elon Musk’s ambitious Optimus production targets.
Amidst the conversations about Optimus on X, a user of the social media platform asked the CEO what the plural term for the humanoid robot will be. As per Musk, Tesla will be setting the plural term for Optimus since the company also decided on the robot’s singular term. “Since we are naming the singular, we will also name the plural, so Optimi it is,” Musk wrote in his reply on X.
This makes it official. For media outlets such as Teslarati, numerous Optimus bots are now called Optimi. It rolls off the tongue pretty well, too.
Optimi will be a common sight worldwide
While Musk’s comment may seem pretty mundane to some, it is actually very important. Optimus is intended to be Tesla’s highest volume product, with the CEO estimating that the humanoid robot could eventually see annual production rates in the hundreds of millions, perhaps even more. Since Optimi will be a very common sight worldwide, it is good that people can now get used to terms describing the humanoid robot.
-->During the Tesla 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, Musk stated that the humanoid robot will see “the fastest production ramp of any product of any large complex manufactured product ever,” starting with a one-million-Optimi-per-year production line at the Fremont Factory. Giga Texas would get an even bigger Optimus production line, which should be capable of producing tens of millions of Optimi per year.
News
Tesla is improving Giga Berlin’s free “Giga Train” service for employees
With this initiative, Tesla aims to boost the number of Gigafactory Berlin employees commuting by rail while keeping the shuttle free for all riders.
Tesla will expand its factory shuttle service in Germany beginning January 4, adding direct rail trips from Berlin Ostbahnhof to Giga Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide.
With this initiative, Tesla aims to boost the number of Gigafactory Berlin employees commuting by rail while keeping the shuttle free for all riders.
New shuttle route
As noted in a report from rbb24, the updated service, which will start January 4, will run between the Berlin Ostbahnhof East Station and the Erkner Station at the Gigafactory Berlin complex. Tesla stated that the timetable mirrors shift changes for the facility’s employees, and similar to before, the service will be completely free. The train will offer six direct trips per day as well.
“The service includes six daily trips, which also cover our shift times. The trains will run between Berlin Ostbahnhof (with a stop at Ostkreuz) and Erkner station to the Gigafactory,” Tesla Germany stated.
Even with construction continuing at Fangschleuse and Köpenick stations, the company said the route has been optimized to maintain a predictable 35-minute travel time. The update follows earlier phases of Tesla’s “Giga Train” program, which initially connected Erkner to the factory grounds before expanding to Berlin-Lichtenberg.
-->Tesla pushes for majority rail commuting
Tesla began production at Grünheide in March 2022, and the factory’s workforce has since grown to around 11,500 employees, with an estimated 60% commuting from Berlin. The facility produces the Model Y, Tesla’s best-selling vehicle, for both Germany and other territories.
The company has repeatedly emphasized its goal of having more than half its staff use public transportation rather than cars, positioning the shuttle as a key part of that initiative. In keeping with the factory’s sustainability focus, Tesla continues to allow even non-employees to ride the shuttle free of charge, making it a broader mobility option for the area.
News
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y dominate China’s real-world efficiency tests
The Tesla Model 3 posted 20.8 kWh/100 km while the Model Y followed closely at 21.8 kWh/100 km.
Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y once again led the field in a new real-world energy-consumption test conducted by China’s Autohome, outperforming numerous rival electric vehicles in controlled conditions.
The results, which placed both Teslas in the top two spots, prompted Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun to acknowledge Tesla’s efficiency advantage while noting that his company’s vehicles will continue refining its own models to close the gap.
Tesla secures top efficiency results
Autohome’s evaluation placed all vehicles under identical conditions, such as a full 375-kg load, cabin temperature fixed at 24°C on automatic climate control, and a steady cruising speed of 120 km/h. In this environment, the Tesla Model 3 posted 20.8 kWh/100 km while the Model Y followed closely at 21.8 kWh/100 km, as noted in a Sina News report.
These figures positioned Tesla’s vehicles firmly at the top of the ranking and highlighted their continued leadership in long-range efficiency. The test also highlighted how drivetrain optimization, software management, and aerodynamic profiles remain key differentiators in high-speed, cold-weather scenarios where many electric cars struggle to maintain low consumption.
Xiaomi’s Lei Jun pledges to continue learning from Tesla
Following the results, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun noted that the Xiaomi SU7 actually performed well overall but naturally consumed more energy due to its larger C-segment footprint and higher specification. He reiterated that factors such as size and weight contributed to the difference in real-world consumption compared to Tesla. Still, the executive noted that Xiaomi will continue to learn from the veteran EV maker.
“The Xiaomi SU7’s energy consumption performance is also very good; you can take a closer look. The fact that its test results are weaker than Tesla’s is partly due to objective reasons: the Xiaomi SU7 is a C-segment car, larger and with higher specifications, making it heavier and naturally increasing energy consumption. Of course, we will continue to learn from Tesla and further optimize its energy consumption performance!” Lei Jun wrote in a post on Weibo.
-->Lei Jun has repeatedly described Tesla as the global benchmark for EV efficiency, previously stating that Xiaomi may require three to five years to match its leadership. He has also been very supportive of FSD, even testing the system in the United States.
Elon Musk makes a key Tesla Optimus detail official
Tesla is improving Giga Berlin’s free “Giga Train” service for employees
