News
Porsche Taycan with fake exhaust caught making a silent parking lot escape
Porsche has not yet unveiled the production version of the Taycan yet, but the company has already started promoting the vehicle. Pre-orders for the Taycan have already begun in several territories including the United States, and Porsche has also released detailed information about the upcoming sedan. The German legacy automaker recently posted another tease of the vehicle on social media as well, sharing a picture of three camouflaged Taycan prototypes being tested in the wild.
With huge torque from a standing start, the Taycan – seen here in camouflaged prototype form – goes from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds. pic.twitter.com/xcWlfO7mfx
— Porsche GB (@PorscheGB) August 16, 2018
The specs of the Taycan show that Porsche is serious about its first efforts at producing an all-electric car. Size-wise, the Taycan is expected to be somewhere between the Panamera and the 911, making it a rival to the industry-leading Tesla Model S. The electric car is equipped with two permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM) that produce a combined 600 hp (440 kW). The performance of the Taycan is noteworthy as well, with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, a top speed of 155 mph, and a range of ~310 miles per charge.
Fans of Porsche were also treated to an extensive sighting of the vehicle this Wednesday, with electric car enthusiast @ZoePionierin sharing some images of the car as it was charging at a CCS station in Germany. One of the pictures uploaded even gave a sneak peek at the vehicle’s frunk, as two individuals — presumably Porsche engineers — conducted what appeared to be an inspection under the car’s hood. The Taycan’s frunk was only partially visible in the shared image, but based on the angle the photo was taken from, the frunk appears to be a bit smaller than the one found in the Model S. The electric car enthusiast later mentioned that the Taycan test mule has charging ports on both sides of the vehicle, and that the interior seems to have an LCD display.
Schau an, ein @Porsche #Taycan. Hat sogar einen #Frunk! pic.twitter.com/mjV7EFSXX1
— Jana 🖖🏼🏳️🌈 (@ZoePionierin) August 13, 2018
Inasmuch as the images of the Taycan are compelling, a video taken of the vehicle as it left the parking lot is even more interesting. The video captured the Taycan prototype as it backed up and drove off the lot, in what could very well be the closest look yet at the prototype’s design. While the production version of the electric car would feature a different design from the test mule, some of its general elements, such as its wide and well-planted stance, would likely make it to the vehicle’s the final iteration.
Ach, wenn nur alle Porsche so schön leise wären. 🙂 pic.twitter.com/Czua8yh4MK
— Jana 🖖🏼🏳️🌈 (@ZoePionierin) August 13, 2018
Porsche’s push for the Taycan is starting to bear fruit, with the automaker revealing last month that the number of pre-orders for the all-electric car have been very encouraging. The legacy automaker plans to build the Taycan in a facility located at Zuffenhausen, a suburb in Stuttgart, Germany — the same factory where it manufactures the Porsche 911, 718 Boxster, as well as the 718 Cayman. Porsche is currently looking into improving the Zuffenhausen plant to support the Taycan’s initial target production of 20,000 units per year, which is expected to begin sometime next year.
Elon Musk
Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai
The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.
Tesla China sold 58,599 vehicles wholesale in February, reflecting strong year-over-year growth. The figure includes both domestic deliveries in China and vehicles exported to international markets.
The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.
Tesla’s February wholesale result represents a 91% increase year over year, compared with 30,688 vehicles in February 2025. Month over month, the result was down 15.2% from January, when Tesla China recorded 69,129 wholesale units.
The February total reflects combined sales of the Model 3 and Model Y produced at Gigafactory Shanghai. The facility produces the two vehicles for both domestic sales and exports.
Gigafactory Shanghai continues to serve as Tesla’s primary vehicle export hub, supplying vehicles to markets across Asia and Europe. Data compiled by Tesla watchers shows that 18,485 vehicles were sold domestically in China in January 2026, while exports accounted for 50,644 units during the same period.
Tesla has also been extending financing programs in China as it pushes to strengthen domestic demand. The company recently extended its seven-year ultra-low-interest and five-year interest-free financing programs through March 31, marking the second extension of the promotion this year.
The financing initiative was first introduced on January 6 as a strategy aimed at offsetting higher ownership costs ahead of China’s planned 5% NEV purchase tax in 2026. The promotion was originally scheduled to expire at the end of January before being extended to February and then again through the end of the first quarter.
Tesla’s efforts come amid growing competition in China’s EV market. According to data compiled by CNEV Post, Tesla’s 2025 retail sales in China reached 625,698 vehicles, representing a 4.78% year-over-year decline. Part of that decline was linked to the Model Y changeover to its updated variant in early 2025, which temporarily reduced deliveries during the transition period.
News
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
Tesla’s upcoming Model Y L has been spotted on transport trucks in Australia. Sightings of the six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y variant have been reported on social media platform X by members of the Australian Tesla community.
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
The sighting follows earlier observations by Tesla enthusiasts in Sydney, where a covered vehicle believed to be a Model Y L was spotted at a Supercharger.
The Sydney sighting drew attention after observers noted that the vehicle’s tare weight appeared to match the ADR approval listing for the Model Y L, suggesting it could indeed be the extended wheelbase variant of the electric SUV.
Tesla has previously confirmed that the Model Y L will launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2026. The confirmation was reported by techAU following a media release from Tesla Australia and New Zealand.
The Model Y L expands the existing Model Y lineup with seating for six passengers. The vehicle features a longer body compared with the standard Model Y in order to accommodate a spacious second and third row.
Tesla has opted for a 2-2-2 seating configuration instead of a traditional seven-seat layout for the Model Y L. The design includes two individual seats in the middle row to provide easier access to the third row and additional passenger space.
Tesla Australia and New Zealand has also stated that the Model Y L will be covered under the company’s updated warranty structure beginning in 2026.
Tesla has not yet announced pricing or official range figures for the Model Y L in Australia.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
X Money is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Elon Musk has stated that X Money, the digital payments system being developed for social media platform X, is expected to enter early public access next month.
The update was shared by Musk in a post on X. “𝕏 Money early public access will launch next month,” Musk wrote in his post.
As noted in a Reuters report, X Money is being developed as a digital payment service that’s directly integrated into the X platform.
The system is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Musk has previously discussed plans to introduce payments and financial services as part of X’s broader development.
Since acquiring the platform in 2022, Musk has discussed expanding X to include a range of services such as messaging, media, and financial tools.
Elon Musk has shared his goal of transforming X into an “everything app.” During a previous podcast interview with members of the Tesla community, Musk mused about turning X into something similar to China’s WeChat, which allows users to shop, pay, communicate, and perform a variety of other tasks.
“In China, you do everything in WeChat… it’s kickass… Outside of China, there’s nothing like it, people live on one app. My idea would be like how about if we just copy WeChat,” Musk joked at the time.
To prepare for the rollout of X Money, X has partnered with payment company Visa to support the development of payment services for the platform’s users. The move could allow X to tap into the growing demand for digital and in-app financial transactions as the company builds additional services around its existing user base.
Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
