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Will Porsche’s new electric compete with Tesla?
It makes sense for Porsche to jump on the opportunity to build its own electric car. After producing the stunning plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 918, will Porsche use its experience to compete with Tesla Motors?
Can Porsche compete with Tesla?
When it comes to experience and lifestyle, Porsche is one of those rare automakers that can claim a strong culture around their products. The clientèle Porsche covers is wide and varied from your local automotive enthusiast to the who’s who in Hollywood, Porsche customers are well diversified. After the company developed its amazing 918 PHEV with much fanfare, it stands to reason it has learned enough about electric vehicles (EV) to make its own. At the very least, of all German carmakers, Porsche would be the best bet for a clear competition to Tesla.
Porsche, the original electric car.
We would be remiss not to mention that Porsche’s first car was electric, back in 1897. To be clearer, Ferdinand Porsche’s first car was electric and his second was a hybrid. It was basically the idea with an internal combustion engine (ICE) mated to it. Fast-forward 117 years later, and the company seems set to once again ready return to electricity.
Image source: Porsche.com
Porsche is an odd bird. Starting its commercial life with an inherently flawed unstable design, putting an engine behind the rear axle certainly calls for some spectacular slides coming out of curves enthusiastically. But over the decades, the designed was so refined, albeit through copious use of electronics to make its 911 series one of the most versatile car in the world. Your grandmother to Sebastian Vettel can drive one and not be bored.
Still, many would consider Mercedes and BMW to be better direct competition to Tesla. We, however, have a harder time seeing how their gasoline cars, or even hybrids can. They are very different, not simply in terms of design, but by definition. Also, BMW and Mercedes’ electric vehicles are small, and certainly no match for the sedan Model S. Mercedes might have a certain lifestyle associated with the brand, and BMW has a strong culture behind it, neither one of them has that Tesla Motors feel, that combination of modern startup meets the performance of wildest daily dreams.
Porsche would be a great competition. It had a pilot program three years with three Boxster E prototypes. They sported two electric motors on each axle producing a combined 240 HP with 398 Lb-ft of torque, which launched it from 0 to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds. However, we don’t know much, if anything at all concrete about how and when the company would build a commercially available EV. The few extrapolations we can make is that the electric Porsche would aim for performance, something a Porsche buyer would expect.
What other competition?
The only other competition Tesla would have would be from Porsche’s other family member, AUDI. The company notoriously teased us with its all-electric e-tron, back in 2009. However, it has gone from a yes, to a no, to a maybe, and now, back again to a yes. The A3 e-tron is a good step forward, but it certainly isn’t a direct contender to Tesla’s amazing Model S. Would Porsche be a better contender?
Elon Musk
New details emerge on The Boring Company’s Universal tunnel plans
The materials outline staffing, construction timelines, tunnel configuration, and operational details that were not previously public.
Newly released bidding documents have shed light on how Elon Musk’s Boring Company plans to connect Universal Orlando Resort’s north campus to Universal Epic Universe.
The materials outline staffing, construction timelines, tunnel configuration, and operational details that were not previously public about the planned Loop system.
The Shingle Creek Transit & Utility Community Development District voted Feb. 11 to begin contract negotiations with The Boring Company after ranking it the top bidder for the Universal Orlando transport project. Now, evaluation documents obtained by local news media reveal how the company intends to execute the project, according to Attraction Insight.
The proposal describes a twin-tunnel configuration, with one tunnel in each direction. It also noted that permitting, design, and construction could take roughly a year and a half once approvals are secured. The company indicated it could deploy multiple tunnel boring machines and install temporary support infrastructure, including muck storage pits and stormwater systems, during construction.
Bid documents list eight internal specialists assigned to the project, including tunnel engineers, structural engineers, and tunnel boring machine experts. Six subcontractors would handle fire protection, communications, soil treatment, and concrete work.
The company stated it “has the necessary internally produced tunneling equipment and personnel immediately available to complete this project for the district as quickly as permits and approvals can be obtained.”
Operationally, the system would mirror the company’s Las Vegas Loop model, using Tesla vehicles to provide point-to-point transport rather than fixed-route buses. The proposal frames the concept as “on-demand, express transportation,” with vehicles dispatched as needed and capacity adjustable in real time.
Stations could be built underground or above ground with ramp access into tunnels. The documents also referenced potential future integration of a configurable Robovan for passengers and cargo, though capacity projections for the Orlando tunnels have not yet been disclosed.
The proposal states that the Loop can integrate “easily into environmentally sensitive areas,” but it does not provide detailed mitigation plans for Central Florida’s high water table and limestone geology, which is susceptible to sinkholes. The company has stated that it intends to hire an Orlando-based geotechnical firm to evaluate soil conditions.
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Tesla Giga Berlin dispute against IG Metall union leads to investigation
As per a report from rbb24, police seized a laptop belonging to an IG Metall member at Tesla Giga Berlin on Tuesday afternoon.
German authorities have opened an investigation into an IG Metall union representative following allegations that a confidential works council meeting at Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin was secretly recorded. The probe follows a criminal complaint filed by Tesla management last week.
As per a report from rbb24, police seized a laptop belonging to an IG Metall member at Tesla Giga Berlin on Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors in Frankfurt (Oder) confirmed that an investigation is underway into a possible unauthorized audio recording of an internal works council meeting.
Under German law, recording a non-public meeting without consent may constitute a criminal offense.
Tesla stated that Gigafactory Berlin employees alerted management after allegedly discovering that an external union representative, who was attending the event as a guest, had recorded the session. Plant manager André Thierig stated in a post on X that the representative was “caught in action,” prompting the company to contact police and file a criminal complaint.
The seized device is now part of the investigation, and authorities will determine whether any unlawful recording had indeed occurred.
IG Metall has denied the accusation. In comments to German media, representatives rejected Tesla’s claim and described the electric vehicle maker’s allegation as an election campaign tactic ahead of upcoming works council elections.
The election at Tesla’s Grünheide plant is scheduled for March 2–4, 2026, with about 11,000 employees being eligible to vote. Regular works council elections in Germany are held every four years between March and May.
The incident comes amid tensions between Tesla and organized labor in Germany. While works councils operate independently from unions, IG Metall has been active at the plant and has previously criticized Tesla’s labor practices. Authorities, for their part, have not yet announced whether charges will be filed, though the investigation remains ongoing.
News
Tesla rolls out xAI’s Grok to vehicles across Europe
The initial rollout includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain.
Tesla is rolling out Grok to vehicles in Europe. The feature will initially launch in nine European territories.
In a post on X, the official Tesla Europe, Middle East & Africa account confirmed that Grok is coming to Teslas in Europe. The initial rollout includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain, and additional markets are expected to be added later.
Grok allows drivers to ask questions using real-time information and interact hands-free while driving. According to Tesla’s support documentation, Grok can also initiate navigation commands, enabling users to search for destinations, discover points of interest, and adjust routes without touching the touchscreen, as per the feature’s official webpage.
The system offers selectable personalities, ranging from “Storyteller” to “Unhinged,” and is activated either through the App Launcher or by pressing and holding the steering wheel’s microphone button.
Grok is currently available only on Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, and Cybertruck vehicles equipped with an AMD infotainment processor. Vehicles must be running software version 2025.26 or later, with navigation command support requiring version 2025.44.25 or newer.
Drivers must also have Premium Connectivity or a stable Wi-Fi connection to use the feature. Tesla notes that Grok does not currently replace standard voice commands for vehicle controls such as climate or media adjustments.
The company has stated that Grok interactions are processed securely by xAI and are not linked to individual drivers or vehicles. Users do not need a Grok account or subscription to enable the feature at this time as well.
New details emerge on The Boring Company’s Universal tunnel plans
Tesla Giga Berlin dispute against IG Metall union leads to investigation
