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Rivian CEO talks auxiliary batteries and ‘Jurassic Park’ style self-driving tours
As Rivian continues to set the stage for the production of its first two vehicles — the R1T pickup truck and the R1S SUV — CEO RJ Scaringe has started dropping some compelling new details about the two upcoming all-electric outdoor adventure vehicles. In a recent interview, the 35-year-old CEO mentioned a couple of upcoming features for the R1S and the R1T, such as an auxiliary battery that acts like a “digital jerry can” and autonomous capabilities that echo some iconic scenes from Hollywood.
Scaringe’s recent statements were related in an interview with Tesla owner-enthusiast Sean Mitchell of All Things EV. During the interview, the Rivian CEO and the longtime electric car owner talked about the R1T and the R1S’ batteries, their autonomous features, and even their charging infrastructure. Needless to say, it appears that the startup electric car maker has a number of compelling announcements in the pipeline.
A particularly compelling detail related by Scaringe involved the R1T and the R1S’s batteries. Being luxury adventure vehicles, the pickup truck and SUV are designed to go on long trips and travel off the beaten path without running out of range. As noted by the Rivian CEO, range is the primary reason behind the company’s extra large battery packs, which are offered at 105 kWh, 135 kWh, and 180 kWh configurations. With its largest battery pack, the Rivian R1T and R1S are expected to be capable of traveling more than 400 miles per charge.
To further avoid any range anxiety, Scaringe added that Rivian is currently working to install chargers at notable outdoor adventure locations, such as national parks and ski resorts. In the event that extra range is needed on the go, the CEO revealed that Rivian is also working on creating auxiliary batteries that work like a portable, extra tank of fuel which could provide the R1S and the R1T with extra range to make it to a charging station.
During the vehicle’s unveiling, Rivian noted that its vehicles would feature autonomous capabilities. To enable this, both the R1S and the R1T are equipped with a suite of cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors, high-precision GPS technologies, and two, cleverly-placed LiDAR. Scaringe described some of Rivian’s upcoming autonomous features, including a self-driving tour function reminiscent of the iconic SUVs in the classic Steven Spielberg film Jurassic Park.
“Let’s say you are in a national park. We can give you a guided tour of that park, you know, narrated and explaining what you’re seeing, but it’s like the vehicles are on “digital rails,” sort of Jurassic Park style, as it drives around the park. These are some of the features we’re gonna be showing over the course of next year,” Scaringe said.
Both the Rivian R1T and R1S are designed to be just as capable in rough terrain as they are on paved roads. Thanks to their heavy battery packs, Scaringe noted that both vehicles actually have a low center of gravity despite their high ground clearance. This also gives the pickup truck and SUV stability and impeccable handling. The four electric motors used in the R1T and R1S provide the cars with some impressive performance specs as well, such as a 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds for the 135 kWh variant. Rivian has opened its pickup truck and SUV for reservations, with production expected to start at 2020.
Watch Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe’s recent interview with Sean Mitchell in the video below.
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Tesla officially publishes Q4 2025 vehicle delivery consensus
By releasing these numbers directly, Tesla establishes a clear, transparent benchmark ahead of its actual results.
Tesla has taken the rather unusual step of officially publishing its company-compiled Q4 2025 delivery consensus on the Investor Relations site. As per analyst estimates, Tesla is expected to deliver 422,850 vehicles and deploy 13.4 GWh of battery storage systems this Q4 2025.
By releasing these numbers directly, Tesla establishes a clear, transparent benchmark ahead of its actual results, making it harder for narratives to claim a “miss” based on outlier estimates.
Official consensus sets the record straight
Tesla’s IR press release detailed the consensus from 20 analysts for vehicle deliveries and 16 analysts for energy deployments. As per the release, full-year 2025 consensus delivery estimates come in at 1,640,752 vehicles, an 8.3% decline from 2025’s FY deliveries of 1,789,226 cars.
Tesla noted that while it “does not endorse any information, recommendations or conclusions made by the analysts,” its press release does provide a notable reference point. Analysts contributing to the company compiled consensus include Daiwa, DB, Wedbush, Oppenheimer, Canaccord, Baird, Wolfe, Exane, Goldman Sachs, RBC, Evercore ISI, Barclays, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Jefferies, Needham, HSBC, Cantor Fitzgerald, and William Blair.
Tesla’s busy Q4 2025
Tesla seems to be pushing hard to deliver as many vehicles as possible before the end of 2025, despite the company’s future seemingly being determined not by vehicle deliveries, but FSD and Optimus’ rollout and ramp. Still, reports from countries such as China are optimistic, with posts on social media hinting that Tesla’s delivery centers in the country are appearing packed as the final weeks of 2025 unfold.
The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 are also still performing well in China’s premium EV segment. Based on data from January to November, the Model Y took China’s number one spot in the RMB 200,000-RMB 300,000 segment for electric vehicles, selling 359,463 units. The Model 3 sedan took third place, selling 172,392. This is quite impressive considering that both the Model Y and Model 3 command a premium compared to their domestic rivals.
Elon Musk
Tesla’s Elon Musk accepts invitation to Israel’s Smart Transportation Conference
The announcement was shared by the Israeli Prime Minister in a post on social media platform X.
Elon Musk has reportedly accepted an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to participate in the country’s Smart Transportation Conference in March 2026.
The announcement was shared by the Israeli Prime Minister in a post on social media platform X.
A call and an invitation
Netanyahu posted on X about Musk, stating in Hebrew: “Last night, I held a joint conference call from Florida with entrepreneur Elon Musk, Minister of Transportation Miri Regev, and the head of the National AI Headquarters, Erez Askal. In the framework of the conversation, Musk responded to my invitation and Minister Regev’s invitation to participate in the Smart Transportation Conference that will be held in March.”
Netanyahu added that he and Musk discussed continuing initiatives such as the promotion of autonomous vehicle laws and the boosting of AI technologies in Israel. This, according to the Prime Minister, is aimed at making the country a global leader in emerging technologies.
“Additionally, we discussed the continuation of collaborations with Tesla and the promotion of the law pertaining to autonomous vehicles. I spoke at length with Musk about promoting and developing artificial intelligence technologies in Israel, and I said in our conversation: We intend to catapult Israel and turn it into a global leader in the field, just as we did in cyber and other technologies,” Netanyahu added.
Tesla FSD’s upcoming rollout in Israel
Elon Musk’s upcoming conference appearance in Israel could hint at Tesla’s upcoming rollout of FSD and its Robotaxi service in the country. Previous reports have hinted that FSD is nearing regulatory approval in Israel, following strong advocacy from local owners and direct intervention from the government.
Nearly 1,000 Tesla drivers petitioned authorities, highlighting FSD’s potential to enhance road safety. Transport and Road Safety Minister Miri Regev responded positively on X, writing “I’ve received the many referrals from Tesla drivers in Israel! Tesla drivers? Soon you won’t need to hold the steering wheel.”
Minister Regev has instructed the ministry’s Director-General to accelerate the approval process, including necessary tests. A dedicated working group, led by Moshe Ben-Zaken, is also coordinating with regulatory and safety agencies to meet international standards.
News
Tesla China delivery centers look packed as 2025 comes to a close
Needless to say, it appears that Tesla China seems intent on ending 2025 on a strong note.
Tesla’s delivery centers in China seem to be absolutely packed as the final days of 2025 wind down, with photos on social media showing delivery locations being filled wall-to-wall with vehicles waiting for their new owners.
Needless to say, it appears that Tesla China seems intent on ending 2025 on a strong note.
Full delivery center hints at year-end demand surge
A recent image from a Chinese delivery center posted by industry watcher @Tslachan on X revealed rows upon rows of freshly prepared Model Y and Model 3 units, some of which were adorned with red bows and teddy bears. Some customers also seem to be looking over their vehicles with Tesla delivery staff.
The images hint at a strong year-end push to clear inventory and deliver as many vehicles as possible. Interestingly enough, several Model Y L vehicles could be seen in the photos, hinting at the demand for the extended wheelbase-six seat variant of the best-selling all-electric crossover.
Strong demand in China
Consumer demand for the Model Y and Model 3 in China seems to be quite notable. This could be inferred from the estimated delivery dates for the Model 3 and Model Y, which have been extended to February 2026 for several variants. Apart from this, the Model Y and Model 3 also continue to rank well in China’s premium EV segment.
From January to November alone, the Model Y took China’s number one spot in the RMB 200,000-RMB 300,000 segment for electric vehicles, selling 359,463 units. The Model 3 sedan took third place, selling 172,392. This is quite impressive considering that both the Model Y and Model 3 are still priced at a premium compared to some of their rivals, such as the Xiaomi SU7 and YU7.
With delivery centers in December being quite busy, it does seem like Tesla China will end the year on a strong note once more.
Tesla officially publishes Q4 2025 vehicle delivery consensus
Tesla’s Elon Musk accepts invitation to Israel’s Smart Transportation Conference
