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LIVE BLOG: Tesla 10/10 “We, Robot” Robotaxi unveiling event

Credit: Nic Cruz Patane/X

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1 year ago

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Tesla’s highly-anticipated 10/10 Robotaxi unveiling event, dubbed “We, Robot,” is finally here. To state that expectations are high for the Robotaxi would be an understatement, as CEO Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea that the vehicle would be a huge player in Tesla’s future. 

“We, Robot” is being held at the Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, CA, with remarks expected to start around 7 p.m. PT. Seemingly highlighting the Robotaxi’s importance to Tesla’s overall potential, watch parties for the event are being held at selected showrooms, and a livestream of the occasion is available online. 

We will be closely following the updates from Tesla’s Robotaxi unveiling event in this live blog. We will also be publishing a number of articles focused on the key announcements at the event. I will be updating this article in real-time, so please keep refreshing the page to view the latest updates on this story. The first entry starts at the bottom of the page. 

20:30 PT – And with that, the demonstration rides in the Cybercab are starting! Thank you so much for staying with us for this live blog. We had a blast. Please check out our further coverage of “We, Robot’s” updates. Until the next time!

20:15 PT – Elon Musk shared an optimistic take on the future. “It will be the age of abundance,” Musk said.

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He notes that the Optimus robots would be walking alongside the attendees of the “We, Robot” event. The Optimus robots will serve drinks at the bar. “It’s a wild experience,” Musk said. “And with that, let’s party!”

20:13 PT – An army of Optimus Gen 2 units is now coming out. 

“If you extrapolate this, it will be something spectacular. Something you can own,” Elon Musk said. “At scale, this should cost somewhere around $20,000 to $30,000.” A video showcasing Optimus’ home uses is also showcased. “I think this will be the biggest product ever of any kind,” Musk said.

20:11 PT – Musk noted that with the advent of Robotaxis, parking lots could be reclaimed as parks. 

The Robovan (Robovin?) also takes to the stage. The vehicle could carry up to 20 people or transport goods. It’s Tesla’s high-density transport. 

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It looks extremely futuristic, and its cabin looks very spacious.

“The future should look like the future,” Musk said. 

20:09 PT – “Our autonomous future is here,” Musk said. He also noted that the attendees of the event would have an extended experience with the Cybercab, since the demonstration rides are pretty long. 

Musk also announced that the Cybercab will not have a NACS plug. It will use inductive charging instead. 

20:06 PT – Elon Musk reiterated that self-driving cars will be a lot safer than humans, because AI and Vision never gets distracted, or drinks. He reiterated the idea that all Teslas today will be capable for unsupervised FSD. 

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20:05 PT – Elon Musk noted that Tesla expects Unsupervised FSD by next year in Texas and California. “We’ll make this vehicle in very, very high volume,” Musk said, though customers can already experience the Robotaxi experience with the self-driving Model 3 and Model Y. 

Cybercab production is expected before 2027.

20:03 PT – The cost of autonomous transport would be so low, you can think of it as individualized mass transit, Musk said. It’s premium point to point transportation. 

Elon Musk also confirms that the Cybercab can be bought for personal use. “We expect its cost to be below $30,000. I think it will be a glorious future,” Musk said

20:00 PT – Musk notes that today’s transportation kinda sucks. It’s dirty and crowded and exhausting. Especially if you have to drive. If you have a Tesla, it’s a lot better due to FSD (Supervised). 

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“We’ll move from Supervised Full Self-Driving to Unsupervised Full Self-Driving,” Musk said. He also highlighted that cars tend to cost too much, especially if one were to consider that cars on average tend to get used just 10 out of 170 hours per week. An autonomous car can then be used about five times as much.

“With autonomy, you’ll get your time back,” Musk said, noting that autonomous cars will be ten times safer than human drivers.

19:58 PT – Elon welcomes everyone to the “We, Robot” party. He calls the Robotaxi the “Cybercab.” There’s 20 more in the event. 

“The vehicles are autonomous. No drivers. “We have 50 fully autonomous cars tonight,” Musk said. Driverless Model Ys are in the area as well. “I hope this goes well. We’ll find out,” Elon Musk joked.

19:54 PT – Elon Musk enters the stage. The Robotaxi is here! It is definitely Cybertruck-inspired. 

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19:53 PT – Ok, the event’s starting. Tesla just posted a disclaimer/disclosure. That’s new. Franz is taking the stage. “We’re here to experience a future that’s closer than you think,” Franz said.

19:45 PT – Nope, still waiting. X live viewers are now up to 2.3 million and YouTube’s livestream is up to 107k now though.

19:44 PT – Ok, the music has stopped in the livestream. Perhaps the event is starting now. 

19:41 PT – Elon Musk’s kids have chosen this opportunity to play in front of the stage. They seem to be having tons of fun.

19:38 PT – Elon Musk has confirmed that the attendee’s medical emergency has been addressed. The event will start shortly.

19:31 PT – Elon Musk seems ready, if any.

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19:30 PT – Looks like the medical emergency is over. The attendee is reportedly back on their feet, and medics are now clearing out.

19:24 PT – Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla is taking care of the attendee who had a medical emergency before officially starting the event. 

19:21 PT – Unfortunately, someone seems to have passed out. Emergency responders are catering to the attendee. Hope the attendee is alright.

19:18 PT – The X livestream now has 1.1 million viewers. 105k on YouTube.

19:15 PT – The event is now 15 minutes late. This is not very surprising since Tesla tends to start its events late. The anticipation is notable, though. In the event’s livestream, 882k are tuned in on X and another 101k are tuned in to YouTube.

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19:13 PT – Thanks so much for the shoutout Steve! You rock!

19:10 PT – Now there are two helicopters hovering overhead!

19:08 PT – The Musk family are here to support Elon. Hello there, Kimbal and Tosca! Mom Maye Musk is here too.

19:03 PT – If the Cybertruck unveiling gave “Blade Runner” vibes, the Robotaxi event is definitely giving “Westworld” vibes. Futuristic, but not dystopian. I personally prefer it.

19:00 PT – The livestream is live! Let’s go! On the other hand, these graphics are starting to become a standard for Tesla events.

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18:59 PT – One minute to go, everyone!

18:58 PT – There will most definitely be demonstration rides tonight, as per Elon Musk.

18:56 PT – Tesla sure knows how to entertain its guests. Good vibes all around.

18:54 PT – Tesla set up its stage behind a road. Attendees speculate that this road may be where the Robotaxi will come out.

18:50 PT – Tesla knows what it’s doing. We haven’t seen a party like this in a while. Last nine minutes!

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18:46 PT – Tesla is LOCKED IN on this event. So. Much. Attention. To. Detail.

18:45 PT – It’s 15 minutes before the remarks at “We, Robot” are expected to start, and the energy is positively electric. Unveiling the Robotaxi at Warner Brothers Studios Burbank may have been a genius move, because the vibe here is real.

Check out the YouTube livestream of the event below.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla arsonist who burned Cybertruck sees end of FAFO journey

The man has now reached the “Find Out” stage.

Published

2 hours ago

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January 15, 2026

By

Credit: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona

A Mesa, Arizona man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for setting fire to a Tesla location and vehicle in a politically motivated arson attack, federal prosecutors have stated. 

The April 2025 incident destroyed a Tesla Cybertruck, endangered first responders, and triggered mandatory sentencing under federal arson laws.

A five-year sentence

U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa sentenced Ian William Moses, 35, of Mesa, Arizona, to 5 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for maliciously damaging property and vehicles by means of fire. Moses pleaded guilty in October to all five counts brought by a federal grand jury. Restitution will be determined at a hearing scheduled for April 13, 2026.

As per court records, surveillance footage showed Moses arriving at a Tesla store in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on April 28, 2025, carrying a gasoline can and backpack. Investigators stated that he placed fire starter logs near the building, poured gasoline on the structure and three vehicles, and ignited the fire. The blaze destroyed a Tesla Cybertruck. Moses fled the scene on a bicycle and was arrested by Mesa police about a quarter mile away, roughly an hour later.

Authorities said Moses was still wearing the same clothing seen on camera at the time of his arrest and was carrying a hand-drawn map marking the dealership’s location. Moses also painted the word “Theif” on the walls of the Tesla location, prompting jokes from social media users and Tesla community members. 

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The “Finding Out” stage

U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine noted that Moses’ sentence reflects the gravity of his crime. He also highlighted that arson is never acceptable. 

“Arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics. Mr. Moses’ actions endangered the public and first responders and could have easily turned deadly. This five-year sentence reflects the gravity of these crimes and makes clear that politically fueled attacks on Arizona’s communities and businesses will be met with full accountability.”

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell echoed the same sentiments, stating that regardless of Moses’ sentiments towards Elon Musk, his actions are not defensible. 

“This sentence sends a clear message: violence and intimidation have no place in our community. Setting fire to a business in retaliation for political or personal grievances is not protest, it is a crime. Our community deserves to feel safe, and this sentence underscores that Maricopa County will not tolerate political violence in any form.”

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Tesla says its Texas lithium refinery is now operational and unlike anything in North America

Elon Musk separately described the site as both the most advanced and the largest lithium refinery in the United States.

Published

6 hours ago

on

January 15, 2026

By

Credit: Tesla/YouTube

Tesla has confirmed that its Texas lithium refinery is now operational, marking a major milestone for the company’s U.S. battery supply chain. In a newly released video, Tesla staff detailed how the facility converts raw spodumene ore directly into battery-grade lithium hydroxide, making it the first refinery of its kind in North America.

Elon Musk separately described the site as both the most advanced and the largest lithium refinery in the United States.

A first-of-its-kind lithium refining process

In the video, Tesla staff at the Texas lithium refinery near Corpus Christi explained that the facility processes spodumene, a lithium-rich hard-rock ore, directly into battery-grade lithium hydroxide on site. The approach bypasses intermediate refining steps commonly used elsewhere in the industry.

According to the staff, spodumene is processed through kilns and cooling systems before undergoing alkaline leaching, purification, and crystallization. The resulting lithium hydroxide is suitable for use in batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles. Tesla employees noted that the process is simpler and less expensive than traditional refining methods.

Staff at the facility added that the process eliminates hazardous byproducts typically associated with lithium refining. “Our process is more sustainable than traditional methods and eliminates hazardous byproducts, and instead produces a co-product named anhydrite, used in concrete mixes,” an employee noted. 

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Musk calls the facility the largest lithium refinery in America

The refinery’s development timeline has been very impressive. The project moved from breaking ground in 2023 to integrated plant startup in 2025 by running feasibility studies, design, and construction in parallel. This compressed schedule enabled the fastest time-to-market for a refinery using this type of technology. This 2026, the facility has become operational. 

Elon Musk echoed the significance of the project in posts on X, stating that “the largest Lithium refinery in America is now operational.” In a separate comment, Musk described the site as “the most advanced lithium refinery in the world” and emphasized that the facility is “very clean.”

By bringing large-scale lithium hydroxide production online in Texas, Tesla is positioning itself to reduce reliance on foreign refining capacity while supporting its growth in battery and vehicle production. The refinery also complements Tesla’s nascent domestic battery manufacturing efforts, which could very well be a difference maker in the market.

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Tesla Optimus V3 gets early third-party feedback, and it’s eye-opening

Jason Calacanis’ remarks, which were shared during a discussion at CES 2026, offered one of the first third-party impressions of the yet-to-be-unveiled robot

Published

8 hours ago

on

January 15, 2026

By

Credit: Tesla/YouTube

Angel investor and entrepreneur Jason Calacanis shared some insights after he got an early look at Tesla’s upcoming Optimus V3. His remarks, which were shared during a discussion at CES 2026, offered one of the first third-party impressions of the yet-to-be-unveiled robot.

Calacanis’ comments were shared publicly on X, and they were quite noteworthy.

The angel investor stated that he visited Tesla’s Optimus lab on a Sunday morning and observed that the place was buzzing with energy. The investor then shared a rare, shocking insight. As per Calacanis, Optimus V3 will be so revolutionary that people will probably not even remember that Tesla used to make cars in the future.

“I don’t want to name drop, but two Sundays ago, I went to Tesla with Elon and I went and visited the Optimus lab. There were a large number of people working on a Sunday at 10 a.m. and I saw Optimus 3. I can tell you now, nobody will remember that Tesla ever made a car,”  he noted.

The angel investor also reiterated the primary advantage of Optimus, and how it could effectively change the world.

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“They will only remember the Optimus and that he is going to make a billion of those, and it is going to be the most transformative technology product ever made in the history of humanity, because what LLMs are gonna enable those products to do is understand the world and then do things in the world that we don’t want to do. I believe there will be a 1:1 ratio of humans to Optimus, and I think he’s already won,” he said. 

While Calacanis’ comments were clearly opinion-driven, they stood out as among the first from a non-Tesla employee about Optimus V3. Considering his reaction to the humanoid robot, perhaps Elon Musk’s predictions for Optimus V3 might not be too far-fetched at all.

Tesla has been careful with its public messaging around Optimus V3’s development stage. Musk has previously stated on X that Optimus V3 has not yet been revealed publicly, clarifying that images and videos of the robot online still show Optimus V2 and V2.5, not the next-generation unit. As for Calacanis’ recent comments, however, Musk responded with a simple “Probably true” in a post on X.

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