Tesla has released its 2021 Impact Report, and it revealed that the company is making huge strides in its efforts to help accelerate the world’s shift to sustainable energy.
From the people it employs to its supply chain and products, Tesla is transforming itself into an entity that is cleaner, more efficient, and more responsible than ever before.
Tesla’s website focused on four notable portions of its 2021 Impact Report, namely the company’s people, environment, supply chain, and products. In each of these topics, Tesla highlighted the steps it took to better itself while setting a standard for the automotive industry as a whole.
People
Tesla’s 2021 Impact Report took particular focus on the fact that the company is a majority-minority company, with 62% of its US workforce belonging to underrepresented groups. This was made possible by the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team, which adopts a people-first and data-driven approach to champion DEI in Tesla’s business and in the communities in which the company operates.
Tesla also highlighted that the company remains attractive to job-seekers. In 2021 alone, Tesla attracted 3 million applicants, providing that interest in joining the company’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy is at an all-time high. Tesla noted that it would continue to expand access to hiring opportunities for underrepresented communities by building community partnerships, pushing training programs, and more.
Environment
Tesla noted that its solar panels had generated more electricity than has been consumed by its vehicle fleet and factories between 2012 and 2021. Tesla estimated that its solar panels produced about 25.39 TWh of energy from 2012-2021. In comparison, the energy used to charge all Tesla vehicles and the energy used at Teslas factories and other facilities is estimated to be at 25.27 TWh.
To truly make an impact on the world, Tesla would need to scale its operations by a significant degree while making its products consistently better. The company is making strides with this, with the Model Y AWD becoming the most efficient all-electric SUV with its 4.2 EPA miles per kWh. Tesla’s vehicle production is also being improved with each new factory, allowing the company to deliver more and more electric cars to the market every year.
Supply Chain
Tesla’s 2021 Impact Report was very particular about the fact that its supply chain is getting cleaner over time. The company has strict rules for its existing suppliers, while new suppliers are required to disclose the details of their own supply chains. This way, Tesla could verify sources and identify potential risks through third-party audits. Efforts are also underway to focus more on battery production as well, with Tesla representatives visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Argentina to complete social and environmental risk assessments.
Tesla has also made a lot of strides when it comes to reusing the raw materials that are used for its battery packs. So far, Tesla facilities have begun implementing an in-house closed-loop recycling system that would ensure that 100% of Tesla batteries received are recycled, and up to 92% of their raw materials are used. Of course, Tesla’s strategy of using different battery chemistries for its product lineup also helps avoid straining a specific supply chain.
Product
Tesla’s products speak for themselves, and this is no more evident than in the company’s vehicle lineup. As of date, Tesla has all but introduced and rolled out a new approach to vehicle safety through over-the-air software updates. The company’s vertical integration also ensures that its vehicles belong to an ecosystem that is reliable and best-in-class. A good representation of this would be the Supercharger Network, which achieved 99.96% uptime in 2021. The Supercharger Network was also 100% renewable last year.
Tesla’s vehicles are also leading in safety, as shown in the safety figures of the company’s vehicles when Autopilot is engaged. So far, Tesla’s vehicles are safer than the US average, both in terms of accidents and fires. “From 2012 to 2021, there has been approximately five Tesla vehicle fires for every billion miles traveled. By comparison, data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and US Department of Transportation show that in the US there are 53 vehicle fires for every billion miles traveled,” Tesla wrote.
Tesla’s 2021 Impact Report can be viewed below.
2021 Tesla Impact Report by Simon Alvarez on Scribd
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announces major update with texting and driving on FSD
“Depending on context of surrounding traffic, yes,” Musk said in regards to FSD v14.2.1 allowing texting and driving.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced a major update with texting and driving capabilities on Full Self-Driving v14.2.1, the company’s latest version of the FSD suite.
Tesla Full Self-Driving, even in its most mature and capable versions, is still a Level 2 autonomous driving suite, meaning it requires attention from the vehicle operator.
You cannot sleep, and you should not take attention away from driving; ultimately, you are still solely responsible for what happens with the car.
The vehicles utilize a cabin-facing camera to enable attention monitoring, and if you take your eyes off the road for too long, you will be admonished and advised to pay attention. After five strikes, FSD and Autopilot will be disabled.
However, Musk announced at the Annual Shareholder Meeting in early November that the company would look at the statistics, but it aimed to allow people to text and drive “within the next month or two.”
He said:
“I am confident that, within the next month or two, we’re gonna look at the safety statistics, but we will allow you to text and drive.”
“I am confident that, within the next month or two, we’re gonna look at the safety statistics, but we will allow you to text and drive.”
Does anyone think v14.3 will enable this? pic.twitter.com/N2yn0SK70M
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) November 23, 2025
Today, Musk confirmed that the current version of Full Self-Driving, which is FSD v14.2.1, does allow for texting and driving “depending on context of surrounding traffic.”
Depending on context of surrounding traffic, yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 4, 2025
There are some legitimate questions with this capability, especially as laws in all 50 U.S. states specifically prohibit texting and driving. It will be interesting to see the legality of it, because if a police officer sees you texting, they won’t know that you’re on Full Self-Driving, and you’ll likely be pulled over.
Some states prohibit drivers from even holding a phone when the car is in motion.
It is certainly a move toward unsupervised Full Self-Driving operation, but it is worth noting that Musk’s words state it will only allow the vehicle operator to do it depending on the context of surrounding traffic.
He did not outline any specific conditions that FSD would allow a driver to text and drive.
News
Tesla Semi just got a huge vote of confidence from 300-truck fleet
The confidential meeting marks a major step for the mid-sized carrier in evaluating the electric truck for its regional routes.
The Tesla Semi is moving closer to broader fleet adoption, with Keller Logistics Group wrapping up a key pre-production planning session with the electric vehicle maker’s team this week.
The confidential meeting marks a major step for the mid-sized carrier in evaluating the electric truck for its regional routes.
Keller’s pre-production Tesla Semi sessions
Keller Logistics Group, a family-owned carrier with over 300 tractors and 1,000 trailers operating in the Midwest and Southeast, completed the session to assess the Tesla Semi’s fit for its operations. The company’s routes typically span 500-600 miles per day, positioning it as an ideal tester for the Semi’s day cab configuration in standard logistics scenarios.
Details remain under mutual NDA, but the meeting reportedly focused on matching the truck to yard, shuttle and regional applications while scrutinizing economics like infrastructure, maintenance and incentives.
What Keller’s executives are saying
CEO Bryan Keller described the approach as methodical. “For us, staying ahead isn’t a headline, it’s a habit. From electrification and yard automation to digital visibility and warehouse technology, our teams are continually pressure-testing what’s next. The Tesla Semi discussion is one more way we evaluate new tools against our standards for safety, uptime, and customer ROI. We don’t chase trends, we pressure-test what works,” Keller said.
Benjamin Pierce, Chief Strategy Officer, echoed these sentiments. “Electrification and next-generation powertrains are part of a much broader transformation. Whether it’s proprietary yard systems like YardLink™, solar and renewable logistics solutions, or real-time vehicle intelligence, Keller’s approach stays the same, test it, prove it, and deploy it only when it strengthens service and total cost for our customers,” Pierce said.
News
Tesla extends FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe by three months
Needless to say, it does appear that FSD fever is starting to catch in Europe.
Tesla appears to be doubling down on its European Full Self-Driving (Supervised) push, with the company extending its demo ride-along program by three months until the end of March 2026. The update seems to have been implemented due to overwhelming demand.
Needless to say, it does appear that FSD fever is starting to catch in Europe.
Extended FSD demonstrations
Tesla EU Policy and Business Development Manager Ivan Komušanac shared on LinkedIn that the company is offering ride-along experiences in Germany, France and Italy while working toward FSD (Supervised) approval in Europe.
He noted that this provides a great feedback opportunity from the general public, encouraging participants to record and share their experiences. For those unable to book in December, Komušanac teased more slots as “Christmas presents.”
Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt highlighted the extension on X, stating that dates now run from December 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, in multiple cities including Stuttgart-Weinstadt, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf in Germany. This suggests that the FSD ride-along program in Europe has officially been extended until the end of the first quarter of 2026.
Building momentum for European approval
Replies to Merritt’s posts buzzed with excitement, with users like @AuzyMale noting that Cologne and Düsseldorf are already fully booked. This sentiment was echoed by numerous other Tesla enthusiasts on social media. Calls for the program’s expansion to other European territories have also started gaining steam, with some X users suggesting Switzerland and Finland as the next locations for FSD ride-alongs.
Ultimately, the Tesla EU Policy and Business Development Manager’s post aligns with the company’s broader FSD efforts in Europe. As per recent reports, Tesla recently demonstrated FSD’s capabilities for Rome officials. Reporters from media outlets in France and Germany have also published positive reviews of FSD’s capabilities on real-world roads.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announces major update with texting and driving on FSD
Tesla Semi just got a huge vote of confidence from 300-truck fleet
