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
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Tesla will increase its Full Self-Driving subscription price, meaning it will eventually be more than the current $99 per month price tag it has right now.
Already stating that the ability to purchase the suite outright will be removed, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said earlier this week that the Full Self-Driving subscription price would increase when its capabilities improve:
“I should also mention that the $99/month for supervised FSD will rise as FSD’s capabilities improve. The massive value jump is when you can be on your phone or sleeping for the entire ride (unsupervised FSD).”
This was an expected change, especially as Tesla has been hinting for some time that it is approaching a feature-complete version of Full Self-Driving that will no longer require driver supervision. However, with the increase, some are concerned that they may be priced out.
$99 per month is already a tough ask for some. While Full Self-Driving is definitely worth it just due to the capabilities, not every driver is ready to add potentially 50 percent to their car payment each month to have it.
While Tesla has not revealed any target price for FSD, it does seem that it will go up to at least $150.
I should also mention that the $99/month for supervised FSD will rise as FSD’s capabilities improve.
The massive value jump is when you can be on your phone or sleeping for the entire ride (unsupervised FSD). https://t.co/YDKhXN3aaG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 23, 2026
Additionally, the ability to purchase the suite outright is also being eliminated on February 14, which gives owners another reason to be slightly concerned about whether they will be able to afford to continue paying for Full Self-Driving in any capacity.
Some owners have requested a tiered program, which would allow people to pay for the capabilities they want at a discounted price.
Unsupervised FSD would be the most expensive, and although the company started removing Autopilot from some vehicles, it seems a Supervised FSD suite would still attract people to pay between $49 and $99 per month, as it is very useful.
Tesla will likely release pricing for the Unsupervised suite when it is available, but price increases could still come to the Supervised version as things improve.
This is not the first time Musk has hinted that the price would change with capability improvements, either. He’s been saying it for some time. In 2020, he even said the value of FSD would “probably be somewhere in excess of $100,000.”
The FSD price will continue to rise as the software gets closer to full self-driving capability with regulatory approval. It that point, the value of FSD is probably somewhere in excess of $100,000.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2020
Tesla has chosen to axe the ability to purchase Full Self-Driving outright from a select group of cars just days after CEO Elon Musk announced the company had plans to eliminate that option in February.
The company is making a clear-cut stand that it will fully transition away from the ability to purchase the Full Self-Driving suite outright, a move that has brought differing opinions throughout the Tesla community.
Earlier this week, the company also announced that it will no longer allow buyers to purchase Full Self-Driving outright when ordering a pre-owned vehicle from inventory. Instead, that will be available for $99 per month, the same price that it costs for everyone else.
The ability to buy the suite for $8,000 for a one-time fee at the time of order has been removed:
NEWS: Tesla no longer allows buyers to purchase FSD outright in the U.S. when ordering a pre-owned vehicle directly from inventory. Tesla now gives you the option to either subscribe for $99/month, or purchase FSD outright after taking delivery (available until February 14th). pic.twitter.com/1xZ0BVG4JB
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) January 23, 2026
This is a major move because it is the first time Tesla is eliminating the ability to purchase FSD outright for one flat fee to any of its vehicles, at least at the time of purchase.
It is trying to phase out the outright purchase option as much as it can, preparing people for the subscription-based service it will exclusively offer starting on February 14.
In less than a month, it won’t be available on any vehicle, which has truly driven some serious conversation from Tesla owners throughout the community.
There’s a conflict, because many believe that they will now lose the ability to buy FSD and not pay for it monthly, which is an attractive offer. However, others believe, despite paying $8,000 for FSD, that they will have to pay more money on top of that cost to get the unsupervised suite.
Additionally, CEO Elon Musk said that the FSD suite’s subscription price would increase over time as capabilities increase, which is understandable, but is also quite a conflict for those who spent thousands to have what was once promised to them, and now they may have to pay even more money.
News
Tesla Robotaxi has a highly-requested hardware feature not available on typical Model Ys
These camera washers are crucial for keeping the operation going, as they are the sole way Teslas operate autonomously. The cameras act as eyes for the car to drive, recognize speed limit and traffic signs, and travel safely.
Tesla Robotaxi has a highly-requested hardware feature that is not available on typical Model Ys that people like you and me bring home after we buy them. The feature is something that many have been wanting for years, especially after the company adopted a vision-only approach to self-driving.
After Tesla launched driverless Robotaxi rides to the public earlier this week in Austin, people have been traveling to the Lone Star State in an effort to hopefully snag a ride from one of the few vehicles in the fleet that are now no longer required to have Safety Monitors present.
BREAKING: Tesla launches public Robotaxi rides in Austin with no Safety Monitor
Although only a few of those completely driverless rides are available, there have been some new things seen on these cars that are additions from regular Model Ys, including the presence of one new feature: camera washers.
With the Model Y, there has been a front camera washer, but the other exterior “eyes” have been void of any solution for this. For now, owners are required to clean them manually.
In Austin, Tesla is doing things differently. It is now utilizing camera washers on the side repeater and rear bumper cameras, which will keep the cameras clean and keep operation as smooth and as uninterrupted as possible:
🚨 Tesla looks to have installed Camera Washers on the side repeater cameras on Robotaxis in Austin
pic.twitter.com/xemRtDtlRR— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 23, 2026
Rear Camera Washer on Tesla Robotaxi pic.twitter.com/P9hgGStHmV
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 24, 2026
These camera washers are crucial for keeping the operation going, as they are the sole way Teslas operate autonomously. The cameras act as eyes for the car to drive, recognize speed limit and traffic signs, and travel safely.
This is the first time we are seeing them, so it seems as if Safety Monitors might have been responsible for keeping the lenses clean and unobstructed previously.
However, as Tesla transitions to a fully autonomous self-driving suite and Robotaxi expands to more vehicles in the Robotaxi fleet, it needed to find a way to clean the cameras without any manual intervention, at least for a short period, until they can return for interior and exterior washing.
Tesla to increase Full Self-Driving subscription price: here’s when
Tesla starts removing outright Full Self-Driving purchase option at time of order
