Tesla teardown expert Sandy Munro recently recreated what he believes will be the new 4680 Battery Pack by recreating the cell housing unit for a new video. Munro is an extremely familiar figure to Tesla fans as he spent some time breaking down both the Model 3 sedan and, more recently, the Model Y crossover. However, the design expert, along with his team of highly-qualified engineers, composed a copy of the 4680 cell pack, which will be used in future Tesla models to increase power, energy, and range.
Munro admits that this may not be exactly what Tesla will use in its future vehicles, but this could likely be extremely similar to what the electric automaker will introduce. For those that aren’t familiar, the Model 3 and Model Y previously used Tesla’s 2170 cells, which were able to provide superior performance compared to the 18650 cells that were used in the Model S and Model X. However, the electric automaker had been working with Jeff Dahn and other researchers at Dalhousie University in Canada to develop new, revolutionary cells that would provide longer lifespans with more power and more energy.
Interestingly, these cells with higher performance would dramatically decrease Tesla’s cars’ cost, as the materials they used would be easier to obtain and cheaper to produce. Creating a more efficient and cost-effective battery cell was the main strategy in having Tesla’s vehicles comparable with gas cars in terms of cost.
Credit: Munro and Associates
Tesla uses 4,416 2170 cells in the Model Y, but this number is significantly lower with the 4680 cells due to their larger size, which carries significantly more energy and power than the previous cell. Munro states that only 960 cells will be used in the new battery pack, and with the increases in range, power, and energy, Tesla is truly onto something remarkable that will only increase their lead in the EV sector.
“We are focusing our attention on this, which is so much better than what they had with the 2170,” Munro said.
Tesla rolled out the new 4680 cell at its highly-anticipated Battery Day event on September 22nd. CEO Elon Musk summarized Tesla’s plan to begin building a more affordable battery cell, ultimately leading to a more affordable vehicle. In summation, Tesla plans to decrease the cost of cell manufacturing by a significant amount and decrease the cost of money per kilowatt-hour by up to 56% through design, production efficiencies, and material sourcing.
One of Tesla’s biggest advantages in designing its own cells and packs is that it can significantly reduce costs while also increasing the ability to fix issues when they occur. One of the strategies with its battery cells from the very beginning was to individualize each cell so it was easier be traced and replaced if any issues were to occur. Teslarati covered a recent replacement of a Model S battery cell showed the process for fixing a pack when a cell goes awry.
The new 4680 cells have been used for several months, Elon Musk said in an interview earlier this year. However, not all vehicles utilize the new cells as the Kato Road cell production facility near Tesla’s Fremont factory is not producing enough yet. However, the increased production will eventually lead to Tesla using the 4680 batteries exclusively within its cars, which will lead to higher range ratings and increased performance specs, making Tesla’s EVs even more superior to its competitors.
Munro’s full 4680 pack breakdown is available below.
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Tesla is not sparing any expense in ensuring the Cybercab is safe
Images shared by the longtime watcher showed 16 Cybercab prototypes parked near Giga Texas’ dedicated crash test facility.
The Tesla Cybercab could very well be the safest taxi on the road when it is released and deployed for public use. This was, at least, hinted at by the intensive safety tests that Tesla seems to be putting the autonomous two-seater through at its Giga Texas crash test facility.
Intensive crash tests
As per recent images from longtime Giga Texas watcher and drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer, Tesla seems to be very busy crash testing Cybercab units. Images shared by the longtime watcher showed 16 Cybercab prototypes parked near Giga Texas’ dedicated crash test facility just before the holidays.
Tegtmeyer’s aerial photos showed the prototypes clustered outside the factory’s testing building. Some uncovered Cybercabs showed notable damage and one even had its airbags engaged. With Cybercab production expected to start in about 130 days, it appears that Tesla is very busy ensuring that its autonomous two-seater ends up becoming the safest taxi on public roads.
Prioritizing safety
With no human driver controls, the Cybercab demands exceptional active and passive safety systems to protect occupants in any scenario. Considering Tesla’s reputation, it is then understandable that the company seems to be sparing no expense in ensuring that the Cybercab is as safe as possible.
Tesla’s focus on safety was recently highlighted when the Cybertruck achieved a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This was a notable victory for the Cybertruck as critics have long claimed that the vehicle will be one of, if not the, most unsafe truck on the road due to its appearance. The vehicle’s Top Safety Pick+ rating, if any, simply proved that Tesla never neglects to make its cars as safe as possible, and that definitely includes the Cybercab.
Elon Musk
Tesla’s Elon Musk gives timeframe for FSD’s release in UAE
Provided that Musk’s timeframe proves accurate, FSD would be able to start saturating the Middle East, starting with the UAE, next year.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated on Monday that Full Self-Driving (Supervised) could launch in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as soon as January 2026.
Provided that Musk’s timeframe proves accurate, FSD would be able to start saturating the Middle East, starting with the UAE, next year.
Musk’s estimate
In a post on X, UAE-based political analyst Ahmed Sharif Al Amiri asked Musk when FSD would arrive in the country, quoting an earlier post where the CEO encouraged users to try out FSD for themselves. Musk responded directly to the analyst’s inquiry.
“Hopefully, next month,” Musk wrote. The exchange attracted a lot of attention, with numerous X users sharing their excitement at the idea of FSD being brought to a new country. FSD (Supervised), after all, would likely allow hands-off highway driving, urban navigation, and parking under driver oversight in traffic-heavy cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Musk’s comments about FSD’s arrival in the UAE were posted following his visit to the Middle Eastern country. Over the weekend, images were shared online of Musk meeting with UAE Defense Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Dubai Crown Prince HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed. Musk also posted a supportive message about the country, posting “UAE rocks!” on X.
FSD recognition
FSD has been getting quite a lot of support from foreign media outlets. FSD (Supervised) earned high marks from Germany’s largest car magazine, Auto Bild, during a test in Berlin’s challenging urban environment. The demonstration highlighted the system’s ability to handle dense traffic, construction sites, pedestrian crossings, and narrow streets with smooth, confident decision-making.
Journalist Robin Hornig was particularly struck by FSD’s superior perception and tireless attention, stating: “Tesla FSD Supervised sees more than I do. It doesn’t get distracted and never gets tired. I like to think I’m a good driver, but I can’t match this system’s all-around vision. It’s at its best when both work together: my experience and the Tesla’s constant attention.” Only one intervention was needed when the system misread a route, showcasing its maturity while relying on vision-only sensors and over-the-air learning.
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Tesla quietly flexes FSD’s reliability amid Waymo blackout in San Francisco
“Tesla Robotaxis were unaffected by the SF power outage,” Musk wrote in his post.
Tesla highlighted its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system’s robustness this week by sharing dashcam footage of a vehicle in FSD navigating pitch-black San Francisco streets during the city’s widespread power outage.
While Waymo’s robotaxis stalled and caused traffic jams, Tesla’s vision-only approach kept operating seamlessly without remote intervention. Elon Musk amplified the clip, highlighting the contrast between the two systems.
Tesla FSD handles total darkness
The @Tesla_AI account posted a video from a Model Y operating on FSD during San Francisco’s blackout. As could be seen in the video, streetlights, traffic signals, and surrounding illumination were completely out, but the vehicle drove confidently and cautiously, just like a proficient human driver.
Musk reposted the clip, adding context to reports of Waymo vehicles struggling in the same conditions. “Tesla Robotaxis were unaffected by the SF power outage,” Musk wrote in his post.
Musk and the Tesla AI team’s posts highlight the idea that FSD operates a lot like any experienced human driver. Since the system does not rely on a variety of sensors and a complicated symphony of factors, vehicles could technically navigate challenging circumstances as they emerge. This definitely seemed to be the case in San Francisco.
Waymo’s blackout struggles
Waymo faced scrutiny after multiple self-driving Jaguar I-PACE taxis stopped functioning during the blackout, blocking lanes, causing traffic jams, and requiring manual retrieval. Videos shared during the power outage showed fleets of Waymo vehicles just stopping in the middle of the road, seemingly confused about what to do when the lights go out.
In a comment, Waymo stated that its vehicles treat nonfunctional signals as four-way stops, but “the sheer scale of the outage led to instances where vehicles remained stationary longer than usual to confirm the state of the affected intersections. This contributed to traffic friction during the height of the congestion.”
A company spokesperson also shared some thoughts about the incidents. “Yesterday’s power outage was a widespread event that caused gridlock across San Francisco, with non-functioning traffic signals and transit disruptions. While the failure of the utility infrastructure was significant, we are committed to ensuring our technology adjusts to traffic flow during such events,” the Waymo spokesperson stated, adding that it is “focused on rapidly integrating the lessons learned from this event, and are committed to earning and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve every day.”
Tesla is not sparing any expense in ensuring the Cybercab is safe
Tesla’s Elon Musk gives timeframe for FSD’s release in UAE
