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Tesla China to start new Model Y deliveries on February 26

Credit: @TeslaFrenzy/X

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Deliveries of the new Tesla Model Y in China are expected to begin tomorrow, February 26, 2025.

The impending deliveries of the new Model Y were announced in a post on Tesla China’s official Weibo account. 

The road towards first deliveries:

  • When the new Model Y was announced in China, Tesla noted that the first deliveries of the revamped all-electric crossover were expected to start around March 2025, pending regulatory approval.
  • Earlier this February, the new Model Y was included in a catalog of vehicles that qualify for purchase tax deductions, as noted in a CNEV Post report. 
  • This suggested that the new Model Y had completed the full regulatory process for domestic sales in China. 
  • On February 18, Tesla’s official social media accounts announced that the mass production of the new Model Y was starting at Gigafactory Shanghai.
  • Tesla watchers observed then that the estimated first deliveries of some new Model Y orders were showing February 2025 instead.

Tesla China’s announcement:

  • As per Tesla China’s official Weibo account, new Model Y deliveries will indeed be starting this February
  • In its post, the electric vehicle maker noted that the first deliveries of the revamped all-electric crossover would be starting tomorrow, February 26, 2025.
  • “The first batch of new Model Y will be delivered soon! Have you received the pick-up notice for the new Model Y? Surprise, pick up the car now. Congratulations on getting your car. You will see it tomorrow! Raise your hand in the comment section. Let’s see who will be the first owner to mention the new Model Y tomorrow!” Tesla China wrote in its Weibo post.
  • Tesla China also included a hashtag on its post that translated to “#TheNewModelYwillOfficiallyStartDomesticDeliveryTomorrow#.” 

The new Model Y:

  • Tesla China’s first deliveries of the new Model Y will be for the first edition of the vehicle, dubbed the “Launch Series.”
  • The new Tesla Model Y Launch Series is offered in Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) and All Wheel Drive (AWD) variants.
  • New Model Y Launch Series units are fitted with special equipment, such as a distinct rear badge, light projections, and other interior flourishes.
  • The Launch Series will also receive an additional two-year or 40,000-kilometer warranty.
  • Tesla China will continue selling the new Model Y’s Launch Series until the end of February.

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

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 Model 3 driver is using FSD to travel to Mt. Everest Base Camp

The ambitious, nearly 4,000-kilometer (2,485-mile) Tesla FSD journey is being livestreamed on Chinese social media.

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Credit: Douyin 老高懂电车

Count on Tesla drivers in China to push Full Self Driving (FSD) as far as it could go. As could be seen in videos posted on Chinese social media, a brave Model 3 owner is currently going on an epic journey from Henan Province to the base camp of Mt. Everest on FSD.

Recent posts from the Model 3 driver suggest that the ambitious destination may be within reach.

Epic FSD Journey

As noted by Tesla owner-enthusiast Aaron Li, the journey from Henan Province to the base camp of Mt. Everest spans almost 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles). The journey itself is epic, with stunning vistas and roads that require some drivers to bring oxygen canisters with them. The fact that it is being done using FSD makes it extra impressive. 

Based on the videos that have been recently shared, the Model 3 running FSD seems to be nearing the Everest Base Camp. There seems to be a good chance that the Tesla Model 3 may reach its destination this Friday.

Previous Everest Trips

This is not the first time that a Tesla has driven to Mt. Everest’s base camp.  That would be a Model 3 that was driven in September 2020. That vehicle, which went on a long 5,500 km (3,400-mile) journey, was manually driven to its destination. 

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In April 2021, Tesla China announced that it has completed the buildout of 11 Supercharger stations in the picturesque route from Chengdu to Tingri. This route would allow drivers to reach the base camp of Mt. Everest. Sure enough, in July 2022, Tesla China shared a video of two Teslas—a Model X and Model Y—reaching the Everest base camp without any issues. Numerous other Tesla drivers have since taken on the long, picturesque journey.

Check out this Tesla Model Y’s journey to the Mt. Everest base camp in the video below.

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T-Mobile’s Starlink cellular doubles as free 5G trial for rival users

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(Credit: T-Mobile)

T-Mobile’s Starlink cellular is set to deliver satellite connectivity to users on rival carriers. The Starlink cellular beta program could double as a free trial for T-Mobile’s 5G network, blending space-based innovation with a strategic push to attract new customers. T-Mobile’s Starlink cellular service will launch soon, aiming to showcase both Starlink’s capabilities and T-Mobile’s terrestrial network.

“The wait is almost over,” T-Mobile announced in a Wednesday email to those who signed up for free beta access to the cellular Starlink service. “Our phone partners have been hustling to get more phones satellite-optimized, and in just a couple weeks, you’ll be invited to the beta.”

The Starlink cellular program includes “50GB of high-speed data and unlimited texts,” offering a robust test of T-Mobile’s 5G network alongside Starlink’s satellite connectivity. This package mirrors T-Mobile’s existing three-month free trial, which provides 50GB of premium mobile data via eSIM, allowing users to try T-Mobile without switching from their current provider.

Starlink cellular’s availability to rival carrier users via eSIM is a key draw, enabling seamless access to T-Mobile’s network and Starlink’s satellite service. T-Mobile sweetens the deal with perks like “$5 movie tickets, 25% off concert tickets, travel discounts, and T-Mobile Tuesdays for free stuff and great perks every week.” These incentives underscore T-Mobile’s strategy to convert beta testers into full-time customers.

Last week, T-Mobile reduced Starlink cellular’s price to $10 per month for both its customers and those on rival carriers, enhancing affordability. The company’s exclusive U.S. partnership with SpaceX gives it a head start in satellite connectivity. Meanwhile, competitors AT&T and Verizon, collaborating with AST SpaceMobile, may lag by a year or two due to fewer satellites.

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By offering rival carrier users a free trial of its 5G network through the Starlink cellular beta program, T-Mobile positions itself as a leader in terrestrial and satellite connectivity. The initiative highlights the potential of SpaceX’s Starlink and leverages T-Mobile’s network strengths to capture a broader market, setting the stage for a new era of hybrid connectivity.

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Elon Musk’s OpenAI lawsuit clears hurdle as trial looms

Elon Musk says OpenAI betrayed its nonprofit mission. Who should steer AI’s future—visionaries or shareholders?

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MINISTÉRIO DAS COMUNICAÇÕES, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman has cleared a major hurdle. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the Northern District of California recently rejected OpenAI’s bid to dismiss the case, setting the stage for a high-stakes trial over the AI giant’s for-profit conversion. The ruling intensifies the rivalry between two tech titans vying for dominance in artificial intelligence (AI).

Elon Musk is an OpenAI co-founder who provided significant early funding. In the lawsuit, Musk alleged that OpenAI’s shift from a non-profit to a for-profit entity violates contractual obligations and constitutes fraud. Last year, The lawsuit was filed against Altman, OpenAI, and its key investor, Microsoft, aiming to block the conversion to a for-profit company.

In March, a ruling denied Musk’s request for a preliminary injunction. However, Judge Rogers recently expedited the trial and set it for March 2026. On Thursday, she dismissed some claims but upheld key allegations, allowing the case to proceed.

“Musk adequately alleges that the defendants promised to maintain OpenAI’s non-profit status and structure in order to obtain his contributions and that they intended to do so in order to obtain the capital needed to create a for-profit venture to enrich themselves,” Gonzalez Rogers wrote.

She also rejected OpenAI’s attempt to dismiss Musk’s claim of an implied contract. “Although there is no express contract, Musk adequately pleads in the alternative that there is an implied-in-fact contract,” the California judge noted.

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“In the world of litigation, this is a big win,” said a person close to Musk, highlighting the retention of “big-ticket items” like the fraud allegation.

OpenAI, which can appeal the decision, countersued Musk last month. It claims Musk’s lawsuit is a “bad-faith” effort to hinder its progress and benefit his AI venture, xAI.

OpenAI’s push to become a for-profit public benefit corporation aims to streamline fundraising but has sparked a backlash from AI experts like Geoffrey Hinton. Former employees warn that OpenAI’s change of direction could prioritize profits over its mission to advance AI for humanity’s benefit.

Financial Times attempted to contact OpenAI and its biggest investor, Microsoft. OpenAI declined to comment, and Microsoft did not respond.

As Elon Musk and OpenAI head toward trial, the outcome could reshape the AI landscape, with implications for governance, innovation, and the balance between profit and public good.

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