News
Ex-Tesla policy head becomes executive of Zero Emission federal coalition
The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) appointed ex-Tesla policy head Albert Gore as its new Executive Director. Gore will be taking over ZETA’s Executive Director position from Joe Britton.
Gore worked at Tesla for approximately 6 years and 11 months, from September 2015 to July 2022. He was Tesla’s Eastern U.S. Lead of Public Policy and Business Development. Gore also has ties to Solar City before its acquisition by Tesla. At Solar City, Gore was Deputy Director of Policy and Electricity Market.
“Joe and the ZETA team have accomplished a lot in the last two years, and I am excited to work with such a committed and knowledgeable group,” stated Albert Gore.
“It is a thrilling time for the electric vehicle industry. Landmark investments up and down the supply chain will make EVs more accessible for American families and create thousands of jobs throughout the country. My priority will be to work closely with ZETA members and policymakers as this transformational consumer and industrial policy is implemented. Our goal is to ensure that the transition to the future of transportation benefits all Americans,” he said.
Gore has his work cut out for him. ZETA has accomplished two-thirds of its policy goals under former Executive Director Joe Britton, setting the bar high for Gore. Some of those policy goals were significant milestones in the group’s zero-emission journey.
ZETA has a six-part policy platform to accomplish its ultimate goals: 1) creating jobs in every congressional district; 2) securing American global EV manufacturing leadership; 3) improving public health; 4) reducing carbon pollution. The six pillars of ZETA’s policy platform are listed below.
Pillar 1: Light-Duty EV Consumer Adoption
Pillar 2: Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electrification
Pillar 3: National Charging Initiative
Pillar 4: Encourage Domestic Manufacturing
Pillar 5: Performance and Emissions Standards
Pillar 6: Federal Leadership
Under Pillar 1, ZETA set four goals, including reforming the federal EV consumer credit and making consumer incentives point-of-sale refundable.
It accomplished the two goals mentioned above by supporting the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed last year. The IRA removes the 200,000 unit-per-manufacturer cap and provides up to $7,500 for new EV purchases. Pillar 1 also includes ZETA’s goal to create tax credits for previously owned EVs, which the IRA covers by providing up to $4,000 tax credits for used EV purchases.
By supporting the IRA and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), ZETA has hit goals in each of its 6 pillars.
The Teslarati team would appreciate hearing from you. If you have any tips, contact me at maria@teslarati.com or via Twitter @Writer_01001101.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk and xAI donate generators to TN amid historic power outages
The donation comes as thousands of households have gone days without electricity amid freezing temperatures.
Elon Musk has donated hundreds of generators to Tennessee residents still without power following a historic winter storm, as per an update from Governor Bill Lee.
The donation comes as thousands of households have gone days without electricity amid freezing temperatures.
Musk donates generators
As noted in a report from WSMV4, the historic storm that hit Tennessee resulted in hundreds of thousands of residents experiencing a power outage at the end of January. Thousands are still living without power or heat in freezing temperatures for up to nine days.
As per TN Gov. Bill Lee in a post on X, Elon Musk and xAI have donated hundreds of generators to assist residents in affected areas. “Tennesseans without power need immediate help. I’m deeply grateful to @elonmusk & @xAI for going above & beyond to support Tennesseans by donating hundreds of generators to fill the gap, & I value their continued partnership to solve problems & support communities across our state,” he wrote in his post.
Tennessee officials have stated that recovery efforts remain ongoing as crews work to restore power and address damage caused by the winter storm. The generators are expected to provide temporary relief for residents facing power outages during freezing conditions.
Tesla Powerwalls may follow
Musk publicly responded to the governor’s post while hinting that additional help may be on the way. This time, the additional support would be coming from Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla.
“You’re most welcome. We’re working on providing Tesla Powerwalls too,” Musk wrote in his response to the official.
Even before Elon Musk’s comment, Tesla had already extended help to affected customers in Mississippi and Tennessee. In a post on X, the official Tesla Charging account noted that all Superchargers in the two states are online, and free Supercharging has been enabled to help those in areas that are affected by persistent power outages.
These include Grenada, Tupelo, Corinth, Southhaven, and Horn Lake in Mississippi and several Supercharging sites in Memphis, Tennessee.
News
Tesla-inspired door handles prohibited under China’s new safety standard
The rule effectively ends a design trend pioneered by Tesla and widely adopted across China’s electric vehicle market.
China will ban hidden door handles on electric vehicles starting 2027 under a new national safety standard, forcing automakers to equip their cars with mechanical exterior and interior handles.
The rule effectively ends a design trend pioneered by Tesla and widely adopted across China’s electric vehicle market.
China bans hidden door handles
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) noted that the new mandatory national auto safety standard on EV door handles will take effect on January 1, 2027. For models that have already received approval and are scheduled for launch, automakers will be allowed to complete required design changes by January 2029.
Under the new rules, exterior door handles must remain operable even in scenarios involving irreversible restraint system failures or thermal runaway incidents in the battery pack. Doors must also be capable of opening even if the vehicle loses electrical power. Interior doors must include at least one independent mechanical release handle per door as well.
Safety concerns drive rollback
Hidden and electrically actuated door handles have become mainstream in recent years as EV makers pursued cleaner styling and improved aerodynamics. Tesla pioneered the hidden handle design, and it was adopted by most Chinese EV manufacturers in either fully hidden or semi-hidden forms, as noted in a CNEV Post report. Today, about 60% of top-selling EVs in China use the design.
Chinese regulators have stated that the designs pose safety risks, particularly in crashes or power failures where doors may not open from the inside or outside. Authorities cited multiple fatal incidents in which occupants or rescuers were unable to open vehicle doors after collisions.
One high-profile case occurred last October, when a Xiaomi SU7, a vehicle designed to be a competitor to the Tesla Model 3, caught fire following a crash in Chengdu in southwest China. The driver died after bystanders were unable to open the doors. The incident sparked intense scrutiny over the SU7’s Tesla-inspired door handles.
News
Tesla’s global fleet surpasses 9 million vehicles worldwide
The update was posted by Tesla China, which competes in the world’s most competitive electric vehicle market.
Tesla’s global fleet has now exceeded 9 million vehicles, a major milestone for the electric vehicle maker.
The update was posted by Tesla China, which competes in the world’s most competitive electric vehicle market.
Tesla’s global fleet crosses 9 million vehicles
The milestone was highlighted in a graphic shared by Tesla China, which thanked the over nine million Tesla owners worldwide for their support over the years. To celebrate the milestone, Tesla China announced several incentives for select owners, from Model Y L test drives to Tesla Bot Premium Gift Sets to Supercharging perks.
The milestone comes 16 years after the company started delivering its first vehicle, the original Tesla Roadster, as observed by members of the Tesla community. The first production Roadster was delivered to Elon Musk, who was serving as chairman at the time.
Reaching a global fleet of more than 9 million vehicles reflects the cumulative impact of Tesla’s growth over the past decade, particularly following the introduction of high-volume models such as the Model 3 and Model Y. The Model 3 and Model Y have allowed Tesla to transform from a niche automaker into one of the world’s largest producers of electric cars.
Strong China sales help drive fleet growth
Tesla’s expanding global footprint has been supported by solid performance in China, where the company posted a strong finish to 2025. In December, the Model Y ranked as the country’s top-selling new energy vehicle, as per sales data compiled by Chinese auto industry aggregator Yiche.
The Model Y led China’s NEV rankings with approximately 65,874 units sold during the month, outperforming a field dominated by domestic manufacturers such as BYD, SAIC-GM-Wuling, and Xiaomi. Tesla’s Model 3 also delivered an impressive result, ranking eighth overall with just under 28,000 units sold, ahead of numerous locally produced competitors despite its premium pricing.
Tesla China’s broader performance in December was equally notable. The company sold 97,171 vehicles wholesale during the month, based on data from the China Passenger Car Association. The result marked Tesla China’s second-highest monthly total on record, trailing only November 2022’s peak of 100,291 units.
Elon Musk and xAI donate generators to TN amid historic power outages
Tesla-inspired door handles prohibited under China’s new safety standard
