Lifestyle
Tesla Autopilot will have a tough job covering all real-world anomalies
Having an always-on HD dashcam installed in the Tesla generally means that 99% of the footage captured is of your everyday run-of-the-mill commute, but it’s that out of the ordinary 1% that really makes things exciting.
On the way to a family luncheon held at a local sushi buffet we encountered a little more excitement than usual. Not because I’m convinced that Route 90 in Massachusetts is a magnet for idiots who like to drive while texting with their phones, express themselves using crazy bumper stickers, and do terrible things to their vehicles, but because among the mix of crazies and commuters, we also managed to encounter a flying hubcap.
The scenario
We were cruising along in our pre-Autopilot Model S when the hubcap of the van in front of us popped off. The hubcap would appear to roll to my left, but only before a steel band separated projecting itself left and up as the hubcap veered right. Surrounded by cars on either side of me, I was faced with the split-second decision to choose between which one to hit.
The band looked a lot smaller, appeared lighter and was at a height where it would hit the glass rather than my paint so I decided to take that on. The band struck my windshield and went spinning off. The hubcap continued to veer to my right and rolled off the road. As far as I can tell neither the hubcap or band hit another vehicle.
My human reaction was to move slightly to my left lane after thinking about which would be the lesser of two evils while keeping safety in mind. Braking hard or swerving to either side could have resulted in a lot more negative consequences. While it’s instinct to dodge flying trash, debris and even animals, the unfortunate reality of it all is that striking the obstacles is sometimes the best decision.
I suppose, you never know what’s best until you’re faced with these rarities.
Autopilot and flying objects
This experience got me thinking about Tesla’s Autopilot and whether their team will incorporate an ethical component to the Autopilot algorithm. Navigating roads, dodging cars and avoiding the side of white trucks cast against a brightly lit sky is one big challenge Tesla continues to try and figure out. To make things even more difficult, how will autonomous vehicles adjust to airborne obstacles? The car can react a a lot faster than I can and technically has more opportunity to potentially make the wrong decision. One can argue that the additional time also provides the vehicle more opportunity to fully analyze the situation and make the right decision if programmed correctly.
With today’s sensors the car probably wouldn’t see the objects I encountered, but in the future it may very well be able to do so. Full autopilot that is as good as an experienced driver is a massive undertaking and Tesla knowingly still has a long way to go. The flying hubcap experience was a good first-hand reminder of why you should keep your hands on the wheel at all times – Autopilot or not.
Summary
In the end I was fortunate — I got some rubber on my glass that I could remove with baking soda, and I was left with a couple of scratches on the windshield near my line of sight. I’ll have to check with a glass expert to see if there are any safety issues with the depth of those scratches — tempered glass becomes a lot less structurally sound after the outside layer is compromised. You normally want every significant windshield impact repaired but I’m hoping not to be writing about the woes of a windshield replacement for the Tesla Model S anytime soon.
My dashcam caught the whole thing in action. Should I ever need proof of what happened for insurance, it’s all there including the van’s license plate, proof that the hubcap came from that van etc. The dashcam provides that extra level of comfort and the ability to go back and review your own reactions in situations like this so that, like Autopilot, you’re learning from each and every experience.
The brief video is below:
Lifestyle
Tesla Semi futuristic sci-fi acceleration sound will never get old
Videos that capture the Semi moving at speed are most notable due to their sheer cool factor.

The Tesla Semi is not yet in mass production, but the company has accumulated over 7.9 million miles across its test fleet. With Tesla using the Semi for its operations, it is no surprise that sightings of the Class 8 all-electric truck have been abounding.
These sightings from Tesla enthusiasts vary, but those that capture the the Class 8 all-electric truck moving at speed are most notable, possibly due to their sheer cool factor.
Tesla Semi’s Roar
There is something that just stands out with the Semi, particularly on the road. While the Semi does not have the Cybertruck’s brutalist, angular design, it is still very striking because it’s such a massive machine that moves far too quietly for its size. This is, of course, one of the reasons why the vehicle also becomes extra noteworthy when it fires up its electric motors and accelerates.
Take this video from Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, for example, which shows the all-electric hauler accelerating while pulling what appears to be a full load. In these situations, the Tesla Semi actually becomes audible, but unlike traditional diesel-powered truck, the Class 8 all-electric truck “roars” with its own, unique futuristic, sci-fi sound. In such situations, one could feel the Semi’s raw power, which comes from its three independent motors on its rear axles.
Tesla Semi Ramp
Tesla has been promoting the Semi quite a bit as of late, and recent reports have suggested that the company is putting in a lot of effort to prepare the vehicle for its production in Nevada. Tesla’s Careers website has gone live with over 80 Semi-related job openings recently as well, and a recent report has suggested that Tesla has ramped the Semi’s factory workers in Nevada to over 1,000 employees.
The company has even shared an update video of the Semi factory’s progress near Giga Nevada, as well as the design of the vehicle’s new logo. The Semi’s updated logo is quite interesting as it features elements from the Tesla Model 3’s first logo, which was unveiled way back in 2016.
Lifestyle
Elon Musk jokes he will join Mr Beast’s “100 Men vs 1 Gorilla” challenge
It’s a good sign, if any, that the overworked Musk is becoming a bit more lighthearted again.

Following the first quarter Tesla earnings call, CEO Elon Musk seems to have become a bit more relaxed—relaxed enough to joke about fighting a gorilla with 99 other people, at least.
It’s a good sign, if any, that the overworked Musk is becoming a bit more lighthearted again and not too busy picking fights with politicians on social media.
The Viral 100 Men vs 1 Gorilla Challenge
Over the weekend, a post on social media platform X went viral. The post itself was quite simple, with user @DreamChasnMike stating that he thinks 100 men could beat one gorilla. “Everybody just gotta be dedicated to the sh*t,” the X user joked. The post exploded on the platform, garnering 284 million impressions as of writing.
The silly question also triggered a massive debate about whether 100 men would really stand a chance against a literal gorilla. Some users even lamented that the premise was a sign of male hubris. Nevertheless, the question proved to be a fun topic on X, with some more dedicated users even posting simulated videos of what the “100 Men vs 1 Gorilla Challenge” could look like.
Mr. Beast and Elon Musk Join In
The premise is quite similar to other viral videos from noted YouTube creator Mr. Beast, so it was no surprise that edited images of Mr. Beast YouTube thumbnails with “100 Men vs a Gorilla” also started spreading on the social media platform. Mr. Beast, who tends to be game to such silly ideas, actually reposted the edited image, joking “Need 100 men to test this, any volunteers?”
In true Elon Musk fashion, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO noted that he would join the challenge. “Sure, what’s the worst that could happen” Musk wrote in his post on X. Musk’s reply triggered quite a few laughs on X, with some stating that the world probably still needs the CEO.
While silly, Musk’s comment and his recent, more frequent posts about his companies’ products like Starlink and Grok have been received well by his supporters. Over the past months, after all, Musk has been very political and quite confrontational on social media. With Musk soon taking a step back from the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) daily operations, however, it seems like X will soon get a more tempered and lighthearted Elon Musk once more.
Lifestyle
Possible first glimpse of Tesla “Model 2” affordable car in Fremont Factory
The models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.

During the Q1 earnings call, Tesla VP of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy set expectations on the design of the affordable models that the company is expected to launch this 2025. As per the Tesla executive, the models that Tesla will release in the coming months will resemble the company’s current lineup.
Drone footage from the Fremont Factory earlier this month might have provided the EV community its first potential glimpse at Tesla’s affordable cars–fondly dubbed by EV fans and analysts as the “Model 2” or even “Model Q”–or at least their components and overall shape.
The Sighting
Tesla watcher and drone operator Met God in Wilderness, who has been posting aerial videos of the Fremont Factory for years now, recently shared some footage from his drone flyovers this month. While the Fremont Factory was abuzz with activity as usual, a couple of rather strange vehicles were quickly spotted by EV watchers on social media.
During the drone operator’s flyover on the 17th, for example, an unfinished vehicle could be seen parked next to what appeared to be fully-built Model S and Model Y units. What was especially interesting was the vehicle’s roof, which seemed to be slightly narrower than the Model Ys around it. Based on the video, at least, the vehicle seemed to be shaped like a crossover as well.
Footage from the 24th of April also proved quite interesting, with the drone operator capturing footage of another cryptic vehicle. Unlike the mysterious, unfinished, crossover-esque car spotted on the 17th, this particular unit seemed to have a more sloping rear, at least based on the shape of its covering.
What Lars Moravy Said
In Tesla’s Q1 2025 Update Letter, Tesla noted that “plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for start of production in the first half of 2025.” Tesla also noted that the new vehicles will utilize aspects of its next generation and its current platforms. They will also be produced on the same manufacturing lines as its present vehicle lineup, likely the Model Y and Model 3.
During the earnings call itself, Moravy specifically stated that the new models that would come out in the next months would resemble the company’s current vehicles. They will, however, be affordable. “Models that come out in next months will be built on our lines and will resemble, in form and shape, the cars we currently make. And the key is that they’ll be affordable, and you’ll be able to buy one,” Moravy stated.
Watch the drone operator’s footage from April 17 below.
The drone operator’s footage from April 24 can be viewed below.
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