Tesla bear Gordon Johnson appeared on a live debate with Tesla Daily’s Rob Maurer on September 3rd. Johnson is a notable skeptic of Tesla and its electric vehicles and holds a $19 price target for the company’s stock. Arguably the most controversial of Johnson’s points during the debate was that Tesla does not have a technological advantage in terms of its batteries, and its range ratings are misleading.
The point Johnson made came from the thought that Tesla’s batteries, which are manufactured by Panasonic, LG Chem, and CATL, are obtainable by any automaker. Interestingly, Maurer countered with the point that if the cells were available for any other automaker, how were other car companies not able to match Tesla’s technological advantage in terms of EV range.
Johnson’s rebuttal was simple: Tesla’s advantage does not exist.
“There’s been a number of articles, one of which was written in the Washington Post, that suggests if you actually go out and test their cars, their range is far less than what they say,” Johnson said.
Tesla has held the reputation of having significantly more range than any other electric car that is currently available on the market. The Model S currently holds the highest EPA-estimated range rating for an electric vehicle with 402 miles. With over a million Tesla vehicles sold, it would be difficult to imagine that the company is fabricating its range ratings as an excuse to sell more cars.
While other automakers, like Lucid, have been given EPA ratings that are far greater than the Model S rating of 402 miles, those cars are not available on the market yet. The Lucid Air was given a 517-mile rating recently, but the company has not unveiled the vehicle yet. The Air will be revealed during an online event on September 9th.
“When you go out and actually test the cars versus what they [Tesla] state, the mileage isn’t what it seems,” Johnson added.
While EPA rated vehicle mileage is subjected to certain conditions and is not identical to real-world driving, it is relatively accurate in terms of how many miles an owner would get per charge. When being assessed, the EPA requires a vehicle to travel at different speeds while utilizing features, like air conditioning, that could reduce range during operation.
However, real-world owners have proven that Tesla vehicles do maintain and sometimes exceed the range ratings they were given. A test from Model S owner Sean Mitchell showed that the Performance variant of Tesla’s flagship sedan achieved greater range than expected.
Tesla has also put a substantial focus on its cars, having a sufficient range rating. Recently, Elon Musk announced that the company was scrapping plans for a Standard Range configuration of the Model Y because its range would be below 250 miles. “Range would be unacceptably low (< 250 mile EPA),” Musk detailed.
Tesla’s technology lead is not only evident through its vehicles’ performance, but government-regulated entities like the EPA have also proven it. The company has held a sizeable lead in terms of EV tech and continues to maintain a considerable advantage in terms of the technological developments of its cars. This has been admitted to by numerous CEOs of other car companies.
Rob Maurer‘s debate with Gordon Johnson is available below.
Elon Musk
Starlink achieves major milestones in 2025 progress report
Starlink wrapped up 2025 with impressive growth, adding more than 4.6 million new active customers and expanding service to 35 additional countries, territories, and markets.
Starlink wrapped up 2025 with impressive growth, adding more than 4.6 million new active customers and expanding service to 35 additional countries, territories, and markets. The company also completed deployment of its first-generation Direct to Cell constellation, launching over 650 satellites in just 18 months to enable cellular connectivity.
SpaceX highlighted Starlink’s impressive 2025 progress in an extensive report.
Key achievements from Starlink’s 2025 Progress
Starlink connected over 4.6 million new customers with high-speed internet while bringing service to 35 more regions worldwide in 2025. Starlink is now connecting 9.2 million people worldwide. The service achieved this just weeks after hitting its 8 million customer milestone.
Starlink is now available in 155 markets, including areas that are unreachable by traditional ISPs. As per SpaceX, Starlink has also provided over 21 million airline passengers and 20 million cruise passengers with reliable high-speed internet connectivity during their travels.
Starlink Direct to Cell
Starlink’s Direct to Cell constellation, more than 650 satellites strong, has already connected over 12 million people at least once, marking a breakthrough in global mobile coverage.
Starlink Direct to Cell is currently rolled out to 22 countries and 6 continents, with over 6 million monthly customers. Starlink Direct to Cell also has 27 MNO partners to date.
“This year, SpaceX completed deployment of the first generation of the Starlink Direct to Cell constellation, with more than 650 satellites launched to low-Earth orbit in just 18 months. Starlink Direct to Cell has connected more than 12 million people, and counting, at least once, providing life-saving connectivity when people need it most,” SpaceX wrote.
News
Tesla Giga Nevada celebrates production of 6 millionth drive unit
To celebrate the milestone, the Giga Nevada team gathered for a celebratory group photo.
Tesla’s Giga Nevada has reached an impressive milestone, producing its 6 millionth drive unit as 2925 came to a close.
To celebrate the milestone, the Giga Nevada team gathered for a celebratory group photo.
6 million drive units
The achievement was shared by the official Tesla Manufacturing account on social media platform X. “Congratulations to the Giga Nevada team for producing their 6 millionth Drive Unit!” Tesla wrote.
The photo showed numerous factory workers assembled on the production floor, proudly holding golden balloons that spelled out “6000000″ in front of drive unit assembly stations. Elon Musk gave credit to the Giga Nevada team, writing, “Congrats on 6M drive units!” in a post on X.
Giga Nevada’s essential role
Giga Nevada produces drive units, battery packs, and energy products. The facility has been a cornerstone of Tesla’s scaling since opening, and it was the crucial facility that ultimately enabled Tesla to ramp the Model 3 and Model Y. Even today, it serves as Tesla’s core hub for battery and drivetrain components for vehicles that are produced in the United States.
Giga Nevada is expected to support Tesla’s ambitious 2026 targets, including the launch of vehicles like the Tesla Semi and the Cybercab. Tesla will have a very busy 2026, and based on Giga Nevada’s activities so far, it appears that the facility will be equally busy as well.
News
Tesla Supercharger network delivers record 6.7 TWh in 2025
The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets.
Tesla’s Supercharger Network had its biggest year ever in 2025, delivering a record 6.7 TWh of electricity to vehicles worldwide.
To celebrate its busy year, the official @TeslaCharging account shared an infographic showing the Supercharger Network’s growth from near-zero in 2012 to this year’s impressive milestone.
Record 6.7 TWh delivered in 2025
The bar chart shows steady Supercharger energy delivery increases since 2012. Based on the graphic, the Supercharger Network started small in the mid-2010s and accelerated sharply after 2019, when the Model 3 was going mainstream.
Each year from 2020 onward showed significantly more energy delivery, with 2025’s four quarters combining for the highest total yet at 6.7 TWh.
This energy powered millions of charging sessions across Tesla’s growing fleet of vehicles worldwide. The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets. This makes the Supercharger Network loved not just by Tesla owners but EV drivers as a whole.
Resilience after Supercharger team changes
2025’s record energy delivery comes despite earlier 2024 layoffs on the Supercharger team, which sparked concerns about the system’s expansion pace. Max de Zegher, Tesla Director of Charging North America, also highlighted that “Outside China, Superchargers delivered more energy than all other fast chargers combined.”
Longtime Tesla owner and FSD tester Whole Mars Catalog noted the achievement as proof of continued momentum post-layoffs. At the time of the Supercharger team’s layoffs in 2024, numerous critics were claiming that Elon Musk was halting the network’s expansion altogether, and that the team only remained because the adults in the room convinced the juvenile CEO to relent.
Such a scenario, at least based on the graphic posted by the Tesla Charging team on X, seems highly implausible.
Starlink achieves major milestones in 2025 progress report
Tesla Giga Nevada celebrates production of 6 millionth drive unit
