Tesla Battery Day was anything but a flop. But somehow, numerous mainstream media outlets are claiming that Tesla’s blueprint to cheaper battery production and vehicles was underwhelming. If Battery Day was a flop to you, it is probably because you don’t understand the massive implications of what was announced.
To the casual Tesla fan who isn’t interested in how the company will increase manufacturing efficiency, but is interested in maximized performance specifications, sure, maybe it was a flop. But still, that seems like a reach because of the announcement of Tesla’s Plaid Model S, which will be the fastest variant of the company’s flagship sedan. To the people who live, breathe, eat, and sleep Tesla and its mission, the batteries and cell developments were the centerpiece, and what CEO Elon Musk announced was anything but “underwhelming.”
Tesla’s new 4680 battery cell will increase energy density by fivefold while increasing power by six-times and effectively maximizing range ratings for its upcoming vehicles. Not only that, but the tabless design is also going to increase manufacturing efficiency and decrease the cost of the batteries per kWh. Reducing this is the ultimate key to making EVs the same price as gas-powered cars.
Making cells more affordable to produce will bring the cost of Tesla’s vehicles down significantly. (Credit: Tesla)
The primary issue with these large media outlets claiming the event was a flop is that readers get information that is far from the truth. The importance of what Tesla announced on Tuesday is easily the most significant breakthrough in not only the company’s long-term plans but also the plans to accelerate the adoption of sustainable transportation.
Think about this: Tesla is already the leader in EVs. Not only is that the overall consensus of EV enthusiasts as a whole, but it also is the opinion of the companies that are trying to compete with Tesla. Volkswagen has stated that Tesla’s ten-year lead is a real issue for their push to sustainability, simply because they are so far behind on figuring out software and battery manufacturing.
But the fact that Tesla is the best electric car company in the sector and will have the most affordable vehicles is a mind-blowing development. Could one imagine if Gucci was less expensive than Abercrombie? The quality and prestige of Tesla are comparable to this analogy. Higher quality and a better product, but with a less expensive price tag.
Ultimately, Tesla showed its entire plans to not only decrease the cost of its cars through battery production but also through design. The blueprint that Musk and Drew Baglino showed to the public proved that the company has a plan to make its cars more affordable while increasing safety. The design and architecture of the new battery pack showed this development.
Understanding the massive developments of Battery Day is not something that a casual fan will really understand. New battery? Big deal. Cheaper costs? They all say that. A new car? Who cares!
The problem is that everything Tesla announced the other day is a big step in the right direction for EVs as a whole, and not just for Tesla. Widespread EV adoption is one way that sustainability can be embraced, which will ultimately help the Earth’s climate in the long-term.
If Battery Day didn’t impress you, it’s okay. But the fact is, you just don’t get it. Nothing about the event was a minor development, nor was it a flop. Tesla has a plan, and it is already in effect with the automaker producing the cells at a pilot facility in Fremont.
Before claiming that the event was underwhelming, understand how significant what was announced is for the future.
Tesla’s new Full Self-Driving pricing strategy will eliminate one recurring complaint that many owners have had in the past: FSD transfers.
In the past, if a Tesla owner purchased the Full Self-Driving suite outright, the company did not allow them to transfer the purchase to a new vehicle, essentially requiring them to buy it all over again, which could obviously get pretty pricey.
This was until Q3 2023, when Tesla allowed a one-time amnesty to transfer Full Self-Driving to a new vehicle, and then again last year.
Tesla is now allowing it to happen again ahead of the February 14th deadline.
The program has given people the opportunity to upgrade to new vehicles with newer Hardware and AI versions, especially those with Hardware 3 who wish to transfer to AI4, without feeling the drastic cost impact of having to buy the $8,000 suite outright on several occasions.
Now, that issue will never be presented again.
Last night, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X that the Full Self-Driving suite would only be available in a subscription platform, which is the other purchase option it currently offers for FSD use, priced at just $99 per month.
Tesla is shifting FSD to a subscription-only model, confirms Elon Musk
Having it available in a subscription-only platform boasts several advantages, including the potential for a tiered system that would potentially offer less expensive options, a pay-per-mile platform, and even coupling the program with other benefits, like Supercharging and vehicle protection programs.
While none of that is confirmed and is purely speculative, the one thing that does appear to be a major advantage is that this will completely eliminate any questions about transferring the Full Self-Driving suite to a new vehicle. This has been a particular point of contention for owners, and it is now completely eliminated, as everyone, apart from those who have purchased the suite on their current vehicle.
Now, everyone will pay month-to-month, and it could make things much easier for those who want to try the suite, justifying it from a financial perspective.
The important thing to note is that Tesla would benefit from a higher take rate, as more drivers using it would result in more data, which would help the company reach its recently-revealed 10 billion-mile threshold to reach an Unsupervised level. It does not cost Tesla anything to run FSD, only to develop it. If it could slice the price significantly, more people would buy it, and more data would be made available.
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Tesla Model 3 and Model Y dominates U.S. EV market in 2025
The figures were detailed in Kelley Blue Book’s Q4 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Sales Report.
Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y continued to overwhelmingly dominate the United States’ electric vehicle market in 2025. New sales data showed that Tesla’s two mass market cars maintained a commanding segment share, with the Model 3 posting year-to-date growth and the Model Y remaining resilient despite factory shutdowns tied to its refresh.
The figures were detailed in Kelley Blue Book’s Q4 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Sales Report.
Model 3 and Model Y are still dominant
According to the report, Tesla delivered an estimated 192,440 Model 3 sedans in the United States in 2025, representing a 1.3% year-to-date increase compared to 2024. The Model 3 alone accounted for 15.9% of all U.S. EV sales, making it one of the highest-volume electric vehicles in the country.
The Model Y was even more dominant. U.S. deliveries of the all-electric crossover reached 357,528 units in 2025, a 4.0% year-to-date decline from the prior year. It should be noted, however, that the drop came during a year that included production shutdowns at Tesla’s Fremont Factory and Gigafactory Texas as the company transitioned to the new Model Y. Even with those disruptions, the Model Y captured an overwhelming 39.5% share of the market, far surpassing any single competitor.
Combined, the Model 3 and Model Y represented more than half of all EVs sold in the United States during 2025, highlighting Tesla’s iron grip on the country’s mass-market EV segment.
Tesla’s challenges in 2025
Tesla’s sustained performance came amid a year of elevated public and political controversy surrounding Elon Musk, whose political activities in the first half of the year ended up fueling a narrative that the CEO’s actions are damaging the automaker’s consumer appeal. However, U.S. sales data suggest that demand for Tesla’s core vehicles has remained remarkably resilient.
Based on Kelley Blue Book’s Q4 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Sales Report, Tesla’s most expensive offerings such as the Tesla Cybertruck, Model S, and Model X, all saw steep declines in 2025. This suggests that mainstream EV buyers might have had a price issue with Tesla’s more expensive offerings, not an Elon Musk issue.
Ultimately, despite broader EV market softness, with total U.S. EV sales slipping about 2% year-to-date, Tesla still accounted for 58.9% of all EV deliveries in 2025, according to the report. This means that out of every ten EVs sold in the United States in 2025, more than half of them were Teslas.
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Tesla Model 3 and Model Y earn Euro NCAP Best in Class safety awards
“The company’s best-selling Model Y proved the gold standard for small SUVs,” Euro NCAP noted.
Tesla won dual categories in the Euro NCAP Best in Class awards, with the Model 3 being named the safest Large Family Car and the Model Y being recognized as the safest Small SUV.
The feat was highlighted by Tesla Europe & Middle East in a post on its official account on social media platform X.
Model 3 and Model Y lead their respective segments
As per a press release from the Euro NCAP, the organization’s Best in Class designation is based on a weighted assessment of four key areas: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User, and Safety Assist. Only vehicles that achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating and were evaluated with standard safety equipment are eligible for the award.
Euro NCAP noted that the updated Tesla Model 3 performed particularly well in Child Occupant protection, while its Safety Assist score reflected Tesla’s ongoing improvements to driver-assistance systems. The Model Y similarly stood out in Child Occupant protection and Safety Assist, reinforcing Tesla’s dual-category win.
“The company’s best-selling Model Y proved the gold standard for small SUVs,” Euro NCAP noted.
Euro NCAP leadership shares insights
Euro NCAP Secretary General Dr. Michiel van Ratingen said the organization’s Best in Class awards are designed to help consumers identify the safest vehicles over the past year.
Van Ratingen noted that 2025 was Euro NCAP’s busiest year to date, with more vehicles tested than ever before, amid a growing variety of electric cars and increasingly sophisticated safety systems. While the Mercedes-Benz CLA ultimately earned the title of Best Performer of 2025, he emphasized that Tesla finished only fractionally behind in the overall rankings.
“It was a close-run competition,” van Ratingen said. “Tesla was only fractionally behind, and new entrants like firefly and Leapmotor show how global competition continues to grow, which can only be a good thing for consumers who value safety as much as style, practicality, driving performance, and running costs from their next car.”
Tesla Full Self-Driving pricing strategy eliminates one recurring complaint
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y dominates U.S. EV market in 2025
