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Tesla Battery Day in focus as Lucid raises bar for 500-mile ultra-performance EVs
September 2020 may eventually be considered as the month when 500 miles of EPA range became the standard for flagship electric vehicles. This month is poised to host two notable events from two EV makers in the United States: Tesla’s Battery Day and the official unveiling of the Lucid Air. Between these two events, the emergence of more premium electric vehicles that last 400-500 miles on one charge is almost a given.
Expectations are high for Tesla’s Battery Day. Over a year in the making, the Elon Musk-led company has dropped clues as to what Battery Day will entail. Yet just weeks before the event, much of what will be discussed during Battery Day remains a mystery. There are strong speculations of a million-mile battery thanks to Maxwell’s dry battery electrode tech, and a tour of the company’s pilot “Roadrunner” cell production line seems certain.
But apart from these discussions, speculations also suggest that Tesla may very well showcase a vehicle that will be equipped with the company’s million-mile cells. If rumors prove true, this car would likely be the Plaid Model S, seeing as the company has already tested prototypes of the EV last year and Elon Musk has teased a 2020 release for the vehicle. Given that the Plaid Model S will feature significant upgrades from the Raven Model S sold today, it would not be surprising if the flagship sedan will have far more than 400 miles of range.
Interestingly enough, Tesla would be wise to announce the Plaid Model S’ range in Battery Day, as electric car maker Lucid has thrown a strong contender into the premium EV sphere. Just recently, Lucid has revealed that the Air, its ultra-luxury electric vehicle, will have 517 miles of range per charge. The company has also revealed that the Air will have a 1,080 hp powertrain that would allow the vehicle to run the quarter-mile in 9.9 seconds. Both of these feats are incredibly impressive, and it will most definitely push electrification forward.
Companies like Tesla, which are leading the pack in their respective segments, need strong challengers to accelerate their pace of innovation. This means that when companies like Lucid raise the bar with a vehicle like the Air, leaders like Tesla will likely push their efforts more and come up with even better vehicles. This bodes well for the electric vehicle sector as a whole, especially considering that more EV-only companies are emerging today like Rivian, NIO, and Bollinger Motors.
If there is anything that Tesla’s Battery Day and the Lucid Air unveiling will likely emphasize, it is the fact that the time of flagship EVs with EPA ratings in the 200-mile range should be over. If newcomers like Tesla and Lucid, and even Rivian, could hit 400 miles and more, after all, there is really no excuse for legacy automakers to push flagship EVs that still compete with the 2012 Model S in range. The shift to electric vehicles is pretty much certain at this point, and veteran carmakers would be wise to go all-in on the transition, regardless of how painful it could be.
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Tesla China rolls out Model 3 insurance subsidy through February
Eligible customers purchasing a Model 3 by February 28 can receive an insurance subsidy worth RMB 8,000 (about $1,150).
Tesla has rolled out a new insurance subsidy for Model 3 buyers in China, adding another incentive as the automaker steps up promotions in the world’s largest electric vehicle market.
Eligible customers purchasing a Model 3 by February 28 can receive an insurance subsidy worth RMB 8,000 (about $1,150).
A limited-time subsidy
The insurance subsidy, which was announced by Tesla China on Weibo, applies to the Model 3 RWD, Long Range RWD, and Long Range AWD variants. Tesla stated that the offer is available to buyers who complete their purchase on or before February 28, as noted in a CNEV Post report. The starting prices for these variants are RMB 235,500, RMB 259,500, and RMB 285,500, respectively.
The Tesla Model 3 Performance, which starts at RMB 339,500, is excluded from the subsidy. The company has previously used insurance incentives at the beginning of the year to address softer seasonal demand in China’s auto market. The program is typically phased out as sales conditions stabilize over the year.
China’s electric vehicle market
The insurance subsidy followed Tesla’s launch of a 7-year low-interest financing plan in China on January 6, which is aimed at improving vehicle affordability amid changing policy conditions. After Tesla introduced the financing program, several automakers, such as Xiaomi, Li Auto, Xpeng, and Voyah, introduced similar long-term financing options.
China’s electric vehicle market has faced additional headwinds entering 2026. Buyers of new energy vehicles are now subject to a 5% purchase tax, compared with the previous full exemption. At the same time, vehicle trade-in subsidies in several cities are expected to expire in mid-November.
Tesla’s overall sales in China declined in 2025, with deliveries totaling 625,698 vehicles, down 4.78% year-over-year. Model 3 deliveries increased 13.33% to 200,361 units, while Model Y deliveries, which were hampered by the changeover to the new Model Y in the first quarter, fell 11.45% to 425,337 units.
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Tesla hiring Body Fit Technicians for Cybercab’s end of line
As per Tesla’s Careers website, Body Fit Technicians for the Cybercab focus on precision body fitment work, including alignment, gap and flush adjustments.
Tesla has posted job openings for Body Fit Technicians for the Cybercab’s end-of-line assembly, an apparent indication that preparations for the vehicle’s initial production are accelerating at Giga Texas.
Body Fit Technicians for Cybercab line
As per Tesla’s Careers website, Body Fit Technicians for the Cybercab focus on precision body fitment work, including alignment, gap and flush adjustments, and certification of body assemblies to specification standards.
Employees selected for the role will collaborate with engineering and quality teams to diagnose and correct fitment and performance issues and handle detailed inspections, among other tasks.
The listing noted that candidates should be experienced with automotive body fit techniques and comfortable with physically demanding tasks such as lifting, bending, walking, and using both hand and power tools. The position is based in Austin, Texas, where Tesla’s main Cybercab production infrastructure is being built.
Cybercab poised for April production
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently reiterated that the Cybercab is still expected to start initial production this coming April. So far, numerous Cybercab test units have been spotted across the United States, and recent posts from the official Tesla Robotaxi account have revealed that winter tests in Alaska for the autonomous two-seater are underway.
While April has been confirmed as the date for the Cybercab’s initial production, Elon Musk has also set expectations about the vehicle’s volumes in its initial months. As per the CEO, the Cybercab’s production will follow a typical S-curve, which means that early production rates for the vehicle will be very limited.
“Initial production is always very slow and follows an S-curve. The speed of production ramp is inversely proportionate to how many new parts and steps there are. For Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production rate will be agonizingly slow, but eventually end up being insanely fast,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
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Swedish unions consider police report over Tesla Megapack Supercharger
The Tesla Megapack Supercharger opened shortly before Christmas in Arlandastad, outside Stockholm.
Swedish labor unions are considering whether to file a police report related to a newly opened Tesla Megapack Supercharger near Stockholm, citing questions about how electricity is supplied to the site. The matter has also been referred to Sweden’s energy regulator.
Tesla Megapack Supercharger
The Tesla Megapack Supercharger opened shortly before Christmas in Arlandastad, outside Stockholm. Unlike traditional charging stations, the site is powered by an on-site Megapack battery rather than a direct grid connection. Typical grid connections for Tesla charging sites in Sweden have seen challenges for nearly two years due to union blockades.
Swedish labor union IF Metall has submitted a report to the Energy Market Inspectorate, asking the authority to assess whether electricity supplied to the battery system meets regulatory requirements, as noted in a report from Dagens Arbete (DA). The Tesla Megapack on the site is charged using electricity supplied by a local company, though the specific provider has not been publicly identified.
Peter Lydell, an ombudsman at IF Metall, issued a comment about the Tesla Megapack Supercharger. “The legislation states that only companies that engage in electricity trading may supply electricity to other parties. You may not supply electricity without a permit, then you are engaging in illegal electricity trading. That is why we have reported this… This is about a company that helps Tesla circumvent the conflict measures that exist. It is clear that it is troublesome and it can also have consequences,” Lydell said.
Police report under consideration
The Swedish Electricians’ Association has also examined the Tesla Megapack Supercharger and documented its power setup. As per materials submitted to the Energy Market Inspectorate, electrical cables were reportedly routed from a property located approximately 500 meters from the charging site.
Tomas Jansson, ombudsman and deputy head of negotiations at the Swedish Electricians’ Association, stated that the union was assessing whether to file a police report related to the Tesla Megapack Supercharger. He also confirmed that the electricians’ union was coordinating with IF Metall about the matter. “We have a close collaboration with IF Metall, and we are currently investigating this. We support IF Metall in their fight for fair conditions at Tesla,” Jansson said.
Tesla China rolls out Model 3 insurance subsidy through February
Tesla hiring Body Fit Technicians for Cybercab’s end of line
