News
Tesla’s built-in browser may be due for a ‘Dark Mode’ update soon, hints Musk
One feature that American electric car maker Tesla has incorporated into its vehicles is its trademark large touchscreen that gives the driver access to a multitude of features. The crystal-clear display that takes up a majority of a Tesla’s dash gives drivers information on speed, climate control, and a variety of other things that are crucial to a safe drive. The brightness of the display is notable, but at night it can be detrimental to a driver’s vision. This issue is going to be addressed and fixed, according to CEO Elon Musk.
During one of Musk’s frequent Twitter rounds, an owner made it aware to the Tesla CEO that he was having an issue with viewing driving at night while utilizing TeslaWaze, an online version of the popular navigation app that is optimized for Tesla vehicles. The owner said that the loading screen in the vehicle’s built-in browser was proving to be detrimental to his vision when driving at night. Musk replied by stating that he would fix the brightness issue for Tesla’s web browser in general. Perhaps Tesla will do this by introducing a “Night/Dark Mode” that mobile applications feature?
Yep, good catch
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 14, 2019
The addition of a “Dark Mode” would allow for not only a safer driving experience when traveling on a dark road, but it would also be just another way that Tesla is making its vehicles more customizable to owners. The addition of a “Dark Mode” would certainly be a hit, as many people are in favor of a darker theme for their vehicles’ display. Such a feature, if any, would be a great addition considering the fact that the TeslaWaze navigation site is extremely user-friendly and gives updates that are not necessarily available on the normal Tesla GPS system, like the location of Police patrol vehicles.
Musk has always used Twitter to his advantage as it gives him a firsthand look at what owners are saying about the vehicles his company produces. In the past, Musk has added numerous features to Teslas in response to tweets, the most recent being Tesla’s “Joe Mode,” the infamous feature that allows the volume of chimes and alerts to be reduced significantly. The addition of this feature makes a long car ride more friendly for children who are sleeping.
What is perhaps most notable about the exchange between Musk and the Tesla owner who requested a darker screen for the web browser is the fact that the CEO of the Silicon Valley-based car manufacturer was willing to improve its vehicles for a third-party program that the driver prefers over Tesla’s normal navigation system. It is just another example of how Musk is willing to improve the vehicle overall, and not just with things that the company created themselves. We could assume that other car manufacturers would not recommend the use of third-party navigation systems if they had created one themselves. However, Musk has shown, once again, that this is an effort to make driving safer for everyone.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” Musk said.
Tesla is preparing to expand its all-electric Semi truck program to Europe, with CEO Elon Musk indicating that the Class 8 vehicle could arrive in the region 2027.
Musk shared his update during an interview about Giga Berlin with plant manager André Thierig, which was posted on X by the official Tesla Manufacturing account.
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” he said.
Tesla has already begun limited production and customer deployments of the Tesla Semi in the United States, with the company working to scale output through the Semi factory near Giga Nevada. Considering Musk’s comments, it appears that a European rollout would be the next phase of the vehicle’s expansion beyond North America.
Musk’s use of the word “hopefully” leaves room for flexibility, but the remark signals that Europe is next in Tesla’s commercial expansion plans.
Musk has consistently argued that electrification should extend beyond passenger vehicles. During the same interview, he reiterated his view that “all ground transport should be electric,” adding that ships, and eventually aircraft, would follow.
The Semi plays a central role in that strategy. Heavy-duty freight remains one of the most emissions-intensive segments of road transport, and European regulators have increasingly pushed for lower-emission commercial fleets.
Tesla recently refreshed the Semi lineup on its official website, listing two variants: Standard and Long Range. The Standard trim offers up to 325 miles of range with an energy consumption rating of 1.7 kWh per mile, while the Long Range version provides up to 500 miles, which should be more than ample for European routes.
Elon Musk
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said.
Tesla could add the Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot to the production lineup at Giga Berlin, as per recent comments from CEO Elon Musk.
During a recent interview with Giga Berlin plant manager André Thierig, Musk identified the Cybercab as the most likely next major product for the German factory, with Optimus potentially following after.
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said. He added that there are also “possibilities of Tesla Optimus” being produced in the facility.
Tesla has already begun production of the Cybercab in Giga Texas, with volume production expected to ramp this year. Based on Musk’s comments, it appears that if conditions align in Europe, Giga Berlin could eventually join that effort.
The CEO’s comments about Optimus coming to Gigafactory Berlin are quite unsurprising too considering that Musk has mentioned in the past that the humanoid robot will likely be Tesla’s highest volume product in the long run.
Giga Berlin will likely be able to produce mass volumes of Optimus, as the Model S and Model X lines being converted to an Optimus line in the Fremont Factory are already expected to produce 1 million units of the humanoid robot annually.
Apart from his comments about the Cybercab and Optimus, Elon Musk also confirmed that Giga Berlin has started ramping battery cell production and will continue expanding Model Y output, particularly as supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) gains regulatory approvals in Europe.
Taken together, the remarks suggest Berlin’s role could evolve beyond vehicle assembly into a broader multi-product manufacturing hub, not just a regional Model Y plant.
Energy
Tesla Powerwall distribution expands in Australia
Inventory is expected to arrive in late February and official sales are expected to start mid-March 2026.
Supply Partners Group has secured a distribution agreement for the Tesla Powerwall in Australia, with inventory expected to arrive in late February and official sales beginning in mid-March 2026.
Under the new agreement, Supply Partners will distribute Tesla Powerwall units and related accessories across its national footprint, as noted in an ecogeneration report. The company said the addition strengthens its position as a distributor focused on premium, established brands.
“We are proud to officially welcome Tesla Powerwall into the Supply Partners portfolio,” Lliam Ricketts, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at Supply Partners Group, stated.
“Tesla sets a high bar, and we’ve worked hard to earn the opportunity to represent a brand that customers actively ask for. This partnership reflects the strength of our logistics, technical services and customer experience, and it’s a win for installers who want premium options they can trust.”
Supply Partners noted that initial Tesla Powerwall stock will be warehoused locally before full commercial rollout in March. The distributor stated that the timing aligns with renewed growth momentum for the Powerwall, supported by competitive installer pricing, consumer rebates, and continued product and software updates.
“Powerwall is already a category-defining product, and what’s ahead makes it even more compelling,” Ricketts stated. “As pricing sharpens and capability expands, we see a clear runway for installers to confidently spec Powerwall for premium residential installs, backed by Supply Partners’ national distribution footprint and service model.”
Supply Partners noted that a joint go-to-market launch is planned, including Tesla-led training for its sales and technical teams to support installers during the home battery system’s domestic rollout.
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
