Tesla China’s new vehicle registrations rose in the previous week, though the volume of the company’s registrations suggests that the electric vehicle maker is likely focusing on exporting vehicles to foreign markets.
The results:
- During the week of January 6-12, 2025, Tesla China saw 7,800 new vehicle registrations.
- For comparison, Tesla China saw 5,500 registrations in the week of December 30, 2024 to January 5, 2025.
- This suggests that Tesla China saw a 41.82% week-over-week rise in new vehicle registrations.
- Two weeks into 2025, Tesla China’s new vehicle registrations are up +25.5% year-over-year, as per industry watchers.
- Tesla China does not report its weekly sales figures in China, though a general idea of the company’s overall performance in the domestic auto market can be inferred through new vehicle registrations.
- Fortunately, these registrations are tracked closely and shared by industry watchers, and even some automakers like Li Auto.
In China, 7.8k Tesla insurance registrations were reported for the week of January 6 to 12. ??
— Roland Pircher (@piloly) January 14, 2025
The quarter is +29.3% QoQ, +25.5% YoY and -25.7% vs. the best quarter after 2 weeks. Highest week of the quarter. pic.twitter.com/FcYG1iR4Li
Tesla China numbers:
- Data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) revealed that Tesla China sold 93,766 vehicles wholesale in December 2024.
- From this number, 82,927 were sold in China and 10,839 were exported abroad.
- Tesla China is also estimated to have sold 196,900 vehicles domestically in Q4 2024, as per estimates from CNEV Post.
$TSLA ??
— Tsla Chan (@Tslachan) January 14, 2025
BREAKING: Tesla China insured units
<Jan 2025>
(30)-5 : 5,500
6-12 : 7,800 pic.twitter.com/EboWYEcHZf
Tesla China’s latest news drivers:
- Tesla China has announced the launch of the updated Tesla Model Y.
- The new vehicle features a completely revamped exterior with a more aggressive front end and an indirect light bar at the rear, as well as a fully revamped interior.
- Tesla China currently lists two Model Y variants for now, called the “Launch Series.”
- Tesla China’s official website estimates first deliveries of the new Model Y to start in March.
- Other markets such as the Philippines, which are supplied by Giga Shanghai, are expected to receive the updated vehicle about April.
- Tesla Philippines has confirmed that existing orders for the Model Y classic will be automatically updated to the updated Model Y “Juniper.”
- Deep Blue Metallic Model Y orders will also be automatically shifted to Tesla’s new Glacier Blue color.


Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
News
Tesla launches new Model S and Model X, and the changes are slim
Tesla’s newest versions of its flagship vehicles have arrived with some slim changes.

Tesla has officially launched the newest versions of its flagship Model S and Model X vehicles, but the changes are pretty slim, which is something we expected when a couple cars were spotted during public testing recently.
The new “refreshed” Model S and Model X were spotted recently by The Kilowatts, and the changes appeared to be a new front camera, a new color, and only a handful of other changes.
Tesla officially announced the launch of the Model S and Model X on Thursday night, and here’s what it listed as the changes to the two vehicles:
Model S & X are now even better – launching today in the US 🇺🇸
Highlights:
– Frost Blue paint color
– Up to 410 miles of range (Model S Long Range – our longest range Tesla yet)
– Even quieter inside: less wind + road noise & more effective Active Noise Cancellation
– New… pic.twitter.com/i4PcEklOWj
— Tesla (@Tesla) June 13, 2025
- Frost Blue paint color
- Up to 410 miles of range (Model S Long Range – our longest range Tesla yet)
- Even quieter inside: less wind + road noise & more effective Active Noise Cancellation
- New wheel designs & improved aerodynamics = more range
- Front fascia camera for better visibility
- Dynamic ambient lighting that brings unique animations along the dash & doors upon entry
- An even smoother ride thanks to new bushings & suspension design
- Adaptive driving beams
- New exterior styling for Model S Plaid, optimized for high-speed stability
- More space for 3rd row occupants & cargo (Model X)
We expected most of these changes, especially the new Frost Blue paint color, as it was spotted by The Kilowatts in its initial coverage of the cars being spotted a few weeks back. Here’s what it looks like officially:
Some of the changes are familiar from the Model Y Refresh, which featured the quieter interior through acoustic-lined glass, a front fascia camera, new bushings, and suspension improvements for a smoother ride.
However, Tesla did refine the Model S Plaid’s exterior for “optimized high-speed stability.” You can see the difference between the two below:
The front-end air diffusers are much deeper, and the front end is more boxy than the previous iteration of the Plaid Model S.
Here are some more images of the Model S that Tesla released in a teaser video:
- Credit: Tesla
Tesla sells such a low volume of the Model S and Model X that it was probably less than likely that the company would put endless manpower and effort into completely redesigning it. CEO Elon Musk said a few years ago that the two cars would only stay in production for “sentimental reasons.”
While they are very special to the Tesla family, they are not incredibly important to the mission of the company.
Elon Musk
Tesla owners across the globe prepare for Robotaxi launch with this neat customization
Tesla will eventually have Robotaxis worldwide. Some owners are already preparing.

Tesla owners are already preparing for the company’s launch of the Robotaxi platform with a new, neat customization that is appearing around the world.
On Tuesday, the first Tesla Robotaxi test mule was spotted in Austin, where the company will launch the first driverless rides of this ride-hailing service. At first, it will be a limited rollout, reserved for a select few. CEO Elon Musk said public rides could occur as soon as June 22.
First Tesla driverless robotaxi spotted in the wild in Austin, TX
However, the Tesla Robotaxi platform is not one that will be confined to cities and geofenced to certain areas.
Eventually, Tesla will gain enough confidence to roll the Full Self-Driving software straight to every car in the customer fleet that paid for it. Owners will be able to generate income for themselves while they sleep, as the cars will operate as ride-hailing vehicles for people to use for transportation.
In an effort to prepare for the launch of Robotaxi, Tesla owners across the globe are installing Tesla’s ‘Robotaxi’ word art on their cars.
Here’s one in South Korea:
🚨ROBOTAXIS SPOTTED IN 🇰🇷SOUTH KOREA TOO! $TSLA
It’s not official, just vinyl wraps, but you should sell these!pic.twitter.com/mViKuIV96P pic.twitter.com/fuYpvuOjic
— Tesla Archive (@tesla_archive) June 12, 2025
Here’s another in the U.S.:
🚀 Transform your ride into a vision of the future with our Robotaxi sticker set. 🌟
Your Tesla isn’t just a car—it’s a symbol of innovation and style. Be the trendsetter you were born to be and let your vehicle spark inspiring conversations wherever you go. ✨😎
Grab yours… pic.twitter.com/wTJPmnsO1X
— TESBROS (@teslabros) June 12, 2025
Obviously, this is more of a symbol of support for the Robotaxi launch, but many owners are recognizing that Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software will extend to them the ability to use their personal cars as ride-hailing vehicles, becoming a part of the global fleet of self-driving chauffeurs.
These are unmodified Tesla cars coming straight from the factory, meaning that every Tesla coming out of our factories is capable of unsupervised self-driving! https://t.co/n94ln0Uas6
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 10, 2025
Elon Musk
Tesla sues former Optimus engineer for stealing trade secrets
Tesla is suing a former engineer who worked on Optimus after he left and immediately started a robotics company that achieved quick development of a hand.

Tesla is suing former Optimus engineer Jay Li in federal court after accusing him of stealing trade secrets and using them to enable a startup he founded after he left.
Li is accused of stealing confidential files and using them to help get his company, “Proception,” off to a rocking start. Tesla says the files Li took helped his new startup “shortcut the typical development process” for robot hands, something that took Tesla years to develop and evolve.
The company said in the complaint (via Reuters):
“Through Li’s pilfering, Defendant Proception purportedly achieved in a matter of months what it has taken Tesla over four years, hundreds of employees, and billions of dollars to achieve.”
Li was an employee at Tesla for several years, working on the Optimus sensor team from 2022 to 2024. The company says it utilized and devoted “extraordinary resources” to the development of Optimus, which has come a long way since its unveiling several years ago.
Tesla Optimus to receive hands with 22 degrees of freedom later this year
Li allegedly downloaded confidential files related to Optimus’ robotic hand movement research before departing the company. He did not work on the hands at the time. However, he left and swiftly started Proception, as the suit states the company was founded just six days after he left Tesla.
Proception was gloating about its ability to build robotic hands just five months after the company was founded. Tesla says the hands have “striking similarities” to its own design for Optimus.
The company is looking for monetary damages and a court order that would block Proception from misusing the secrets it accuses Li of taking.
This is not the first suit Tesla has filed over trade secrets and confidential information theft. Recently, it accused German-Canadian dual citizen Klaus Pflugbeil of stealing battery-related secrets. He was arrested and sentenced to two years in prison.
Men accused of selling Tesla battery secrets arrested in undercover sting
The U.S. Department of Justice used an undercover sting to arrest Pflugbeil.
Tesla is being represented by Josh Krevitt, Orin Snyder, and Angelique Kaounis of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.
The case is Tesla Inc. v. Perception Inc., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, No. 5:25-cv-04963.
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla to lose 64 Superchargers on New Jersey Turnpike in controversial decision
-
News3 days ago
I took a Tesla Cybertruck weekend Demo Drive – Here’s what I learned
-
Elon Musk1 week ago
Elon Musk explains Tesla’s domestic battery strategy
-
Elon Musk2 weeks ago
Tesla investors demand 40-hour workweek from Elon Musk
-
Elon Musk2 weeks ago
Tesla lands on date for Robotaxi launch in Austin: report
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla’s apparent affordable model zips around Fremont test track
-
Elon Musk2 weeks ago
Teslas will self-deliver to customers, Elon Musk says: here’s when
-
Elon Musk1 week ago
Tesla stock: Morgan Stanley says eVTOL is calling Elon Musk for new chapter