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Tesla China pushes back MIC Model 3 deliveries amid coronavirus outbreak
As the novel coronavirus outbreak continues in China, Tesla has opted to postpone MIC Model 3 deliveries scheduled for February, at least until the situation in the country improves. The update was related by Tesla China VP for External Affairs Grace Tao Lin, who noted on Weibo that MIC Model 3 deliveries will likely be pushed back, perhaps as far back as the third quarter of 2020.
Giga Shanghai currently has a run rate of 3,000 Model 3s per week and is poised to hit an annual production rate of 150,000 vehicles. The company has also launched the Model Y program in the country. With these in mind, the recently-announced delays will likely set back the ramp of the locally-made Model 3, while potentially pushing back the Model Y program in the country.
Interestingly enough, Tesla has noted that it does not expect a big financial hit in China due to the coronavirus outbreak. This is because the MIC Model 3 only represents a small fraction of the company’s quarterly profits, according to Tesla’s finance chief Zach Kirkhorn during the company’s Q4 2019 earnings call.
Analysts currently expect markets to underperform because of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. However, Tesla seems to be defying the odds so far. This week, the Tesla stock continued to soar, with the Silicon Valley-based electric carmaker surpassing the current valuation of Volkswagen and BMW combined on Monday. Tesla’s price per share hit past $900 and settled at $887.06 when the market closed on Tuesday
The real impact of production delays and supply chain issues might be felt soon though if the closure of factories across China will be stretched to mid-March. Automotive research firm IHS Markit estimates that carmakers may lose about 1.7 million units during the first quarter of 2020. This corresponds to a 32.3% decline from the firm’s initial estimates.
“In this scenario, we might expect the potential of a China-wide supply chain disruption caused by parts shortages from Hubei, a major component hub — and adjacent province closures for the majority of the month of February as a result,” IHS Markit wrote in a press release.
The Shanghai government has ordered the shutdown of companies in the city, including Giga Shanghai, amid the coronavirus outbreak. Government and private companies are not allowed to resume operations before Feb. 9. Prior to the suspension of work, the government has also extended the Lunar New Year holidays to help control the spread of the 2019-nCOV that started in Wuhan, a city about 9 hours away by car from Shanghai.
Tesla is not the sole automaker that is being affected by the ongoing outbreak. Hyundai, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen, Daimler, and Continental have also shut down their respective factories in China due to the virus.
Based on the latest updates, there are more than 24,000 people infected by the coronavirus that causes fever, serious respiratory illness, impaired liver function, and kidney failure. As of Wednesday local time, there have been 490 deaths reported in connection to the virus. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak, which has infected people in 25 countries, a public health emergency. The United States and several countries have also implemented travel bans to and from China.
In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Tesla China has offered local customers free Supercharging for an indefinite time to make traveling easier for drivers who reside in areas affected by the outbreak.
Amid the public health scare, Tesla has continued to provide customer support through Douyin, China’s version of TikTok. Tesla sales staff from certain experience centers live-streamed tours of the Made-in-China Model 3 and entertained questions from potential buyers. The company has also posted schedules of the live streams that interested consumers can join via Douyin.
Meanwhile, Tesla owners in China united to raise 123,000 yuan or about $17,500 to purchase N95 masks, surgical masks, and sets of protective clothing that they plan to donate to different hospitals treating patients infected by the coronavirus. Tesla has also donated 5 million yuan or more than $700,000 to assist the government and other institutions involved in disease control.
The recent news from China appears to have weighed down on Tesla stock. As of writing, TSLA stock is trading
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Man credits Grok AI with saving his life after ER missed near-ruptured appendix
The AI flagged some of the man’s symptoms and urged him to return to the ER immediately and demand a CT scan.
A 49-year-old man has stated that xAI’s Grok ended up saving his life when the large language model identified a near-ruptured appendix that his first ER visit dismissed as acid reflux.
After being sent home from the ER, the man asked Grok to analyze his symptoms. The AI flagged some of the man’s symptoms and urged him to return immediately and demand a CT scan. The scan confirmed that something far worse than acid reflux was indeed going on.
Grok spotted what a doctor missed
In a post on Reddit, u/Tykjen noted that for 24 hours straight, he had a constant “razor-blade-level” abdominal pain that forced him into a fetal position. He had no fever or visible signs. He went to the ER, where a doctor pressed his soft belly, prescribed acid blockers, and sent him home.
The acid blockers didn’t work, and the man’s pain remained intense. He then decided to open a year-long chat he had with Grok and listed every detail that he was experiencing. The AI responded quickly. “Grok immediately flagged perforated ulcer or atypical appendicitis, told me the exact red-flag pattern I was describing, and basically said “go back right now and ask for a CT,” the man wrote in his post.
He copied Grok’s reasoning, returned to the ER, and insisted on the scan. The CT scan ultimately showed an inflamed appendix on the verge of rupture. Six hours later, the appendix was out. The man said the pain has completely vanished, and he woke up laughing under anesthesia. He was discharged the next day.
How a late-night conversation with Grok got me to demand the CT scan that saved my life from a ruptured appendix (December 2025)
byu/Tykjen ingrok
AI doctors could very well be welcomed
In the replies to his Reddit post, u/Tykjen further explained that he specifically avoided telling doctors that Grok, an AI, suggested he get a CT scan. “I did not tell them on the second visit that Grok recommended the CT scan. I had to lie. I told them my sister who’s a nurse told me to ask for the scan,” the man wrote.
One commenter noted that the use of AI in medicine will likely be welcomed, stating that “If AI could take doctors’ jobs one day, I will be happy. Doctors just don’t care anymore. It’s all a paycheck.” The Redditor replied with, “Sadly yes. That is what it felt like after the first visit. And the following night could have been my last.”
Elon Musk has been very optimistic about the potential of robots like Tesla Optimus in the medical field. Provided that they are able to achieve human-level articulation in their hands, and Tesla is able to bring down their cost through mass manufacturing, the era of AI-powered medical care could very well be closer than expected.
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Tesla expands Model 3 lineup in Europe with most affordable variant yet
The Model 3 Standard still delivers more than 300 miles of range, potentially making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.
Tesla has introduced a lower-priced Model 3 variant in Europe, expanding the lineup just two months after the vehicle’s U.S. debut. The Model 3 Standard still delivers more than 300 miles (480 km) of range, potentially making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.
Tesla’s pricing strategy
The Model 3 Standard arrives as Tesla contends with declining registrations in several countries across Europe, where sales have not fully offset shifting consumer preferences. Many buyers have turned to options such as Volkswagen’s ID.3 and BYD’s Atto 3, both of which have benefited from aggressive pricing.
By removing select premium finishes and features, Tesla positioned the new Model 3 Standard as an “ultra-low cost of ownership” option of its all-electric sedan. Pricing comes in at €37,970 in Germany, NOK 330,056 in Norway, and SEK 449,990 in Sweden, depending on market. This places the Model 3 Standard well below the “premium” Model 3 trim, which starts at €45,970 in Germany.
Deliveries for the Standard model are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026, giving Tesla an entry-level foothold in a segment that’s increasingly defined by sub-€40,000 offerings.
Tesla’s affordable vehicle push
The low-cost Model 3 follows October’s launch of a similarly positioned Model Y variant, signaling a broader shift in Tesla’s product strategy. While CEO Elon Musk has moved the company toward AI-driven initiatives such as robotaxis and humanoid robots, lower-priced vehicles remain necessary to support the company’s revenue in the near term.
Reports have indicated that Tesla previously abandoned plans for an all-new $25,000 EV, with the company opting to create cheaper versions of existing platforms instead. Analysts have flagged possible cannibalization of higher-margin models, but the move aims to counter an influx of aggressively priced entrants from China and Europe, many of which sell below $30,000. With the new Model 3 Standard, Tesla is reinforcing its volume strategy in Europe’s increasingly competitive EV landscape.
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Tesla FSD (Supervised) stuns Germany’s biggest car magazine
FSD Supervised recognized construction zones, braked early for pedestrians, and yielded politely on narrow streets.
Tesla’s upcoming FSD Supervised system, set for a European debut pending regulatory approval, is showing notably refined behavior in real-world testing, including construction zones, pedestrian detection, and lane changes, as per a recent demonstration ride in Berlin.
While the system still required driver oversight, its smooth braking, steering, and decision-making illustrated how far Tesla’s driver-assistance technology has advanced ahead of a potential 2026 rollout.
FSD’s maturity in dense city driving
During the Berlin test ride with Auto Bild, Germany’s largest automotive publication, a Tesla Model 3 running FSD handled complex traffic with minimal intervention, autonomously managing braking, acceleration, steering, and overtaking up to 140 km/h. It recognized construction zones, braked early for pedestrians, and yielded politely on narrow streets.
Only one manual override was required when the system misread a converted one-way route, an example, Tesla stated, of the continuous learning baked into its vision-based architecture.
Robin Hornig of Auto Bild summed up his experience with FSD Supervised with a glowing review of the system. As per the reporter, FSD Supervised already exceeds humans with its all-around vision. “Tesla FSD Supervised sees more than I do. It doesn’t get distracted and never gets tired. I like to think I’m a good driver, but I can’t match this system’s all-around vision. It’s at its best when both work together: my experience and the Tesla’s constant attention,” the journalist wrote.
Tesla FSD in Europe
FSD Supervised is still a driver-assistance system rather than autonomous driving. Still, Auto Bild noted that Tesla’s 360-degree camera suite, constant monitoring, and high computing power mark a sizable leap from earlier iterations. Already active in the U.S., China, and several other regions, the system is currently navigating Europe’s approval pipeline. Tesla has applied for an exemption in the Netherlands, aiming to launch the feature through a free software update as early as February 2026.
What Tesla demonstrated in Berlin mirrors capabilities already common in China and the U.S., where rival automakers have rolled out hands-free or city-navigation systems. Europe, however, remains behind due to a stricter certification environment, though Tesla is currently hard at work pushing for FSD Supervised’s approval in several countries in the region.
Man credits Grok AI with saving his life after ER missed near-ruptured appendix
Tesla expands Model 3 lineup in Europe with most affordable variant yet
