Tesla China is evidently stepping up its marketing campaign for the Model 3 as competition in the country becomes more robust. While the Model 3 was the most popular EV in China in 2020, there is a healthy stream of competition as 2021 rolls around, and Tesla is sharing official company videos of the updates it made to its most popular sedan as a way to convince car buyers to purchase their vehicles over others.
Tesla refreshed the Model 3 in late 2020, adding several new features like the highly-popular chrome delete look, a power liftgate, a new center console, wireless charging, and metal steering wheel scroll wheels. Tesla’s most popular car required a slight update, and Tesla took it to the next level with several cosmetic and functional fixes that won over many members of the community.
While the Tesla-loyal followers shared the updates on social media as they were recognized, the company is now taking the operation into its own hands, and @Tesla__Mania on Twitter showed that its Chinese sector has produced a new video that officially reveals all of the changes.
Official Tesla video showing new features of updated Model 3 pic.twitter.com/ZU6rCWuqGi
— ⚡️特拉风?T☰SLA mania⚡️ (@Tesla__Mania) January 13, 2021
While the details have been public knowledge for some time, Tesla could be recognizing that Chinese competition is robust as the country holds the world’s largest automotive market. The Model 3 was China’s most popular EV in 2020, but it didn’t lead every month. In November, the GM-built Wuling HongGuang Mini EV was the most popular electric car in the country. It sold 33,094 units, while the Model 3 took second, but lagged behind by nearly 11,500 units, the EV Sales Blog says.
While Tesla still dominated the overall EV market share with 11% from Model 3 alone, there is still room for improvement, which fits the company’s theme of constant growth. China, in many ways, is looked at as Tesla’s key to global domination in the electric vehicle transition because of its massive market. With so many cars in China on the road on a daily basis, if Tesla can find a way to tap into its market with affordability and next-level tech, the automaker can hold global domination moving forward, just like it has for years.
Even though Tesla does not have an advertising campaign or has ever invested in expensive TV commercials, it has taken a slightly different approach in China compared to the U.S. The company launched a “driving school,” fit with a DJ and showroom parties in 2019.
In the U.S., Tesla has launched a few videos of some of its vehicle features, but it has always shied away from an explicit advertising campaign. In fact, before the company’s most recent Shareholder Meeting on September 22, 2020, one of the seven key agenda items had to do with launching a paid advertising effort. The board’s recommendations stated it was “against” the effort. Musk also said that money that would be spent on advertising should go back into the product, and it seems that, in the big picture, Tesla really has no intentions of changing that.
Tesla does not advertise or pay for endorsements. Instead, we use that money to make the product great. https://t.co/SsrfOq1Xyc
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 19, 2019
Regardless, a few short videos of the Model 3’s new features might let some of the less-aware consumers see what the advantages of driving a Tesla are. In turn, it could lead to a more robust market share in China moving forward. As the Model Y also ramps up production and Tesla prepares for deliveries, the company is sitting pretty for the future. It even plans to release some “China-inspired” designs in the coming years and is looking to hire a design director to take charge of the project.
Tesla analyst Gary Black of The Future Fund claims that the company is making a big mistake getting rid of the Model S and Model X. Instead, he believes another vehicle within the company’s lineup should be discontinued: the Cybertruck.
Black divested The Future Fund from all Tesla holdings last year, but he still covers the stock as an analyst as it falls in the technology and autonomy sectors, which he covers.
In a new comment on Thursday, Black said the Cybertruck should be the vehicle Tesla gets rid of due to the negatives it has drawn to the company.
The Cybertruck is also selling in an underwhelming fashion considering the production capacity Tesla has set aside for it. It’s worth noting it is still the best-selling electric pickup on the market, and it has outlasted other EV truck projects as other manufacturers are receding their efforts.
Black said:
“IMHO it’s a mistake to keep Tesla Cybertruck which has negative brand equity and sold 10,000 units last year, and discontinue S/X which have strong repeat brand loyalty and together sold 30K units and are highly profitable. Why not discontinue CT and covert S/X to be fully autonomous?”
IMHO it’s a mistake to keep $TSLA Cybertruck which has negative brand equity and sold 10,000 units last year, and discontinue S/X which have strong repeat brand loyalty and together sold 30K units and are highly profitable. Why not discontinue CT and covert S/X to be fully…
— Gary Black (@garyblack00) January 29, 2026
On Wednesday, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla planned to transition Model S and Model X production lines at the Fremont Factory to handle manufacturing efforts of the Optimus Gen 3 robot.
Musk said that it was time to wind down the S and X programs “with an honorable discharge,” also noting that the two cars are not major contributors to Tesla’s mission any longer, as its automotive division is more focused on autonomy, which will be handled by Model 3, Model Y, and Cybercab.
Tesla begins Cybertruck deliveries in a new region for the first time
The news has drawn conflicting perspectives, with many Tesla fans upset about the decision, especially as it ends the production of the largest car in the company’s lineup. Tesla’s focus is on smaller ride-sharing vehicles, especially as the vast majority of rides consist of two or fewer passengers.
The S and X do not fit in these plans.
Nevertheless, the Cybertruck fits in Tesla’s future plans. Musk said the pickup will be needed for the transportation of local goods. Musk also said Cybertruck would be transitioned to an autonomous line.
In a groundbreaking new report from Reuters, SpaceX is reportedly discussing merger possibilities with xAI ahead of the space exploration company’s plans to IPO later this year, in what would be a blockbuster move.
The outlet said it would combine rockets and Starlink satellites, as well as the X social media platform and AI project Grok under one roof. The report cites “a person briefed on the matter and two recent company filings seen by Reuters.”
Musk, nor SpaceX or xAI, have commented on the report, so, as of now, it is unconfirmed.
With that being said, the proposed merger would bring shares of xAI in exchange for shares of SpaceX. Both companies were registered in Nevada to expedite the transaction, according to the report.
On January 21, both entities were registered in Nevada. The report continues:
“One of them, a limited liability company, lists SpaceX and Bret Johnsen, the company’s chief financial officer, as managing members, while the other lists Johnsen as the company’s only officer, the filings show.”
The source also stated that some xAI executives could be given the option to receive cash in lieu of SpaceX stock. No agreement has been reached, nothing has been signed, and the timing and structure, as well as other important details, have not been finalized.
SpaceX is valued at $800 billion and is the most valuable privately held company, while xAI is valued at $230 billion as of November. SpaceX could be going public later this year, as Musk has said as recently as December that the company would offer its stock publicly.
The plans could help move along plans for large-scale data centers in space, something Musk has discussed on several occasions over the past few months.
At the World Economic Forum last week, Musk said:
“It’s a no-brainer for building solar-powered AI data centers in space, because as I mentioned, it’s also very cold in space. The net effect is that the lowest cost place to put AI will be space and that will be true within two to three years, three at the latest.”
He also said on X that “the most important thing in the next 3-4 years is data centers in space.”
If the report is true and the two companies end up coming together, it would not be the first time Musk’s companies have ended up coming together. He used Tesla stock to purchase SolarCity back in 2016. Last year, X became part of xAI in a share swap.
Tesla has announced it has hit a major milestone with Full Self-Driving subscriptions, shortly after it said it would exclusively offer the suite without the option to purchase it outright.
Tesla announced on Wednesday during its Q4 Earnings Call for 2025 that it had officially eclipsed the one million subscription mark for its Full Self-Driving suite. This represented a 38 percent increase year-over-year.
This is up from the roughly 800,000 active subscriptions it reported last year. The company has seen significant increases in FSD adoption over the past few years, as in 2021, it reported just 400,000. In 2022, it was up to 500,000 and, one year later, it had eclipsed 600,000.
NEWS: For the first time, Tesla has revealed how many people are subscribed or have purchased FSD (Supervised).
Active FSD Subscriptions:
• 2025: 1.1 million
• 2024: 800K
• 2023: 600K
• 2022: 500K
• 2021: 400K pic.twitter.com/KVtnyANWcs— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) January 28, 2026
In mid-January, CEO Elon Musk announced that the company would transition away from giving the option to purchase the Full Self-Driving suite outright, opting for the subscription program exclusively.
Musk said on X:
“Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14. FSD will only be available as a monthly subscription thereafter.”
The move intends to streamline the Full Self-Driving purchase option, and gives Tesla more control over its revenue, and closes off the ability to buy it outright for a bargain when Musk has said its value could be close to $100,000 when it reaches full autonomy.
It also caters to Musk’s newest compensation package. One tranche requires Tesla to achieve 10 million active FSD subscriptions, and now that it has reached one million, it is already seeing some growth.
The strategy that Tesla will use to achieve this lofty goal is still under wraps. The most ideal solution would be to offer a less expensive version of the suite, which is not likely considering the company is increasing its capabilities, and it is becoming more robust.
Tesla is shifting FSD to a subscription-only model, confirms Elon Musk
Currently, Tesla’s FSD subscription price is $99 per month, but Musk said this price will increase, which seems counterintuitive to its goal of increasing the take rate. With that being said, it will be interesting to see what Tesla does to navigate growth while offering a robust FSD suite.
Tesla analyst claims another vehicle, not Model S and X, should be discontinued
SpaceX reportedly discussing merger with xAI ahead of blockbuster IPO
