Connect with us

News

Tesla China: No plans for local Cybertruck release for now

Credit: Tesla Singapore/X

Published

on

Tesla China has reportedly clarified that it currently does not have any immediate plans to release the Cybertruck in the country. The update was posted by Chinese media outlet Jiemian News, which claimed that the Tesla China team had denied that the Cybertruck would be brought to the county soon.

The Cybertruck was unveiled in November 2019, and deliveries started in the United States on November 30, 2023. So far, the Cybertruck has only been delivered to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A look at Tesla China’s official website shows that only the Model Y, Model 3, Model S, Model X, and the Powerwall can be ordered in China. The all-electric pickup truck is not listed as available for order on Tesla China’s official website.

Tesla China’s reported denial surrounding the Cybertruck’s potential launch in the country is quite unsurprising. Elon Musk himself previously commented on the challenges of bringing the Cybertruck to China, stating on X that “Getting Cybertruck road legal in China would be very difficult, but we could ship some prototypes over for display.”

Musk did not detail the specific legal hurdles that the vehicle may face in the country, though it should be noted that pickup trucks in China face significant regulatory restrictions. This was likely one of the reasons why Tesla called the Cybertruck a “crossover touring vehicle” when it brought the vehicle on a tour around China. 

Advertisement

As noted in a report from CNEV Post, the speed limit for pickup trucks on Chinese highways is capped at 100 kilometers per hour, while passenger cars can legally travel up to 120 kilometers per hour. Additionally, pickup trucks have a mandatory scrapping requirement after 15 years of use. Pickups face urban access restrictions in many cities as well, although these have been eased somewhat in recent years.

These restrictions have resulted in China’s pickup truck market being quite small. From January to October this year, China’s pickup truck sales were at 427,000 units, as per data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). In comparison, passenger car sales, which include sedans, SUVs, and MPVs, have totaled 17.84 million units in the same period.

Tesla has been quite successful in China. The Model Y crossover has become particularly popular in the country, with 373,852 units delivered in China from January to October, making up 74.67% of Tesla’s total deliveries. Overall, Tesla delivered 500,685 vehicles in China in the same timeframe, an 8.29% increase year-on-year, as per data compiled by CNEV Post.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Advertisement

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

Advertisement
Comments

Elon Musk

Elon Musk’s xAI plants flag in Bellevue AI hotspot

The lease places xAI’s new office in one of the region’s fastest-growing tech hubs.

Published

on

UK Government, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI has leased a full floor at Lincoln Square South in downtown Bellevue, WA, as per city permit filings. 

The lease places xAI’s new office in one of the region’s fastest-growing tech hubs.

Public records indicate that xAI leased roughly 24,800 square feet in Lincoln Square South. The location was previously occupied by video game company Epic Games. Lincoln Square South is part of the Bellevue Collection, which is owned by Kemper Development Co.

The lease was first referenced in January by commercial real estate firm Broderick Group, which noted that an unnamed tenant had secured the space, as stated in a report from the Puget Sound Business Journal. Later filings identified xAI as the occupant for the space.

Advertisement

xAI has not publicly commented on the lease.

xAI hinted at plans to open an office in the Seattle area back in September, when the startup posted job openings with salaries ranging from $180,000 to $440,000. At the time, the company had narrowed its location search to cities on the Eastside but had not finalized a lease.

xAI’s Bellevue expansion comes as Musk continues consolidating his businesses. Last week, SpaceX acquired xAI in a deal that valued the artificial intelligence startup at $250 billion. SpaceX itself is now valued at roughly $1.25 trillion and is expected to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) later this year.

Musk already has a significant presence in the region through SpaceX, which employs about 2,000 workers locally. That initiative, however, is focused largely on Starlink satellite development.

Advertisement

Bellevue has increasingly become a center for artificial intelligence companies. OpenAI has expanded its local office footprint to nearly 300,000 square feet. Data infrastructure firms such as Crusoe and CoreWeave have also established offices downtown.

Continue Reading

Elon Musk

SpaceX blocks unauthorized Starlink terminals used by Russian troops

Ukrainian officials confirmed that Starlink terminals believed to be used by Russian troops were disabled after coordination with SpaceX.

Published

on

Starlink-india-license-delay
(Credit: Starlink/X)

SpaceX has taken steps to block unauthorized use of its Starlink satellite internet network, a move Ukrainian officials stated is already disrupting Russian military communications. 

Russian units lose a key communications tool

As per a report from The Guardian, Ukrainian defense officials have confirmed that Starlink terminals believed to be used by Russian troops were recently disabled after coordination with SpaceX. The move reportedly affected frontline communications and drone operations, especially in areas where traditional military radios are unreliable or easily jammed.

For months, Russian units had relied on large numbers of illicitly obtained Starlink terminals to stay connected along the front. The satellite internet service allowed faster coordination and more precise drone use for Russian forces.

Several Russian military bloggers close to frontline units have acknowledged the impact of the Starlink shutdown, with some describing sudden connectivity problems in the satellite internet service.

Advertisement

Russia lacks comparable replacement

Russia does not have a satellite internet system that matches Starlink’s speed, coverage, and ease of deployment. Alternatives such as fiber-optic lines, short-range wireless links, and digital radio systems take longer to install and work inadequately for fast-moving units.

Russia does operate limited satellite communications through state-linked providers, but those systems rely mainly on geostationary satellites, which are notably slower. Coverage is uneven, and data capacity is far lower than Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit network.

For now, Ukraine has stated that it has introduced a verification system that allows only approved Starlink terminals to connect. Devices believed to be linked to Russian forces are blocked from the network. That being said, Ukrainian officials have also claimed Russian units are trying to work around the restrictions by asking civilians to register Starlink terminals in their names. 

Continue Reading

News

Tesla Semi pricing revealed after company uncovers trim levels

This is a step up from the prices that were revealed back in 2017, but with inflation and other factors, it is no surprise Tesla could not come through on the numbers it planned to offer nine years ago. When the Semi was unveiled in November 2017, Tesla had three pricing levels:

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla Semi pricing appears to have been revealed after the company started communicating with the entities interested in purchasing its all-electric truck. The pricing details come just days after Tesla revealed it planned to offer two trim levels and uncovered the specs of each.

After CEO Elon Musk said the Semi would enter volume production this year, Tesla revealed trim levels shortly thereafter. Offering a Standard Range and a Long Range trim will fit the needs of many companies that plan to use the truck for local and regional deliveries.

Tesla Semi lines up for $165M in California incentives ahead of mass production

It will also be a good competitor to the all-electric semi trucks already available from companies like Volvo.

With the release of specs, Tesla helped companies see the big picture in terms of what the Semi could do to benefit their business. However, pricing information was not available.

A new report from Electrek states that Tesla has been communicating with those interested companies and is pricing the Standard Range at $250,000 per unit, while the Long Range is priced at $290,000. These prices come before taxes and destination fees.

This is a step up from the prices that were revealed back in 2017, but with inflation and other factors, it is no surprise Tesla could not come through on the numbers it planned to offer nine years ago. When the Semi was unveiled in November 2017, Tesla had three pricing levels:

  • $150,000 for a 300-mile range version
  • $180,000 for a 500-mile range version
  • $200,000 for a limited “Founders Series” edition; full upfront payment required for priority production and limited to just 1,000 units

Tesla has not officially released any specific information regarding pricing on the Semi, but it is not surprising that it has not done so. The Semi is a vehicle that will be built for businesses, and pricing information is usually reserved for those who place reservations. This goes for most products of this nature.

The Semi will be built at a new, dedicated production facility in Sparks, Nevada, which Tesla broke ground on in 2024. The factory was nearly complete in late 2025, and executives confirmed that the first “online builds” were targeted for that same time.

Meaningful output is scheduled for this year, as Musk reiterated earlier this week that it would enter mass production this year. At full capacity, the factory will build 50,000 units annually.

Continue Reading