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Tesla community comes together for a special, once-in-a-lifetime ‘bucket list’ wish

(Photo: rubenjasonpenders/YouTube)

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It takes a special type of person to stare at adversity and see a bright future ahead. It also takes a special group of dedicated people to show that amidst all the conflicts and ugliness in the world, there is still a space for human kindness. This was recently demonstrated by the Tesla community in the Netherlands, when they came together to grant a special “bucket list” wish for an extraordinary guest.

Rob (last name not given), who resides in the city of Utrecht, Netherlands, heard the words that nobody ever wants to hear last December. Late in the month, Rob got news that he only had a couple of months left to live. One of his friends, Tesla enthusiast Ruben Jason Penders, had been asking him about a “bucket list” wish that he could help him with. Rob initially declined, but with enough prodding, he stated that he wanted to experience “this electric Tesla car.”

In a video about Rob’s tale that was later shared on YouTube, Ruben noted that his friend was aware he would not experience the electric car era himself. Nevertheless, Rob still wanted to “experience the future my kids and grandkids will live in.” On the final day of 2018, Ruben got to work, posting on the Tesla Motors Club forum and asking if any Tesla owners are willing to give his friend a short ride in their vehicle. In his post, Ruben even mentioned that a 10-15 minute ride in a Tesla would suffice.

The Tesla community decided to go above and beyond. Within a few hours, several owners had volunteered to give some of their time to grant Rob’s “bucket list” wish. Not long after that, a little get-together was organized, with several owners pledging to travel to the city of Utrecht to give Rob the full Tesla experience.

As could be seen in a video of the special get-together, Rob and his family were picked up by three electric cars from his home (two Teslas and a Jaguar I-PACE). This was but the start of Rob’s surprise, though, as he was soon welcomed by 20 more Teslas and their beaming owners. Rob was able to experience the whole Tesla ecosystem, from using the Supercharger Network to using Autopilot on the highway. At one point in the video, Rob showed what could only be described as a classic Tesla grin as he experienced firsthand what appeared to be a Model S P100D Ludicrous Mode launch. In yet another gesture from the Tesla community, Rob was able to drive a Model S as well.

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Despite its noble mission, Tesla remains a polarizing company, especially in the United States. The company, particularly its CEO, Elon Musk, receive a notable amount of vitriol on an almost daily basis from critics, some of whom stand to receive monetary gains if Tesla were to fall. In social media platforms like Twitter alone, the clashes between the TSLA community, who supports the company, and the TSLAQ group, who are clamoring for the electric car maker to fall, happen daily. Yet, despite the noise from the company’s skeptics, there are tales like Rob’s, which could only be described as initiatives that are accomplished through the kindness of the human heart. 

This is not the first time that the Tesla community has done something like this, either.  Last year, Dr. Matthew Chan, a Tesla enthusiast diagnosed with cancer, was given the full VIP treatment after the community got together to arrange a meetup with Chief Designer Franz Von Holzhausen. During Dr. Chan’s tour, he was able to chat with the Tesla designer extensively, and his visit was even capped off by a meet-and-greet with Elon Musk himself. Not long before that, a story also emerged that involved the company bumping a terminally-ill man up the Model 3 reservation list, so that he could experience and enjoy the vehicle while he was still able.

Watch the Tesla community grant Rob’s “bucket list” wish in the video below.

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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.

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Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update

Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has brought perhaps the coolest interior feature to its cars in a new update that is rolling out to vehicles now.

The feature will require a newer vehicle that has interior ambient lighting, which is present on the new Model S, Model X, Model 3 “Highland,” and Model Y “Juniper.” The Cybertruck also has ambient lighting strips throughout.

Tesla Model Y’s ambient lighting design changes revealed in leaked video

With the Version 2025.26+ Software Update, Tesla is rolling out a new “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music” feature, which is available on the Tesla Toybox:

To enable the feature, you’ll access the Toybox, choose “Light Sync,” and then choose “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music.”

Although it does not improve the performance of the vehicle, it is yet another example of Tesla making one of the coolest cars out there. This is truly a cool add-on that can be used to impress your friends and family.

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xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

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(Credit: xAI)

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area. 

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs

Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.

In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.

“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.

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Musk Foundation donation

Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students. 

The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”

“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.

The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”

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EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.

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Credit: Unplugged Performance

A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.

The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry. 

A strategic fit

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.

That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.

“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”

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Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”

Enabling the next wave

Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.

“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.

The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.

Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.

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In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”

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