News
Tesla Cybertruck dodges competition from an electric Ford F-150 due to pandemic
There was a time when the Tesla Cybertruck seemed to be headed for a head-on collision with Ford’s electric F-150 when the vehicles enter the market. But if recent reports from Ford are any indication, it appears that the Cybertruck may end up losing one of its potential rivals when it begins production late next year.
With the electric pickup truck segment emerging, vehicles like the Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Electric, and the GMC Hummer EV appeared to be set for a rivalry. The market for electric pickups is immense, considering how popular trucks are in the United States. Few electric trucks have been unveiled by automakers so far as well, leaving the segment free for the taking.
While electric pickups like the Tesla Cybertruck and Rivian R1T were created by companies that are electric from their roots, other vehicles like the Ford F-150 electric and Hummer EV are the products of legacy automakers aiming to break into the electric sphere. Ford, for its part, has taken a significant stake in Rivian, and it has announced its intentions to utilize the EV truckmaker’s tech for its upcoming vehicles.
Among these is an all-electric SUV under Ford’s luxury brand, Lincoln. Following this, other electric pickups and SUVs were expected to be released, some of which will be using Rivian’s skateboard platform. Among these is the F-150 electric, a truck that was demonstrated to have enough power to pull a 1 million-pound freight train loaded with other F-150 pickups.
Unfortunately, Ford has announced to Automotive News that its Rivian-based Lincoln all-electric SUV has been officially canceled. Lincoln did state that it will still be working with Rivian and it will be releasing a vehicle based on the EV company’s skateboard platform, but it would be an “alternative vehicle,” not an EV.
“Given the current environment, Lincoln and Rivian have decided not to pursue the development of a fully electric vehicle based on Rivian’s skateboard platform. Our strategic commitment to Lincoln, Rivian and electrification remains unchanged and Lincoln’s future plans will include an all-electric vehicle,” a Lincoln spokesperson said.
Such a development may end up delaying the release of Ford’s all-electric vehicles, including the highly-anticipated F-150 EV. Ford has not disclosed if the all-electric pickup will be using Rivian’s tech or skateboard platform, but such a strategy would not be surprising considering the company’s $500 million investment in the young truck maker last year.
It is unfortunate, but the delay in the electric Ford F-150 may very well benefit the Tesla Cybertruck. Tesla’s expansion plans have remained relatively unchanged despite the ongoing pandemic, and save for the Semi; the electric car maker has not announced any other significant delays to its upcoming vehicles. The Roadster’s release may be adjusted as well, considering that its initial delivery estimate was set for this year, but that’s a low-volume supercar, with Elon Musk expecting to produce just around 10,000 per year.
The following year would definitely be critical for the industry’s electric truck makers. Due to the ongoing pandemic, delays in vehicle releases have been announced. Even Rivian, which beat Tesla to the punch in unveiling its electric truck, has announced that R1T and R1S deliveries have been moved to 2021. GM has also revealed that the Hummer EV’s unveiling has been delayed. With the Ford F-150 electric likely moved back, the electric pickup market next year may end up being dominated mainly by the Cybertruck and the R1T, at least depending on Rivian and Tesla’s capability to build and deliver their vehicles.
Elon Musk
Tesla and xAI team up on massive new project
It is the latest move by a Musk company to automate, streamline, and reduce the manual, monotonous, and tedious work currently performed by humans through AI and robotics development. Digital Optimus will be capable of processing and actioning the past five seconds of a real-time computer screen video and keyboard and mouse actions.
Elon Musk teased a massive new project, to be developed jointly by Tesla and xAI, called “Digital Optimus” or “Macrohard,” the first development under Tesla’s investment agreement with xAI.
Musk announced on X that Digital Optimus will “be capable of emulating the function of entire companies.”
Macrohard or Digital Optimus is a joint xAI-Tesla project, coming as part of Tesla’s investment agreement with xAI.
Grok is the master conductor/navigator with deep understanding of the world to direct digital Optimus, which is processing and actioning the past 5 secs of…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 11, 2026
It is the latest move by a Musk company to automate, streamline, and reduce the manual, monotonous, and tedious work currently performed by humans through AI and robotics development. Digital Optimus will be capable of processing and actioning the past five seconds of a real-time computer screen video and keyboard and mouse actions.
Essentially, it will be an AI version of a desk worker in many capacities, including accounting, HR tasks, and others.
Musk said:
“Grok is the master conductor/navigator with deep understanding of the world to direct digital Optimus, which is processing and actioning the past 5 secs of real-time computer screen video and keyboard/mouse actions. Grok is like a much more advanced and sophisticated version of turn-by-turn navigation software. You can think of it as Digital Optimus AI being System 1 (instinctive part of the mind) and Grok being System 2. (thinking part of the mind).”
Its key applications would be used for enterprise automation, simulating entire companies, high-volume repetitive tasks, and potentially, future hybrid use with the Optimus robot, which would handle physical tasks, while Digital Optimus would handle the clerical work.
The creation of a digital AI suite like Digital Optimus would help companies save time and money, as well as become more efficient in their operations through massive scalability. However, there will undoubtedly be concerns from people who are skeptical of a fully-integrated AI workhorse like this one.
From an energy consumption perspective and just a general concern for the human workforce, these types of AI projects are polarizing in nature.
However, Digital Optimus would be a great digital counterpart to Tesla’s physical Optimus robot, as it would be a hyper-efficient addition to any company that is looking for more production for less cost.
Musk maintains that there is no other company on Earth that will be able to do this.
Elon Musk
Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai
The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.
Tesla China sold 58,599 vehicles wholesale in February, reflecting strong year-over-year growth. The figure includes both domestic deliveries in China and vehicles exported to international markets.
The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.
Tesla’s February wholesale result represents a 91% increase year over year, compared with 30,688 vehicles in February 2025. Month over month, the result was down 15.2% from January, when Tesla China recorded 69,129 wholesale units.
The February total reflects combined sales of the Model 3 and Model Y produced at Gigafactory Shanghai. The facility produces the two vehicles for both domestic sales and exports.
Gigafactory Shanghai continues to serve as Tesla’s primary vehicle export hub, supplying vehicles to markets across Asia and Europe. Data compiled by Tesla watchers shows that 18,485 vehicles were sold domestically in China in January 2026, while exports accounted for 50,644 units during the same period.
Tesla has also been extending financing programs in China as it pushes to strengthen domestic demand. The company recently extended its seven-year ultra-low-interest and five-year interest-free financing programs through March 31, marking the second extension of the promotion this year.
The financing initiative was first introduced on January 6 as a strategy aimed at offsetting higher ownership costs ahead of China’s planned 5% NEV purchase tax in 2026. The promotion was originally scheduled to expire at the end of January before being extended to February and then again through the end of the first quarter.
Tesla’s efforts come amid growing competition in China’s EV market. According to data compiled by CNEV Post, Tesla’s 2025 retail sales in China reached 625,698 vehicles, representing a 4.78% year-over-year decline. Part of that decline was linked to the Model Y changeover to its updated variant in early 2025, which temporarily reduced deliveries during the transition period.
News
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
Tesla’s upcoming Model Y L has been spotted on transport trucks in Australia. Sightings of the six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y variant have been reported on social media platform X by members of the Australian Tesla community.
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
The sighting follows earlier observations by Tesla enthusiasts in Sydney, where a covered vehicle believed to be a Model Y L was spotted at a Supercharger.
The Sydney sighting drew attention after observers noted that the vehicle’s tare weight appeared to match the ADR approval listing for the Model Y L, suggesting it could indeed be the extended wheelbase variant of the electric SUV.
Tesla has previously confirmed that the Model Y L will launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2026. The confirmation was reported by techAU following a media release from Tesla Australia and New Zealand.
The Model Y L expands the existing Model Y lineup with seating for six passengers. The vehicle features a longer body compared with the standard Model Y in order to accommodate a spacious second and third row.
Tesla has opted for a 2-2-2 seating configuration instead of a traditional seven-seat layout for the Model Y L. The design includes two individual seats in the middle row to provide easier access to the third row and additional passenger space.
Tesla Australia and New Zealand has also stated that the Model Y L will be covered under the company’s updated warranty structure beginning in 2026.
Tesla has not yet announced pricing or official range figures for the Model Y L in Australia.
Tesla and xAI team up on massive new project
Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai
