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Tesla Cybertruck unveiled in Los Angeles, Nov. 21, 2019 (Photo: Arash Malek) Tesla Cybertruck unveiled in Los Angeles, Nov. 21, 2019 (Photo: Arash Malek)

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Tesla Cybertruck poised to make first public appearance at Petersen Auto Museum

Tesla Cybertruck unveiled in Los Angeles, Nov. 21, 2019 (Photo: Arash Malek)

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The Tesla Cybertruck will make its first public appearance at the legendary Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles from Saturday, June 20, until Friday, June 26. This marks the first time since the pickup’s unveiling event in November that the official Tesla truck will be on display, allowing both Tesla supporters and skeptics to see the vehicle firsthand.

The Cybertruck is Tesla’s first attempt at an electric pickup truck, and it has caught the automotive world’s attention by storm. The design of the machine indicates a change in the tune of the “traditional” pickup truck look, which is usually comprised of a rectangularly-shaped cab and a bed. One of Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s main points during the Cybertruck’s unveiling event was the fact that all of the available pickup trucks on the market today are based around the same premise and design.

“Trucks have been the same for a very long time,” Musk said. “For like, 100 years, trucks have been basically the same, and we wanted to try something different.” When a photo of Chevy, Ford, and Dodge pickup trucks side by side sat behind the Tesla CEO, he indicated that it was tough to decipher which vehicle was which, because all of the designs were so similar. The Cybertruck was like none of its competitors, particularly in terms of design.

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After the Cybertruck’s unveiling event, Tesla’s proposed design was met with support and criticism. While many loyal Tesla and Musk supporters welcomed the idea of the truck’s futuristic and cyberpunk-inspired design, others were not enthused with veering away from a more mainstream and “normal” truck design.

Regardless of the criticisms, the Cybertruck has made its impact on automotive culture. The truck’s undisputed and undeniable popularity throughout the world has captured the attention of everyone who has heard of it.

Recently, the Cybertruck appeared on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, where the former late-night TV show host had the exclusive privilege to drive the new, all-electric pickup through Los Angeles. Despite the $52 million in vehicles Leno owns, it was clear the Cybertruck meant something special because there is simply no vehicle like it.

Leno, a Tesla fan and owner of a Model S and an original Tesla Roadster, also had the unique opportunity to take the truck through the Boring Company Tunnel in Hawthorne.

Skepticism for the Cybertruck still exists, but perhaps the vehicle’s appearance at one of the largest automotive museums in the world will win some people over. The fact that people will get to see the sheer size and presence of the all-electric powerhouse could entice some to pull the trigger on their own Cybertruck orders.

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The Cybertruck continues to be subjected to the intense scrutiny of Musk, who seems to have a new idea for the pickup quite often. Most recently, Musk teased a remote taser system for the Cybertruck, which would provide intruders with a quick zap.

Tickets for the event are available at Petersen.org and must be purchased in advance for entry.

Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Tesla is improving Giga Berlin’s free “Giga Train” service for employees

With this initiative, Tesla aims to boost the number of Gigafactory Berlin employees commuting by rail while keeping the shuttle free for all riders.

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Credit: Jürgen Stegemann/LinkedIn

Tesla will expand its factory shuttle service in Germany beginning January 4, adding direct rail trips from Berlin Ostbahnhof to Giga Berlin-Brandenburg in Grünheide.

With this initiative, Tesla aims to boost the number of Gigafactory Berlin employees commuting by rail while keeping the shuttle free for all riders.

New shuttle route

As noted in a report from rbb24, the updated service, which will start January 4, will run between the Berlin Ostbahnhof East Station and the Erkner Station at the Gigafactory Berlin complex. Tesla stated that the timetable mirrors shift changes for the facility’s employees, and similar to before, the service will be completely free. The train will offer six direct trips per day as well.

“The service includes six daily trips, which also cover our shift times. The trains will run between Berlin Ostbahnhof (with a stop at Ostkreuz) and Erkner station to the Gigafactory,” Tesla Germany stated.

Even with construction continuing at Fangschleuse and Köpenick stations, the company said the route has been optimized to maintain a predictable 35-minute travel time. The update follows earlier phases of Tesla’s “Giga Train” program, which initially connected Erkner to the factory grounds before expanding to Berlin-Lichtenberg.

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Tesla pushes for majority rail commuting

Tesla began production at Grünheide in March 2022, and the factory’s workforce has since grown to around 11,500 employees, with an estimated 60% commuting from Berlin. The facility produces the Model Y, Tesla’s best-selling vehicle, for both Germany and other territories.

The company has repeatedly emphasized its goal of having more than half its staff use public transportation rather than cars, positioning the shuttle as a key part of that initiative. In keeping with the factory’s sustainability focus, Tesla continues to allow even non-employees to ride the shuttle free of charge, making it a broader mobility option for the area.

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Tesla Model 3 and Model Y dominate China’s real-world efficiency tests

The Tesla Model 3 posted 20.8 kWh/100 km while the Model Y followed closely at 21.8 kWh/100 km.

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Credit: Grok Imagine

Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y once again led the field in a new real-world energy-consumption test conducted by China’s Autohome, outperforming numerous rival electric vehicles in controlled conditions. 

The results, which placed both Teslas in the top two spots, prompted Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun to acknowledge Tesla’s efficiency advantage while noting that his company’s vehicles will continue refining its own models to close the gap.

Tesla secures top efficiency results

Autohome’s evaluation placed all vehicles under identical conditions, such as a full 375-kg load, cabin temperature fixed at 24°C on automatic climate control, and a steady cruising speed of 120 km/h. In this environment, the Tesla Model 3 posted 20.8 kWh/100 km while the Model Y followed closely at 21.8 kWh/100 km, as noted in a Sina News report. 

These figures positioned Tesla’s vehicles firmly at the top of the ranking and highlighted their continued leadership in long-range efficiency. The test also highlighted how drivetrain optimization, software management, and aerodynamic profiles remain key differentiators in high-speed, cold-weather scenarios where many electric cars struggle to maintain low consumption.

Xiaomi’s Lei Jun pledges to continue learning from Tesla

Following the results, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun noted that the Xiaomi SU7 actually performed well overall but naturally consumed more energy due to its larger C-segment footprint and higher specification. He reiterated that factors such as size and weight contributed to the difference in real-world consumption compared to Tesla. Still, the executive noted that Xiaomi will continue to learn from the veteran EV maker. 

“The Xiaomi SU7’s energy consumption performance is also very good; you can take a closer look. The fact that its test results are weaker than Tesla’s is partly due to objective reasons: the Xiaomi SU7 is a C-segment car, larger and with higher specifications, making it heavier and naturally increasing energy consumption. Of course, we will continue to learn from Tesla and further optimize its energy consumption performance!” Lei Jun wrote in a post on Weibo.

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Lei Jun has repeatedly described Tesla as the global benchmark for EV efficiency, previously stating that Xiaomi may require three to five years to match its leadership. He has also been very supportive of FSD, even testing the system in the United States.

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Elon Musk

Elon Musk reveals what will make Optimus’ ridiculous production targets feasible

Musk recent post suggests that Tesla has a plan to attain Optimus’ production goals.

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Credit: Tesla Optimus/X

Elon Musk subtly teased Tesla’s strategy to achieve Optimus’ insane production volume targets. The CEO has shared his predictions about Optimus’ volume, and they are so ambitious that one would mistake them for science fiction.

Musk’s recent post on X, however, suggests that Tesla has a plan to attain Optimus’ production goals.

The highest volume product

Elon Musk has been pretty clear about the idea of Optimus being Tesla’s highest-volume product. During the Tesla 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, Musk stated that the humanoid robot will see “the fastest production ramp of any product of any large complex manufactured product ever,” starting with a one-million-per-year line at the Fremont Factory.

Following this, Musk stated that Giga Texas will receive a 10 million-per-year unit Optimus line. But even at this level, the Optimus ramp is just beginning, as the production of the humanoid robot will only accelerate from there. At some point, the CEO stated that a Mars location could even have a 100 million-unit-per-year production line, resulting in up to a billion Optimus robots being produced per year.

Self-replication is key

During the weekend, Musk posted a short message that hinted at Tesla’s Optimus strategy. “Optimus will be the Von Neumann probe,” the CEO wrote in his post. This short comment suggests that Tesla will not be relying on traditional production systems to make Optimus. The company probably won’t even hire humans to produce the humanoid robot at one point. Instead, Optimus robots could simply produce other Optimus robots, allowing them to self-replicate.

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The Von Neumann is a hypothetical self-replicating spacecraft proposed by the mathematician and physicist John von Neumann in the 1940s–1950s. The hypothetical machine in the concept would be able to travel to a new star system or location, land, mine, and extract raw materials from planets, asteroids, and moons as needed, use those materials to manufacture copies of itself, and launch the new copies toward other star systems. 

If Optimus could pull off this ambitious target, the humanoid robot would indeed be the highest volume product ever created. It could, as Musk predicted, really change the world.

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