Connect with us
Tesla Cybertruck headlights light up the route in Los Angeles test ride on Nov. 21, 2019 Tesla Cybertruck headlights light up the route in Los Angeles test ride on Nov. 21, 2019

News

Hey Tesla, Oklahoma has a Big F*cking Field for the Cybertruck Gigafactory (in case you didn't hear)

Tesla Cybertruck headlights light up the route in Los Angeles test ride on Nov. 21, 2019 (Photo: Teslarati)

Published

on

There are a variety of effective ways to get Elon Musk’s attention. Tweeting is one, sharing memes is another. Tulsa, OK, which is pitching itself as an ideal site for Tesla’s Cybertruck Gigafactory, has decided to dig deep into its creative bones, coming up with a full-on meme assault explaining why the city is perfect for the all-electric pickup’s production.

Recently, Elon Musk noted that Tesla is looking for an idea location at the center of the United States where the Cybertruck could be built. Musk noted that the facility will be producing the all-electric pickup, and perhaps the Model Y as well. Several states have expressed interest for a Giga Cybertruck. But with so many areas vying for the facility, Tulsa, OK, appears to have gone the road less taken.

Introduced as the Big F*cking Field (or BFF, for short), Tulsa’s potential Cybertruck Gigafactory has several features that make it ideal for Tesla. Each of these characteristics was highlighted by the city, with each point being accented by some masterfully-selected memes.

In the BFF’s specs alone, Musk will not only see information about the site’s size (1500 acres) or its infrastructure (includes water lines and roads, among others); the CEO will also get specific measurements of the location’s distance to Mars (150.2 million miles), or the SEC headquarters (1053 miles) for that matter.  

Advertisement
https://twitter.com/BigFuckingField/status/1240327606718906368?s=20

The rest of Tulsa’s page for the Big F*cking Field follows much of the same format, especially with regards to its “Google Reviews” and its “Mode Preview.” Musk, being a bonafide meme lord and a huge fan of snarky humor, will likely have a chuckle when he scrolls through the BFF’s page. The Tesla CEO would certainly appreciate the $100 refundable deposit for the 1500-acre land, if any. 

But all jokes and memes aside, Tulsa, OK did highlight that if Tesla were to build its Cybertruck Gigafactory in the city, it would move very fast to get the project going. It was even noted that the process will be moving very fast, like “Plaid powertrain” fast. This could very well be a key selling point for the BFF, as Tesla intends to start production of the Cybertruck next year.

Tulsa, OK’s BFF actually has a dedicated Twitter account, and it’s just as sassy as its main website. Over the past few days, the team behind the BFF account has spent its time interacting with members of the social media platform, while trading jabs and memes with commenters (and poking fun at other cities in the United States that are also potential sites of the Cybertruck Gigafactory).

Overall, we have to say that Tulsa, OK’s pitch is very bold. One can even say it’s genius, and it may very well attract the interest of the Tesla CEO. 

Advertisement

Those interested to check out Tulsa, OK’s Big F*cking Field could click here.

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

News

Tesla brings Model Y L ‘Launch Series’ to the U.S. at $61,990

Published

on

Tesla has officially launched the Model Y L in the United States and Puerto Rico for $61,990. It is the longer-wheelbase version of the Model Y, and has been available in China since last year.

Tesla brings the Model Y L to the U.S. just months after it phased out the only pure SUV in its lineup, the Model X. It is slightly longer than the Model Y configurations that are already available in the U.S., and features a three-row, six-seat setup with Captain’s Chairs being among the many features that make this a truly fantastic offering.

The Model Y L is priced competitively at $61,990, and features 325 miles of range and a 0-60 MPH in just 4.4 seconds.

Tesla also added a handful of new features that are not available in even the Premium Model Y. Here’s a full list of its features:

  • Heated/Ventilated Front Seats with Powered Thigh Cushion
  • Heated/Ventilated Captain’s Seats in Second Row with Powered Armrests & One-Touch Fold
  • Heated Third-Row Seats with Power Recline, One-Touch Fold & Child Seat Anchors
  • Improved Airflow, Increased Efficiency, More Range
  • 89 cubic feet of trunk space
  • Upgraded Acoustic Glass and Suspension to Minimize Road Noise
  • Adaptive Damping for a Smooth, Stable Ride
  • Staggered Tires for Enhanced Grip
  • Larger Tailgate for Better Rear Visibility and Bigger Windows Overall
  • 16″ First Row and 8″ Second Row Touchscreens
  • 19-Speaker Immersive Tesla Audio
  • 50W Wireless Charging Pads with Active Cooling and Charging Ports for All Other Seats
  • FSD Supervised and Integrated Grok AI

Tesla is also delivering these first units as a “Launch Series,” which comes with additional features, such as:

  • Door Trim Puddle Lights
  • Suede Dashboard Wing
  • Exterior and Interior Badging
  • Floor Mats
  • Sill Plates

The launch of the Model Y L in the U.S. marks a huge offering from Tesla to U.S. consumers. People have been calling for Tesla to bring a larger car to the U.S., and it needed it more than ever now that the Model X is gone.

It is a huge accomplishment for Tesla to get the Model Y L to the U.S., and after reporting strong deliveries today, it will be interesting to see how this car impacts future quarterly delivery reports.

Deliveries for the Model Y L “Launch Series” are slated for September or October of this year.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla just told us twice that Model Y L is coming to the U.S.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla just told us twice that the Model Y L is coming to the U.S., and two social media posts definitely just tipped the company’s hand, as if they wanted it to be any other way.

The two social media posts basically confirm that the slightly longer version of the Model Y will be heading to the United States soon, and many have speculated that the company could launch the vehicle as soon as this weekend.

The first post was directly from Tesla, and it showed an incredibly long Dachshund, with words above that said, “Looking forward to the long weekend.”

Anyone who knows Tesla knows the company loves to troll its fans and have fun, and this is a perfect example of that. While not a direct acknowledgement, Tesla is very involved on social media, especially CEO Elon Musk’s platform X, and the company is well aware of what is being discussed within the community.

With recent sightings of Model Y L test mules in California, peeks of the vehicle at Giga Texas, and a large call for the car to come to the U.S., Tesla is simply stoking conversation with this.

However, the company also made another move that was recognized on social media. Tesla has a large gallery that includes photos of its products so media and others can use them. This gallery applies to the U.S. market specifically, unless otherwise specified.

Tesla uploaded a Model Y L to the Gallery last night:

This seems to be another indication that the Model Y L is coming to the United States.

Musk said last year that the Model Y L could make its way to the United States late this year, but it was not something that was set in stone by Tesla. The company definitely needs to establish something in the SUV market that is larger than the Model Y, and the Model Y L might be the answer.

Even still, there are consumers out there who would love Tesla to develop something even larger, like a competitor to the Tahoe or Expedition. Tesla has not really given much of an indication that it will go in that direction.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla is using vehicle microphones to improve build quality: here’s how

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla is using the vehicles’ internal microphones to improve build quality, Vice President of Engineering Lars Moravy revealed recently.

It’s no secret that Tesla is always finding ways to make its manufacturing operations more efficient, accurate, and valuable. Constantly trying to make its cars better, the company has never placed any restrictions on what it will do to improve everything from panel gaps to paint.

As Teslas have been driving autonomously on the property of the Gigafactory Texas plant for a while now, Moravy revealed to Herbert Ong in a new interview that cars rolling off production lines now autonomously navigate themselves through a bumps, squeaks, and rattles (BSR) portion of the line. This helps to identify any loose or improperly installed internal parts.

The cabin’s microphones, which are used for a variety of things in ownership, simultaneously monitor any noises inside the vehicle while it rolls through the BSR portion of the production line. Moravy actually revealed that Tesla is trying to build “Full Self-Hearing,” an AI system that will detect minor imperfections so they can be corrected before delivery.

It’s no secret that build quality is something that Tesla struggled with as it scaled to a fully massive production operation that manufactures over 1.6 million vehicles per year. However, in recent years, especially, there have not been as many complaints. Tesla has truly improved upon its build quality and paint quality over the past several years, especially in the U.S.

Tesla’s ‘megacasts’ are key to massive build quality improvements

While those improvements have been evident, there are still some complaints; no automaker is perfect with this. But this step will now ensure that every single car that rolls off the production lines at Gigafactory Texas will be void of any creaks, squeaks, or squeals when it leaves the factory.

This measure is one of the most unique we’ve seen in terms of a strategy to avoid build quality issues, but it is not exclusive to Tesla.

Ford uses acoustic analysis AI to find abnormalities in seat motors, climate control units, and other components. Suppliers and OEMs will also use microphone arrays or particle velocity sensors in end-of-line stations.

The full interview with Lars Moravy is available below:

Continue Reading