It appears that the Tesla Cybertruck is starting to make a name for itself in tractor pulling events. While the brutalist all-electric pickup truck is still subjected to a notable amount of hate from critics, few can deny the fact that the Cybertruck, thanks to its raw power, is making a believer out of some tractor pulling fans.
This is particularly highlighted in a video that was posted earlier this month on Facebook, where the user noted that he was able to witness firsthand how a Cybertruck was able to perform feats that “real” trucks could not. In that video, the Cybertruck came out 2nd out of 17 participants, with the vehicle reportedly only losing to a competitor with a modified power stroke engine.
A Cybertruck owner participated in a tractor pull event and came 2nd of 17 participants- only losing out to a modified power-stroke engine.
It beat all other stock trucks, including HD’s ?
(Via John Doan) pic.twitter.com/lnbSeMlWI5— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) July 22, 2024
Another post showcased a Cybertruck stunning the audience in a tractor pull event. Over the course of the short video, some of the tractor pulling competition’s audience could be heard exclaiming their disbelief as the all-electric pickup truck pulled the tractor over a considerable distance.
The crowd’s mouth just ripped open in awe seeing the Cybertruck tow this tractor, “there’s no way, there’s no way!” pic.twitter.com/x3Clplm8Il— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) July 27, 2024
And in recent video, a Cybertruck was shown reportedly winning in a tractor pulling event’s 2500 class. As could be seen in the video, the Cybertruck, which appeared to be a Dual Motor AWD variant, completed a “full pull.” Cheers from the event’s audience could be heard as the Tesla Cybertruck completed the feat.
?— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 28, 2024
Tractor pulling is known as the “world’s heaviest motorsport,” as it involves vehicles dragging a metal sled along a prescribed course. The sled contains a box filled with weight that is mechanically winched forward as the sled progresses along the track. Pulling this ever-increasing load eventually causes the vehicle to lose forward momentum and torque, although some vehicles might reach the end of the course — a feat known as a “full pull,” as noted by the National Tractor Pullers Association on its official website. Such a “full pull” was demonstrated by the Cybertuck in the 2500 class video.
-->When Tesla held the Cybertruck’s first delivery event, CEO Elon Musk showcased a feat of strength that involved the all-electric pickup truck participating in a tractor pulling event against a Ford F-150 Lightning, a Rivian R1T, and a Ford F-350. As could be seen in the video, the Cybertruck has more than what it takes to compete against the best in tractor pull events.
Tesla’s original Cybertruck tractor pull demonstration can be viewed below.
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Elon Musk
SpaceX’s Starship program is already bouncing back from Booster 18 fiasco
Just over a week since Booster 18 met its untimely end, SpaceX is now busy stacking Booster 19, and at a very rapid pace, too.
SpaceX is already bouncing back from the fiasco that it experienced during Starship Booster 18’s initial tests earlier this month.
Just over a week since Booster 18 met its untimely end, SpaceX is now busy stacking Booster 19, and at a very rapid pace, too.
Starship V3 Booster 19 is rising
As per Starbase watchers on X, SpaceX rolled out the fourth aft section of Booster 19 to Starbase’s MegaBay this weekend, stacking it to reach 15 rings tall with just a few sections remaining. This marks the fastest booster assembly to date at four sections in five days. This is quite impressive, and it bodes well for SpaceX’s Starship V3 program, which is expected to be a notable step up from the V2 program, which was retired after a flawless Flight 11.
Starship watcher TankWatchers noted the tempo on X, stating, “During the night the A4 section of Booster 19 rolled out to the MegaBay. With 4 sections in just 5 days, this is shaping up to be the fastest booster stack ever.” Fellow Starbase watcher TestFlight echoed the same sentiments. “Booster 19 is now 15 rings tall, with 3 aft sections remaining!” the space enthusiast wrote.
Aggressive targets despite Booster 18 fiasco
SpaceX’s V3 program encountered a speed bump earlier this month when Booster 18, just one day after rolling out into the factory, experienced a major anomaly during gas system pressure testing at SpaceX’s Massey facility in Starbase, Texas. While no propellant was loaded, no engines were installed, and no one was injured in the incident, the unexpected end of Booster 18 sparked speculation that the Starship V3 program could face delays.
-->Despite the Booster 18 fiasco, however, SpaceX announced that “Starship’s twelfth flight test remains targeted for the first quarter of 2026.” Elon Musk shared a similar timeline on X earlier this year, with the CEO stating that “ V3 is a massive upgrade from the current V2 and should be through production and testing by end of year, with heavy flight activity next year.”
Considering that Booster 19 seems to be moving through its production phases quickly, perhaps SpaceX’s Q1 2026 target for Flight 12 might indeed be more than feasible.
News
Elon Musk makes a key Tesla Optimus detail official
“Since we are naming the singular, we will also name the plural, so Optimi it is,” Musk wrote on X.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk just made a key detail about Optimus official. In a post on X, the CEO clarified some key wording about Optimus, which should help the media and the public become more familiar with the humanoid robot.
Elon Musk makes Optimus’ plural term official
Elon Musk posted a number of Optimus-related posts on X this weekend. On Saturday, he stated that Optimus would be the Von Neumann probe, a machine that could eventually be capable of replicating itself. This capability, it seems, would be the key to Tesla achieving Elon Musk’s ambitious Optimus production targets.
Amidst the conversations about Optimus on X, a user of the social media platform asked the CEO what the plural term for the humanoid robot will be. As per Musk, Tesla will be setting the plural term for Optimus since the company also decided on the robot’s singular term. “Since we are naming the singular, we will also name the plural, so Optimi it is,” Musk wrote in his reply on X.
This makes it official. For media outlets such as Teslarati, numerous Optimus bots are now called Optimi. It rolls off the tongue pretty well, too.
Optimi will be a common sight worldwide
While Musk’s comment may seem pretty mundane to some, it is actually very important. Optimus is intended to be Tesla’s highest volume product, with the CEO estimating that the humanoid robot could eventually see annual production rates in the hundreds of millions, perhaps even more. Since Optimi will be a very common sight worldwide, it is good that people can now get used to terms describing the humanoid robot.
-->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-Optimi-per-year production line at the Fremont Factory. Giga Texas would get an even bigger Optimus production line, which should be capable of producing tens of millions of Optimi per year.
News
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.
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.
-->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.
SpaceX’s Starship program is already bouncing back from Booster 18 fiasco
Elon Musk makes a key Tesla Optimus detail official
