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Tsunami of Tesla deliveries hits Europe in end of quarter push
As Tesla’s infamous end-of-quarter push gets into gear, hundreds of Tesla vehicles are overwhelming delivery locations in Portugal.
Despite Elon Musk’s efforts to smooth the rate of deliveries and reduce the dependence on the “end of quarter push,” Tesla seems stuck in its old ways as a wave of Tesla deliveries has hit mainland Europe only weeks before the end of Q1 2023. This push has gotten so bad in some parts of Portugal that new owners are asked to pick up their vehicles directly from the truck.
Numerous users on Twitter in Portugal, including Richard Santos Lopes and Esther Kokkelmans, have spotted this recent push of deliveries.
This is daily stuff and there is no physical space to store and driver cars!
And Portugal still can’t open more superchargers, imagine if we could ? pic.twitter.com/imZGO6Tcyc— Richard Santos Lopes (@richardslopes83) March 21, 2023
A real @Tesla tsunami in Portugal, Lisbon and Porto right now. There are so many Teslas that Tesla asks the new owners to pick them up directly at the truck companies. Great news for Tesla Portugal! They do need more superchargers now???? ?@richardslopes83 @tesla_europe pic.twitter.com/fGarP97Nv4
— Esther Kokkelmans (@EstherKokkelman) March 21, 2023
As seen in the pictures posted by both users, trucks that have brought hundreds of Tesla vehicles cumulatively are overwhelming the lots where they are being delivered, hence forcing Tesla to push customers to pick up their vehicles as quickly as possible.
Besides the incredible wave of vehicles crowding out parking areas, the sudden flow of Teslas is worrying many about the lack of Supercharger support in many parts of the world. Specifically, numerous Twitter users who have spotted the wave of deliveries in Portugal have noted the lack of supercharger support. With eight chargers available in the entire Iberian country, that certainly seems to be the case.

Perhaps the most surprising part of this push is that Tesla is already having an incredibly successful quarter, particularly in China and Europe. In Germany, the Tesla Model Y reigns supreme as the top EV, stealing the throne from its Model 3 little brother. In China, insurance numbers indicate that Tesla is in for a record quarter in the region after beating analyst expectations. And in the United States, Tesla has retained its luxury automaker crown, keeping the top spot away from long-time champion BMW.
Tesla is clearly on its way toward yet another successful quarter, though it remains to be seen if it can beat analysts’ expectations. However, with many anticipating that Tesla may have a slightly lower quarter as it works to introduce manufacturing improvements, the automaker does have a low bar for achieving an astonishing result.
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Elon Musk
Tesla Megapack powers $1.1B AI data center project in Brazil
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
Tesla’s Megapack battery systems will be deployed as part of a 400MW AI data center campus in Uberlândia, Brazil. The initiative is described as one of Latin America’s largest AI infrastructure projects.
The project is being led by RT-One, which confirmed that the facility will integrate Tesla Megapack battery energy storage systems (BESS) as part of a broader industrial alliance that includes Hitachi Energy, Siemens, ABB, HIMOINSA, and Schneider Electric. The project is backed by more than R$6 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) in private capital.
According to RT-One, the data center is designed to operate on 100% renewable energy while also reinforcing regional grid stability.
“Brazil generates abundant energy, particularly from renewable sources such as solar and wind. However, high renewable penetration can create grid stability challenges,” RT-One President Fernando Palamone noted in a post on LinkedIn. “Managing this imbalance is one of the country’s growing infrastructure priorities.”
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
“The facility will be capable of absorbing excess electricity when supply is high and providing stabilization services when the grid requires additional support. This approach enhances resilience, improves reliability, and contributes to a more efficient use of renewable generation,” Palamone added.
The model mirrors approaches used in energy-intensive regions such as California and Texas, where large battery systems help manage fluctuations tied to renewable energy generation.
The RT-One President recently visited Tesla’s Megafactory in Lathrop, California, where Megapacks are produced, as part of establishing the partnership. He thanked the Tesla team, including Marcel Dall Pai, Nicholas Reale, and Sean Jones, for supporting the collaboration in his LinkedIn post.
Elon Musk
Starlink powers Europe’s first satellite-to-phone service with O2 partnership
The service initially supports text messaging along with apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps and weather tools.
Starlink is now powering Europe’s first commercial satellite-to-smartphone service, as Virgin Media O2 launches a space-based mobile data offering across the UK.
The new O2 Satellite service uses Starlink’s low-Earth orbit network to connect regular smartphones in areas without terrestrial coverage, expanding O2’s reach from 89% to 95% of Britain’s landmass.
Under the rollout, compatible Samsung devices automatically connect to Starlink satellites when users move beyond traditional mobile coverage, according to Reuters.
The service initially supports text messaging along with apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps and weather tools. O2 is pricing the add-on at £3 per month.
By leveraging Starlink’s satellite infrastructure, O2 can deliver connectivity in remote and rural regions without building additional ground towers. The move represents another step in Starlink’s push beyond fixed broadband and into direct-to-device mobile services.
Virgin Media O2 chief executive Lutz Schuler shared his thoughts about the Starlink partnership. “By launching O2 Satellite, we’ve become the first operator in Europe to launch a space-based mobile data service that, overnight, has brought new mobile coverage to an area around two-thirds the size of Wales for the first time,” he said.
Satellite-based mobile connectivity is gaining traction globally. In the U.S., T-Mobile has launched a similar satellite-to-cell offering. Meanwhile, Vodafone has conducted satellite video call tests through its partnership with AST SpaceMobile last year.
For Starlink, the O2 agreement highlights how its network is increasingly being integrated into national telecom systems, enabling standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without specialized hardware.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Starbase, TX included in $84.6 million coastal funding round
The funds mark another step in the state’s ongoing beach restoration and resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Elon Musk’s Starbase, Texas has been included in an $84.6 million coastal funding round announced by the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The funds mark another step in the state’s ongoing beach restoration and resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham confirmed that 14 coastal counties will receive funding through the Coastal Management Program (CMP) Grant Cycle 31 and Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) program Cycle 14. Among the Brownsville-area recipients listed was the City of Starbase, which is home to SpaceX’s Starship factory.
“As someone who spent more than a decade living on the Texas coast, ensuring our communities, wildlife, and their habitats are safe and thriving is of utmost importance. I am honored to bring this much-needed funding to our coastal communities for these beneficial projects,” Commissioner Buckingham said in a press release.
“By dedicating this crucial assistance to these impactful projects, the GLO is ensuring our Texas coast will continue to thrive and remain resilient for generations to come.”
The official Starbase account acknowledged the support in a post on X, writing: “Coastal resilience takes teamwork. We appreciate @TXGLO and Commissioner Dawn Buckingham for their continued support of beach restoration projects in Starbase.”
The funding will support a range of coastal initiatives, including beach nourishment, dune restoration, shoreline stabilization, habitat restoration, and water quality improvements.
CMP projects are backed by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, alongside local partner matches. CEPRA projects focus specifically on reducing coastal erosion and are funded through allocations from the Texas Legislature, the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax, and GOMESA.
Checks were presented in Corpus Christi and Brownsville to counties, municipalities, universities, and conservation groups. In addition to Starbase, Brownsville-area recipients included Cameron County, the City of South Padre Island, Willacy County, and the Willacy County Navigation District.