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Tesla is sending ‘Destination’ sweepstakes winners to a sweet sustainable vacation

Credit: Reddit | u/SCUZNUTS

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Tesla is offering a new program titled “Tesla Destinations” that will give lucky winners located in Australia in New Zealand the opportunity to spend five days and four nights at a villa powered by a Powerwall energy storage system. The winner will also be given a Model 3, Model S, or Model X for their use during the vacation.

Tesla has run numerous contests in the past as a part of its “advertising” routine. Tesla’s referral program is an advertising campaign in itself, as spreading the word of an electric vehicle could lead to a subsequent purchase, and Tesla would reward the referral giver with a series of prizes and incentives.

Winners of Tesla’s “Destination Sweepstakes” will not only get access to a sustainably-powered villa and a Tesla electric car; they would also be able to enjoy several activities unique to the area. The villa is located in Clifftop at Hepburn in the Australian state of Victoria, a place that provides lots of hiking and food trip opportunities.

The notification of the new sweepstakes was sent via e-mail from Tesla and described the terms and conditions of the contest.

“Enter now for the opportunity to experience a sustainable lifestyle with your friends or family.

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If you’re selected, you’ll receive a five-day stay for four persons at the boutique villas Clifftop at Hepburn — sustainably powered via solar, Powerwall — as well as your choice of Tesla Model 3, S, or X throughout the journey.

Included in the experience is a selection of curated local experiences: Enjoy a peaceful hike up Mt Franklin, dine at some of the country’s top eateries in Daylesford, or relax at the idyllic Lavandule estate.”

Credit: Reddit | u/SCUZNUTS

Australia is home to one of Tesla’s largest grid-connected energy storage systems in the world. The Hornsdale Power Reserve is located in South Australia and holds a storage capacity of 129 MWh of power from wind and solar energy. The site is powered recognized as the “largest lithium-ion battery in the world,” and since its activation, it has already saved South Australia from three major blackouts.

The contest offered by Tesla gives the opportunity for people to experience the clean and sustainable lifestyle that is envisioned by Elon Musk. While the Big Battery at Hornsdale is saving many Australian’s from power outages, there is an appeal for at-home solar energy systems. The chance to win this contest could even end up being Tesla’s opportunity at increasing its residential solar sales in the land “down under.”

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 Superchargers crowned best EV charging network in the UK for 2025

The Tesla Supercharger network was voted Best Large EV Charging Network for the second consecutive year.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has once again claimed the top spot in the UK’s most anticipated EV charging satisfaction survey. As per Zapmap’s 2025 driver satisfaction rankings, the Tesla Supercharger network was voted Best Large EV Charging Network for the second consecutive year. 

The annual survey, based on thousands of EV driver responses, measures reliability, ease of use, and payment experience across the UK’s public charging landscape.

Tesla tops the survey’s “Large” category

Zapmap’s 2025 rankings, which were drawn from nearly 4,000 battery electric vehicle (BEV) drivers, reflect how quickly public charging is evolving across the UK. For the survey’s “Large” network class, which includes systems with over 500 devices, Tesla once again stood out for reliability and cost efficiency. 

The automaker now offers 1,115 open Supercharger devices at 97 public sites, roughly 54% of its total UK network. That’s a 40% increase in public availability compared to September 2024. A particularly appreciated aspect of the Supercharger network is its cost, which continues to be “significantly lower prices than most rapid/ultra-rapid networks, with drivers also appreciating its reliability,” Zapmap noted.

Tesla Regional Manager’s comments 

Ollie Dodd, Senior Regional Manager for Northern Europe Charging at Tesla, shared his appreciation for the Supercharger network’s award. 

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“We’re thrilled to win Zapmap’s Best EV Charging Network for the second year in a row. Being recognized by the drivers themselves shows that our customer-centric and data-driven approach to building sites is well-received. We look forward to showcasing more customer-centric features in 2026 as we expand the network further and look towards new initiatives in roaming and payment methods,” he said.

Conducted during September and October 2025, Zapmap’s eighth annual survey found that reliability and payment flexibility remain top priorities among EV drivers, two things that the Supercharger network particularly excels in. Fortunately for UK EV owners, the Supercharger network is also aggressively growing.

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Tesla Superchargers to be opened for VW ID.4 and ID. Buzz owners

The adapter, however, would need to be purchased by eligible customers.

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Credit: Volkswagen

Volkswagen has announced that owners of the ID.4 and ID. Buzz will soon gain access to Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network across North America. 

Starting November 18, eligible drivers can charge at more than 25,000 compatible DC fast chargers using a Volkswagen-approved NACS adapter. The adapter, however, would need to be purchased by eligible customers. 

Volkswagen goes NACS

To connect with the Tesla Supercharger network, ID.4 and ID. Buzz owners will need a $200 Volkswagen NACS-to-CCS adapter, which is available from dealers or online at parts.vw.com. Original owners of 2025 models can claim a $100 rebate within 90 days of purchase, with the program running through July 15, 2026, as noted in a press release. Starting with model year 2026, the NACS adapter will be included as standard equipment on all new Volkswagen EVs.

It should be noted that Volkswagen’s NACS adapter enables charging exclusively on DC fast chargers compatible with Tesla’s North American Charging System. It cannot be used with Level 1 or Level 2 AC chargers, including Tesla’s own Destination Charger network. Select 2024 and 2025 models will also receive a software update to ensure optimal performance when charging through NACS.

Volkswagen of America SVP’s comments

Volkswagen of America Senior Vice President of Product Marketing and Strategy Petar Danilovic shared his excitement about the ID.4 and ID. Buzz’s upcoming use of the Tesla Supercharger Network. 

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“This is great news for our EV owners,” he said. “They will now be able to access the more than 25,000 DC fast chargers on the Tesla Supercharger network across the United States, in addition to the more than 5,000 fast chargers on Electrify America’s grid. This makes life much more convenient, whether you are taking a road trip or you rely on public charging should home charging not be an option.”

To use the Supercharger Network, ID.4 and ID. Buzz owners could use the Tesla app to find compatible stations and pay directly for their charging sessions. Combined with Electrify America’s growing network, ID.4 and ID. Buzz owners now have more options for their charging needs, allowing them to travel long distances in their all-electric cars.

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Jim Farley admits he was “humbled” when Ford tore down Tesla and Chinese EVs

He noted that Ford’s Mustang Mach-E had roughly 1.6 kilometers more electrical wiring than Tesla’s sedan, making it heavier and more expensive to build.

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Credit: Jim Farley/X

Ford CEO Jim Farley says dismantling Tesla and Chinese-made EVs was a wake-up call that reshaped how the veteran automaker is taking on the electric transition. 

Speaking on the Office Hours: Business Edition podcast, Farley admitted he was “humbled” after learning how far ahead Tesla and China’s automakers were in design and efficiency. The revelation, he stated, convinced him that Ford had to rethink everything from engineering to strategy.

Teardowns and tech gaps

“I was very humbled when we took apart the first Model 3 Tesla and started to take apart the Chinese vehicles. When we took them apart, it was shocking what we found,” Farley told host Monica Langley, as noted in an Insider report. 

He noted that Ford’s Mustang Mach-E had roughly 1.6 kilometers more electrical wiring than Tesla’s sedan, making it heavier and more expensive to build.

The experience pushed Farley to launch Ford’s Model e in 2022, a dedicated EV division focused on competing with tech-driven automakers. Although Model e lost more than $5 billion in 2024 and is expected to face similar losses this year, Farley said he has no regrets. 

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“I knew it was going to be brutal business-wise. My ethos is, take on the hardest problems as fast as you can and sometimes do it in public because you’ll solve them quicker that way,” he said.

Farley has led Ford since 2020, during which he’s pushed the company to adopt leaner designs, modernized software systems, and faster EV production cycles inspired by Tesla’s model.

Urgency in Ford’s global push

Farley has repeatedly warned that Chinese EV makers such as BYD now pose an “existential threat” to legacy carmakers. He described Chinese electric vehicles as “far superior” and said their expansion overseas highlights how quickly the landscape is changing. 

“We can’t walk away from EVs,” Farley said. “Not just for the US, but if we want to be a global company, I’m not going to just cede that to the Chinese.”

Still, the U.S. market remains challenging. Farley expects only about 5% of domestic car sales to be electric in the near term, as buyers demand more affordable models. To meet that shift, Ford plans a $30,000 midsize electric truck for 2027.

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“We now know that the EV market in the US is totally different than we thought,” Farley stated.

@teslarati 🚨🚨 Tesla Full Self-Driving and Yap is the best driving experience #tesla #fsd #yapping ♬ I Run – HAVEN.
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