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Tesla Diner gets glass, weatherproofing, high-voltage lines and more

Credit: 247Tesla | YouTube

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Tesla’s Diner, Supercharger, and drive-in movie theater in California continues to make progress on construction, as a pair of videos this week show early glass installs, preparations for weatherproofing, and more.

In a pair of videos shared on Monday and Tuesday, YouTube channel 247Tesla shows drone footage of the West Hollywood Tesla Diner and Supercharger site showing some of the closest daytime shots of recent progress. Along with the site generally starting to look like a diner, crews were seen installing glass for counter-height windows on the first floor, as well as preparations for weatherproofing and the full installation of the second movie screen.

The video also shows concrete drying over the high-voltage lines that will supply the Supercharger lines, and a ton of stock for more conduit to be placed.

Credit: 247Tesla | YouTube

Credit: 247Tesla | YouTube

Credit: 247Tesla | YouTube

Credit: 247Tesla | YouTube

The latest updates follow a video from the channel over the weekend taking a few looks at the building’s Cybertruck-like polished steel exterior. In any case, construction of the Tesla Diner has come a long way since crews first broke ground on the site last September.

 

Located at 7001 Santa Monica Blvd. in Los Angeles, the diner is expected to be a 1950s-style restaurant with rock and roll music playing and waiters on roller skates, according to original ideas for the site posted on what was then called Twitter by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The musings also included plans to feature the two movie screens, as can be seen in the videos, with highlight reels of some of the best movie scenes in history.

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Originally destined for Santa Monica, the project was later moved to its current West Hollywood location, where it gained final permit approvals to begin construction last August.

You can watch the full Tesla Diner updates from this week below. You can also debate in the comments or in an email to me as to when you think the Tesla Diner will officially open.

Tesla Diner glass installation, weatherproofing, and high-voltage lines

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0iWZnTRDOw

Tesla Diner, Drive-in, and Supercharger: 4K Drone Construction Tour

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlk_oBiztgM

Tesla Diner—9 Months into Construction:

Tesla’s LA diner and Supercharger nears nine months of construction

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

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Zach is a renewable energy reporter who has been covering electric vehicles since 2020. He grew up in Fremont, California, and he currently lives in Colorado. His work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, KRON4 San Francisco, FOX31 Denver, InsideEVs, CleanTechnica, and many other publications. When he isn't covering Tesla or other EV companies, you can find him writing and performing music, drinking a good cup of coffee, or hanging out with his cats, Banks and Freddie. Reach out at zach@teslarati.com, find him on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us tips at tips@teslarati.com.

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Tesla is bailing out Canadian automakers once again: here’s how

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla is bailing out Canadian automakers once again, as some companies in the country are consistently failing to reach mandated minimum sales targets for emission-free vehicles.

Many countries and regions across the world have enacted mandates that require car companies to sell a certain percentage of electric powertrains each year in an effort to make sustainable transportation more popular.

These mandates are specifically to help reduce the environmental impacts of gas-powered cars. In Canada, 20 percent of new car sales in the 2026 model year must be of an emissions-free powertrain. This number will eventually increase to 100 percent of sales by 2030, or else automakers will pay a substantial fine — $20,000 per vehicle.

There is a way companies can avoid fines, and it involves purchasing credits from companies that have a surplus of emissions-free sales.

Tesla is the only company with this surplus, so it will be bailing out a significant number of other automakers that have fallen short of reaching their emissions targets.

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Brian Kingston, CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, said (via Yahoo):

“The only manufacturer that would have a surplus of credits is Tesla, because all they do is sell electric vehicles. A manufacturer has to enter into an agreement with them to purchase credits to help them meet the mandate.”

Tesla has made just over $1 billion this year alone in automotive regulatory credits, which is revenue acquired from selling these to lagging car companies. Kingstone believes Tesla could be looking at roughly $3 billion in credit purchases to comply with the global regulations.

Tesla still poised to earn $3B in ZEV credits this year: Piper Sandler

Automakers operating in Canada are not putting in a lack of effort, but their slow pace in gaining traction in the EV space is a more relevant issue. Execution is where these companies are falling short, and Tesla is a beneficiary of their slow progress.

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Kingston doesn’t believe the mandates are necessarily constructive:

“We’ve seen over $40 billion in new investment into Canada since 2020 and all signs were pointing to the automotive industry thriving. Now the federal government has regulations that specifically punishes companies that have a footprint here, requiring them to purchase credits from a company that has a minimal (Canadian) footprint and an almost nonexistent employee base.”

Kingston raises a valid point, but it is hard to see how Tesla is to blame for the issue of other car companies struggling to bring attractive, high-tech, and effective electric powertrains to market.

Tesla has continued to establish itself as the most technologically advanced company in terms of EVs and its tech, as it still offers the best product and has also established the most widespread charging infrastructure globally.

This is not to say other companies do not have good products. In my personal experience, Teslas are just more user-friendly, intuitive, and convenient.

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Tesla ditches key Cybertruck charging feature for very obvious reason

“Wireless charging something as far off the ground as the [Cybertruck] is silly.”

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla is officially ditching the development of a key Cybertruck charging feature, and the reason is very obvious, all things considered.

The Cybertruck is among the most unique vehicles available on the market, and, like all Tesla vehicles, it has continued to improve through Over-the-Air software updates that enhance performance, safety, and other technological features.

However, the development of some features, while great on paper, turns out to be more difficult than expected. One of these features is the presence of wireless charging on the all-electric pickup, a capability Tesla has been working to integrate across its entire vehicle lineup.

Tesla wireless charging patent revealed ahead of Robotaxi unveiling event

Most people who have used wireless charging for their phones or other devices have realized it is not as effective as plugging into a cord or cable. This is even relevant with Tesla vehicles, as the introduction of wireless charging for smartphones within the vehicles has been a nice feature, but not as impactful as many would hope.

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It’s not necessarily Tesla’s fault, either. Wireless charging is a complex technology because much of the energy intended to be transferred to the phone is lost through heat.

Instead of the energy being stored in the battery, it is lost on the outside of the phone, which is why it becomes warm to the touch after sitting on a charging mat.

This is something that Tesla is likely trying to resolve with its vehicles before rolling out inductive charging to owners. The company has confirmed that it is working on a wireless charging solution, but it has yet to be released.

However, this feature will not be coming to the Cybertruck. Wes Morrill, the Cybertruck’s lead engineer, said that the vehicle’s height makes wireless charging “silly,” according to Not a Tesla App:

“Wireless charging something as far off the ground as the CT is silly.”

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This is something that could impact future vehicle designs; the Cybertruck might not be the only higher-ground clearance vehicle Tesla plans to offer to customers. Therefore, being transparent about a design’s capabilities, or even developing technology that would enable this, would be useful to potential buyers.

At this point, wireless charging seems like it would be more advantageous for home charging than anything.

Due to its current inefficiency, it would likely be a great way to enable seamless charging in a garage or residential parking space, rather than something like a public charger where people are looking to plug and go in as little time as possible.

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Tesla China’s new six-seat Model Y L already sold out through October

New Tesla Model Y L orders now show an estimated delivery date of November 2025 at the earliest.

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Credit: Tesla China

Tesla’s new Model Y L is sold out for October in China, with new orders showing an estimated delivery date of November 2025 at the earliest. 

The extended-wheelbase variant, launched in August and first delivered this month, has quickly become one of Tesla’s strongest-selling vehicles in its key overseas market.

Demand and expectations

Tesla China initially positioned the Model Y L for September deliveries, with Vice President Grace Tao confirming on Weibo that the vehicle would begin reaching customers this September. True to that promise, the first handovers of the vehicle started last week. Since its launch, the six-seat crossover has sold out its September and October allocations, hinting at healthy demand.

Industry estimates suggested that Tesla received more than 35,000 orders for the Model Y L on launch day alone. While some Model Y L orders may overlap with those of the standard Model Y, industry watchers have noted that the six-seat, extended wheelbase variant is expanding the company’s total addressable market by appealing to car buyers who need more space and seating.

Credit: Tesla China

Tesla China boost

The Model Y L’s strong momentum is significant as Tesla navigates a competitive Chinese EV sector. With deliveries now stretching into November, the new crossover could potentially lift Tesla’s quarterly sales performance and help maintain its relevance in a market dominated by fast-moving domestic brands.

Beyond China, the extended-wheelbase Model Y L may also serve as a strategic export product for markets where larger family vehicles are in demand. Its early sellout performance suggests that Tesla has tapped into a new growth lever within its most successful vehicle lineup. With a starting price of RMB 339,000 ($47,180), after all, the Model Y L has the makings of a true bang-for-the-buck vehicle.

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