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Tesla drivers are the most satisfied EV owners in Norway
Tesla owners are some of the most enthusiastic automotive enthusiasts in a sector full of brand loyalty, and it doesn’t just apply to owners within the United States. A new survey shows that Tesla drivers are the most satisfied electric vehicle owners in Norway, the country with the highest plug-in electric vehicle ownership per capita in the world.
Norway is a battleground for electric vehicle enthusiasts and non-supporters alike. Commonly, the country is noted as an argument for electric vehicle supporters and Tesla bears, who use the country as either a source of support or criticism when it comes to debating what companies are most dominant in the EV-heavy market of Norway. However, a new study from Norway’s Electric Car Association is boding well for Tesla owners, as it concluded that drivers of the world’s leading EV manufacturer are most satisfied with their vehicles, compared to that of other manufacturers.
The ECA’s “Electric Car List 2021” asked owners of electric cars how satisfied they are with the ownership of the vehicles. 15,000 people participated in the survey, with 94% of those willing to shed more light on the EV ownership experience expressing words of positivity and affirmation for their sustainable vehicles. Tesla’s Model 3, Model S, and Model X captured three of the top five spots in the survey, according to a report from Tek.no.
The Tesla Model S, X, and Model 3. (Photo: MotorTrend)
In a typical and very familiar fashion, the Model 3 was the vehicle most commonly attributed with satisfaction from owners. The survey showed that 85% of Model 3 owners were “very satisfied” with their ownership experience, giving the all-electric sedan a perfect five-out-of-five rating. Only 2% of Model 3 owners reported that they are “very dissatisfied.”
“The reason Tesla Model 3 owners are so happy is probably related to the fact that you get access to Tesla’s good charging network, at the same time as you get a good car with a long-range at a relatively low price,” Norwegian Electric Car Association Head of Communications, Unni Berge, said.
“It is nice to see that this survey confirms that Tesla owners are happy with their cars,” Tesla’s Content and Programs Associate in Norway and Iceland, Nora Wisløff Egenæs, said. “Even though the electric car selection is growing, we are seeing an increase in interest in Tesla, and we are working hard to ensure that all our customers have a good experience. Among other things, we are constantly working to expand our Supercharger network to ensure that the growing demand for long-distance charging and electric car holidays is met for all our customers.”
-->The Model 3 was followed by the Kia e-Niro in the survey. The vehicle tied the Model 3 with an average score of 4.78, but the Model 3 took the gold medal due to a higher satisfaction percentage. Only 84% of e-Niro owners said they were very satisfied.
“Top 10 Most Satisfied Electric Car Customers.” Ratings from Left to Right: Do Not Know | Very Dissatisfied | Dissatisfied | Neither | Satisfied | Very Satisfied (Credit: Tek.no)
“It is very fun that our electric cars are doing so well in the survey and that e-Niro is at the very top,” Kia spokesperson Mette Simonsen Sauge said. “The reason why e-Niro is so stable at the top of the survey has enough to do with the fact that it covers the need in many areas; long real range also in winter – our electric cars are very energy efficient and still the cars that go furthest on the market in independent tests.”
The Model X was third in the survey, while the Model S took fifth. The BMW i3 took fourth place in the survey.
Electric cars are widely popular in Norway, and customers are delighted. Two years ago, 68% of owners said they were “very satisfied,” with 24% stating they were “satisfied.” Only 1.6% stated they were “very dissatisfied” with the ownership experience.
The Model 3 was the most popular EV in Norway in June and has been among the country’s most popular electric vehicles for several months. Norway’s concentration of EVs is larger than that of gas cars.
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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.
Tesla Model Y is still China’s best-selling premium EV through October
SpaceX’s Starship program is already bouncing back from Booster 18 fiasco
