Connect with us

News

Tesla will let drivers try their ‘luck’ with surprise navigation options, says Elon Musk

Published

on

Tesla’s all-electric cars are well known for the antic-filled Easter Eggs included in their vehicle software, and in that same spirit, drivers will soon have the option of letting their cars decide their destination when looking for an extra bit of spontaneous fun.

“Done. I’m feeling ? [lucky] & I’m feeling ? [hungry] navigation buttons coming with next software release,” CEO Elon Musk recently promised in response to a Twitter request for the feature. Google’s “I’m feeling lucky” button on its home page that takes users to the first website matching their query seems to be the inspiration for the proposed Easter Egg. It’s not clear whether any search functionality will be included in Tesla’s version, however.

“Hey @elonmusk can you add an ‘I’m feeling lucky’ destination option and take the driver on a fun surprise adventure,” the original inquiry read. Musk initially replied with his own suggestion by adding, “Would be cool if car took you to a random fun place traveled to by other Tesla owners in the area,” shortly before announcing the coming option. In true Musk fashion, the entire matter was discussed and then decided on via a tweet thread.

Advertisement
-->

One of the other most recent examples of a tweet-turned-Easter Egg for the car maker’s software is the feature expansion coming to the Sketchpad app requested by Tesla owner and artist Goro Fujita. “Tesla finger painting. A request to @elonmusk: please add a color picker model with saturation adjustment and multiple undos…how else am I supposed to do serious freelance work with this? ? #Tesla,” he tweeted. Musk agreed to the sentiment with a simple “Ok” that the company’s official Twitter account later confirmed with a feature announcement via its own account on the platform.

Another Twitter suggestion may also have been part of the Sketchpad announcement, namely the “tweak music” feature Musk teased in the same conversation. “Fun, little music tool coming later,” he revealed. “Tweak music & car karaoke.” The musical reference appears to refer to a request for audio mixing capability that was suggested during the original Twitter discussion about the Sketchpad updates. “Completely agree. Every Tesla should have good art & music creation software,” he wrote in response to a comment about artistic features being sought after in the company’s vehicles.

Tesla isn’t the only company under Musk’s leadership that embraces fun and Twitter-driven action. The Boring Company infamously got its start after Musk vented his frustration into an epic tweet-rant that spawned the tunneling company as a solution. The venture’s antics in the days and months following quickly became great fodder for social media. Who could forget the Not-a-Flamethrower promotion and the Monty Python-style watchtower built out of Boring Bricks that still has a dummy knight sitting atop, albeit not spewing insults like the ones present at the Boring Tunnel demonstration party?

Overall, the message has been clear for a while about how Musk prefers to run his businesses. While many employers have open door policies for workers, Tesla’s CEO has an open door policy for his companies’ customers.

Advertisement
-->

Accidental computer geek, fascinated by most history and the multiplanetary future on its way. Quite keen on the democratization of space. | It's pronounced day-sha, but I answer to almost any variation thereof.

Advertisement
Comments

News

Tesla Semi program Director teases major improvements

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla Semi Program Director Dan Priestly teased the major improvements to the all-electric Class 8 truck on Thursday night, following the company’s decision to overhaul the design earlier this year.

Priestley said he drove the Semi on Thursday, and the improvements appear to be welcomed by one of the minds behind the project. “Our customers are going to love it,” he concluded.

The small detail does not seem like much, but it is coming from someone who has been involved in the development of the truck from A to Z. Priestley has been involved in the Semi program since November 2015 and has slowly worked his way through the ranks, and currently stands as the Director of the program.

Advertisement
-->

Tesla Semi undergoes major redesign as dedicated factory preps for deliveries

Tesla made some major changes to the Semi design as it announced at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting that it changed the look and design to welcome improvements in efficiency.

Initially, Tesla adopted the blade-like light bar for the Semi, similar to the one that is present on the Model Y Premium and the Cybertruck.

Additionally, there are some slight aesthetic changes to help with efficiency, including a redesigned bumper with improved aero channels, a smaller wraparound windshield, and a smoother roofline for better aero performance.

All of these changes came as the company’s Semi Factory, which is located on Gigafactory Nevada’s property, was finishing up construction in preparation for initial production phases, as Tesla is planning to ramp up manufacturing next year. CEO Elon Musk has said the Semi has attracted “ridiculous demand.”

Advertisement
-->

The Semi has already gathered many large companies that have signed up to buy units, including Frito-Lay and PepsiCo., which have been helping Tesla test the vehicle in a pilot program to test range, efficiency, and other important metrics that will be a major selling point.

Tesla will be the Semi’s first user, though, and the truck will help solve some of the company’s logistics needs in the coming years.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla dominates in the UK with Model Y and Model 3 leading the way

Published

on

Credit: Tesla China

Tesla is dominating in the United Kingdom so far through 2025, and with about two weeks left in the year, the Model Y and Model 3 are leading the way.

The Model Y and Model 3 are the two best-selling electric vehicles in the United Kingdom, which is comprised of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and it’s not particularly close.

According to data gathered by EU-EVs, the Model Y is sitting at 18,890 units for the year, while the Model 3 is slightly behind with 16,361 sales for the year so far.

The next best-selling EV is the Audi Q4 e-tron at 10,287 units, lagging significantly behind but ahead of other models like the BMW i4 and the Audi Q6 e-tron.

The Model Y has tasted significant success in the global market, but it has dominated in large markets like Europe and the United States.

For years, it’s been a car that has fit the bill of exactly what consumers need: a perfect combination of luxury, space, and sustainability.

Both vehicles are going to see decreases in sales compared to 2024; the Model Y was the best-selling car last year, but it sold 32,610 units in the UK. Meanwhile, the Model 3 had reached 17,272 units, which will keep it right on par with last year.

Advertisement
-->

Tesla announces major milestone in the United Kingdom

Tesla sold 50,090 units in the market last year, and it’s about 8,000 units shy of last year’s pace. It also had a stronger market share last year with 13.2 percent of the sales in the market. With two weeks left in 2025, Tesla has a 9.6 percent market share, leading Volkswagen with 8 percent.

The company likely felt some impact from CEO Elon Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration and, more specifically, his role with DOGE. However, it is worth mentioning that some months saw stronger consumer demand than others. For example, sales were up over 20 percent in February. A 14 percent increase followed this in June.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla Insurance officially expands to new U.S. state

Tesla’s in-house Insurance program first launched back in late 2019, offering a new way to insure the vehicles that was potentially less expensive and could alleviate a lot of the issues people had with claims, as the company could assess and repair the damage itself.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla Insurance

Tesla Insurance has officially expanded to a new U.S. state, its thirteenth since its launch in 2019.

Tesla has confirmed that its in-house Insurance program has officially made its way to Florida, just two months after the company filed to update its Private Passenger Auto program in the state. It had tried to offer its insurance program to drivers in the state back in 2022, but its launch did not happen.

Instead, Tesla refiled the paperwork back in mid-October, which essentially was the move toward initiating the offering this month.

Tesla’s in-house Insurance program first launched back in late 2019, offering a new way to insure the vehicles that was potentially less expensive and could alleviate a lot of the issues people had with claims, as the company could assess and repair the damage itself.

It has expanded to new states since 2019, but Florida presents a particularly interesting challenge for Tesla, as the company’s entry into the state is particularly noteworthy given its unique insurance landscape, characterized by high premiums due to frequent natural disasters, dense traffic, and a no-fault system.

Tesla partners with Lemonade for new insurance program

Advertisement
-->

Annual average premiums for Florida drivers hover around $4,000 per year, well above the national average. Tesla’s insurance program could disrupt this, especially for EV enthusiasts. The state’s growing EV adoption, fueled by incentives and infrastructure development, aligns perfectly with Tesla’s ecosystem.

Moreover, there are more ways to have cars repaired, and features like comprehensive coverage for battery damage and roadside assistance tailored to EVs address those common painpoints that owners have.

However, there are some challenges that still remain. Florida’s susceptibility to hurricanes raises questions about how Tesla will handle claims during disasters.

Looking ahead, Tesla’s expansion of its insurance program signals the company’s ambition to continue vertically integrating its services, including coverage of its vehicles. Reducing dependency on third-party insurers only makes things simpler for the company’s automotive division, as well as for its customers.

Advertisement
-->
Continue Reading