Connect with us

News

Elon Musk candidly shows how Tesla’s factory is balancing robots and human work

[Credit: MKBHD/YouTube]

Published

on

Back in 2016, Elon Musk described that Tesla’s factory would be “the machine that builds the machine.” Speaking to investors then, Musk noted that the codename for the project was the “Alien Dreadnought,” a machine similar to the massive extraterrestrial crafts depicted in iconic sci-fi films. Musk noted then that the Alien Dreadnought would likely be operational in 2018, with the factory churning out the Model 3 en masse.

As the Model 3 production ramp has shown, getting the Alien Dreadnought up to speed with the company’s manufacturing process turned out to be a much more challenging task than Musk had expected. Amidst delays in the Model 3 production ramp, Elon Musk noted in an interview with CBS earlier this year that humans are “underrated.” Musk also mentioned this in the company’s Q1 2018 earnings call, when he described how Tesla learned that some aspects of the manufacturing process are best done by human hands.

A look into Tesla’s electric car production process at the Fremont factory was recently uploaded on YouTube by noted tech reviewer Marques Brownlee, better known as MKBHD. After his interview with Elon Musk himself, the YouTube host was given a tour of the Tesla factory, particularly the Model S and Model X line. Musk candidly discussed several aspects of the factory, including how Tesla’s robots are programmed and how their operations are integrated with human work. Musk also lightly discussed how he is fond of the Fremont factory’s “dumb robots,” which are easier to program and perform nearly without fault.

Brownlee’s Tesla factory tour with Elon Musk was brief, (MKBHD notes that Musk was eventually pulled into a meeting), but it showed something that has been hidden for quite a while now — it showed an Elon Musk that was funny, optimistic, and seemingly still full of wonder at how the factory is operating. Musk was cracking jokes in the interview, and his inner nerd was in full force as he described to the YouTube host how some of the facility’s robots are named after characters in Marvel’s X-Men series.

Advertisement

In a way, the Elon Musk who went on an interview and toured the Fremont factory with The YouTube host looked like a CEO who was tired and exhausted, but one who is still passionate at what he is doing. Elon Musk’s emotional and psychological state has been a particular focus in the media lately, particularly following an honest interview with the New York Times. Musk showed a notable degree of vulnerability in the Times interview, even admitting that the past 12 months have been the most difficult and painful year of his career.

Tesla’s critics were quick to pounce on Musk’s exhaustion and the vulnerability he exhibited during the interview. And in a way, they are right — Elon Musk is underslept, overworked, and deathly tired. But behind all this is a man who is still pushing hard to get his targets done. Elon Musk in the factory tour with Brownlee was evidently exhausted and overworked, but despite this, he still retains that wit, optimism, and sense of wonder that made him a household name over the years.

Watch MKBHD’s tour of Tesla’s Fremont factory with Elon Musk in the video below.

Advertisement

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

Advertisement
Comments

Elon Musk

SpaceX weighs Nasdaq listing as company explores early index entry: report

The company is reportedly seeking early inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 index.

Published

on

Credit: SpaceX/X

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly leaning toward listing its shares on the Nasdaq for a potential initial public offering (IPO) that could become the largest in history. 

As per a recent report, the company is reportedly seeking early inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 index. The update was reported by Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter.

According to the publication, SpaceX is considering Nasdaq as the venue for its eventual IPO, though the New York Stock Exchange is also competing for the listing. Neither exchange has reportedly been informed of a final decision.

Reuters has previously reported that SpaceX could pursue an IPO as early as June, though the company’s plans could still change.

Advertisement

One of the publication’s sources also suggested that SpaceX is targeting a valuation of about $1.75 trillion for its IPO. At that level, the company would rank among the largest publicly traded firms in the United States by market capitalization.

Nasdaq has proposed a rule change that could accelerate the inclusion of newly listed megacap companies into the Nasdaq-100 index.

Under the proposed “Fast Entry” rule, a newly listed company could qualify for the index in less than a month if its market capitalization ranks among the top 40 companies already included in the Nasdaq-100.

If SpaceX is successful in achieving its target valuation of $1.75 trillion, it would become the sixth-largest company by market value in the United States, at least based on recent share prices. 

Advertisement

Newly listed companies typically have to wait up to a year before becoming eligible for major indexes such as the Nasdaq-100 or S&P 500.

Inclusion in a major index can significantly broaden a company’s shareholder base because many institutional investors purchase shares through index-tracking funds.

According to Reuters, Nasdaq’s proposed fast-track rule is partly intended to attract highly valued private companies such as SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic to list on the exchange.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Elon Musk

The Boring Company’s Prufrock-2 emerges after completing new Vegas Loop tunnel

The new tunnel measures 2.28 miles, making it the company’s longest single Vegas Loop tunnel to date.

Published

on

Credit: The Boring Company/X

The Boring Company announced that its Prufrock-2 tunnel boring machine (TBM) has completed another Vegas Loop tunnel in Las Vegas. The company shared the update in a post on social media platform X.

According to The Boring Company’s post, the new tunnel measures 2.28 miles, making it the company’s longest single Vegas Loop tunnel to date.

The new tunnel marks the fourth tunnel constructed near Westgate Las Vegas as the Vegas Loop network continues expanding across the city.

The Boring Company also noted that the new tunnel surpassed its previous internal record of 2.26 miles for a single Vegas Loop segment.

Advertisement

Construction of the tunnel involved moving roughly 68,000 cubic yards of dirt. The excavation process also used about 4.8 miles of continuous conveyor belt, powered by six motors totaling 825 horsepower.

The Boring Company’s Prufrock-series all-electric tunnel boring machines are designed to support the rapid expansion of company’s underground transportation projects, including the growing Vegas Loop network. Prufrock machines are designed for reusability, thanks in no small part to their capability to be deployed and retrieved easily through their “porposing” feature.

The Vegas Loop, specifically the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Loop segment, has already been used during major events. Most recently, the LVCC Loop supported the 2026 CONEXPO-CON/AGG construction trade show, which was held from March 3-7, 2026. 

As per The Boring Company, the LVCC Loop transported roughly 82,000 passengers across the convention center campus during the event’s duration. 

Advertisement

CONEXPO-CON/AGG is one of the largest construction trade shows in North America, drawing more than 140,000 construction professionals from 128 countries this year.

The LVCC Loop forms the initial segment of the broader Vegas Loop network, which remains under active development as The Boring Company continues building new tunnels throughout the city.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla gathers Cybercab fleet in Gigafactory Texas

Images and video of the Cybercab fleet were shared by longtime Giga Texas observer Joe Tegtmeyer in posts on social media platform X.

Published

on

Credit: Credit: @JoeTegtmeyer/X

Tesla appears to be assembling a growing number of Cybercabs at Gigafactory Texas as preparations continue for the vehicle’s mass production. Recent footage shared online has shown over 30 Cybercabs being transported by trucks or staged near testing areas at the facility.

The images and video were shared by longtime Giga Texas observer and drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer in posts on social media platform X.

Interestingly enough, Tegtmeyer noted that many of the Cybercabs being loaded onto transport trucks were still equipped with steering wheels. This suggests that the vehicles are likely testing units rather than the final driverless configuration expected for the company’s Robotaxi service.

The vehicles could potentially be headed to testing sites across the United States as Tesla prepares to expand its Robotaxi fleet.

Advertisement

Additional footage captured at Gigafactory Texas also showed the Cybercab’s side and rear camera washer system operating as vehicles were being loaded onto transport trucks.

The growing number of Cybercabs at Giga Texas comes amidst the company’s announcement that the first production Cybercab has been produced at the facility. Full Cybercab production is expected to begin in April.

The vehicle is expected to play a central role in Tesla’s Robotaxi ambitions as the company looks to expand autonomous ride-hailing operations beyond its early deployments using Model Y vehicles.

Tesla has also linked Cybercab production to its proposed Unboxed manufacturing process, which assembles large vehicle modules separately before integrating them. The approach is intended to reduce production costs and accelerate output.

Advertisement

Musk has also noted that the Cybercab’s ramp will likely begin slowly due to the number of new components and manufacturing steps involved. However, he stated that once the process matures, Cybercab production could scale quickly.

Continue Reading