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Tesla immerses itself in Chinese culture as Gigafactory 3 sees machinery setup
On the heels of the near-completion of Gigafactory 3’s factory shell, Tesla appears to be setting itself up as an electric car maker that is down-to-earth and respectful of China’s culture. As Tesla joins China in celebrating a national holiday, reports have emerged pointing to machinery in Gigafactory 3 already being set up inside the facility.
China recently celebrated its Dragon Boat Festival, a national holiday that is largely connected to the death of Qu Yuan, one of the country’s most notable poets who was accused of treason by the ruling class. Legend states that the poet committed suicide by drowning instead of allowing himself to be captured by the authorities, but his body was saved after locals raced out in boats (hence the Dragon Boats) to scatter rice in the water, preventing fish from desecrating his corpse.
References to this legend were present in greetings that Tesla sent out to everyone on the company’s mailing list in the days leading up to the national holiday. One poster, in particular, featured the unmistakable figure of a Dragon Boat, while another resembled the sticky rice dumplings that are eaten to celebrate the holiday.
Also notable was Tesla’s initiative to tap into the younger Chinese demographic. This Friday and Saturday, China is holding its national college entrance examination called the Gaokao, which is widely considered as one of the toughest tests in the world. Considering that the scores of students taking the Gaokao all but determine their chances at higher education (such as where they are allowed to study or what courses they could take), high schoolers are known to face a ton of stress when preparing for the nationwide test.
In the days leading up to the Gaokao, Tesla shared a number of fun Physics reviewers on Chinese social media, giving students a refresher on concepts that are relevant to the company. While these campaigns might seem minor to territories outside China, such a strategy all but ensures that Tesla becomes a familiar brand to the country’s teens, who will be the nation’s car buyers in a few years.
Tesla’s recent gestures all but suggest that the company is taking careful steps to ensure that it immerses itself in Chinese culture without making any missteps. China is a substantial market for automobiles, and other, more established companies have made mistakes of their own in the past. Mercedes-Benz, for one, simply entered China under the brand name “Bensi” (a direct translation of its Western name), only to realize later on that the name they chose literally meant “rush to die.”
Peugeot ended up committing a notable blunder as well, naming itself “Biāozhì” in China. The name generally translated to “beautiful,” which was not bad, but the carmaker ended up neglecting the fact that in some areas of the country, the word “biǎozi” was the word for “prostitute.” This resulted in Peugeot becoming the subject of immense ridicule online.
As the country celebrated its Dragon Boat Festival, work in Gigafactory 3 seemingly continued as well. As noted by China-based Tesla owner Dennis Chang, who visited the Gigafactory 3 site at night, machinery was already being set up in the facility’s interior. Workers at the factory have reportedly noted that initial operations are set to begin sometime in August at the earliest.
Gigafactory 3 has exceeded expectations in terms of the speed of its buildout. When Elon Musk participated in the facility’s groundbreaking ceremony in January, he noted that he expects Model 3 production to start at the end of the year. Considering the speed of the facility’s buildout so far, Musk’s timeframe might actually end up being conservative.
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Man credits Grok AI with saving his life after ER missed near-ruptured appendix
The AI flagged some of the man’s symptoms and urged him to return to the ER immediately and demand a CT scan.
A 49-year-old man has stated that xAI’s Grok ended up saving his life when the large language model identified a near-ruptured appendix that his first ER visit dismissed as acid reflux.
After being sent home from the ER, the man asked Grok to analyze his symptoms. The AI flagged some of the man’s symptoms and urged him to return immediately and demand a CT scan. The scan confirmed that something far worse than acid reflux was indeed going on.
Grok spotted what a doctor missed
In a post on Reddit, u/Tykjen noted that for 24 hours straight, he had a constant “razor-blade-level” abdominal pain that forced him into a fetal position. He had no fever or visible signs. He went to the ER, where a doctor pressed his soft belly, prescribed acid blockers, and sent him home.
The acid blockers didn’t work, and the man’s pain remained intense. He then decided to open a year-long chat he had with Grok and listed every detail that he was experiencing. The AI responded quickly. “Grok immediately flagged perforated ulcer or atypical appendicitis, told me the exact red-flag pattern I was describing, and basically said “go back right now and ask for a CT,” the man wrote in his post.
He copied Grok’s reasoning, returned to the ER, and insisted on the scan. The CT scan ultimately showed an inflamed appendix on the verge of rupture. Six hours later, the appendix was out. The man said the pain has completely vanished, and he woke up laughing under anesthesia. He was discharged the next day.
How a late-night conversation with Grok got me to demand the CT scan that saved my life from a ruptured appendix (December 2025)
byu/Tykjen ingrok
AI doctors could very well be welcomed
In the replies to his Reddit post, u/Tykjen further explained that he specifically avoided telling doctors that Grok, an AI, suggested he get a CT scan. “I did not tell them on the second visit that Grok recommended the CT scan. I had to lie. I told them my sister who’s a nurse told me to ask for the scan,” the man wrote.
One commenter noted that the use of AI in medicine will likely be welcomed, stating that “If AI could take doctors’ jobs one day, I will be happy. Doctors just don’t care anymore. It’s all a paycheck.” The Redditor replied with, “Sadly yes. That is what it felt like after the first visit. And the following night could have been my last.”
Elon Musk has been very optimistic about the potential of robots like Tesla Optimus in the medical field. Provided that they are able to achieve human-level articulation in their hands, and Tesla is able to bring down their cost through mass manufacturing, the era of AI-powered medical care could very well be closer than expected.
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Tesla expands Model 3 lineup in Europe with most affordable variant yet
The Model 3 Standard still delivers more than 300 miles of range, potentially making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.
Tesla has introduced a lower-priced Model 3 variant in Europe, expanding the lineup just two months after the vehicle’s U.S. debut. The Model 3 Standard still delivers more than 300 miles (480 km) of range, potentially making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers.
Tesla’s pricing strategy
The Model 3 Standard arrives as Tesla contends with declining registrations in several countries across Europe, where sales have not fully offset shifting consumer preferences. Many buyers have turned to options such as Volkswagen’s ID.3 and BYD’s Atto 3, both of which have benefited from aggressive pricing.
By removing select premium finishes and features, Tesla positioned the new Model 3 Standard as an “ultra-low cost of ownership” option of its all-electric sedan. Pricing comes in at €37,970 in Germany, NOK 330,056 in Norway, and SEK 449,990 in Sweden, depending on market. This places the Model 3 Standard well below the “premium” Model 3 trim, which starts at €45,970 in Germany.
Deliveries for the Standard model are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026, giving Tesla an entry-level foothold in a segment that’s increasingly defined by sub-€40,000 offerings.
Tesla’s affordable vehicle push
The low-cost Model 3 follows October’s launch of a similarly positioned Model Y variant, signaling a broader shift in Tesla’s product strategy. While CEO Elon Musk has moved the company toward AI-driven initiatives such as robotaxis and humanoid robots, lower-priced vehicles remain necessary to support the company’s revenue in the near term.
Reports have indicated that Tesla previously abandoned plans for an all-new $25,000 EV, with the company opting to create cheaper versions of existing platforms instead. Analysts have flagged possible cannibalization of higher-margin models, but the move aims to counter an influx of aggressively priced entrants from China and Europe, many of which sell below $30,000. With the new Model 3 Standard, Tesla is reinforcing its volume strategy in Europe’s increasingly competitive EV landscape.
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Tesla FSD (Supervised) stuns Germany’s biggest car magazine
FSD Supervised recognized construction zones, braked early for pedestrians, and yielded politely on narrow streets.
Tesla’s upcoming FSD Supervised system, set for a European debut pending regulatory approval, is showing notably refined behavior in real-world testing, including construction zones, pedestrian detection, and lane changes, as per a recent demonstration ride in Berlin.
While the system still required driver oversight, its smooth braking, steering, and decision-making illustrated how far Tesla’s driver-assistance technology has advanced ahead of a potential 2026 rollout.
FSD’s maturity in dense city driving
During the Berlin test ride with Auto Bild, Germany’s largest automotive publication, a Tesla Model 3 running FSD handled complex traffic with minimal intervention, autonomously managing braking, acceleration, steering, and overtaking up to 140 km/h. It recognized construction zones, braked early for pedestrians, and yielded politely on narrow streets.
Only one manual override was required when the system misread a converted one-way route, an example, Tesla stated, of the continuous learning baked into its vision-based architecture.
Robin Hornig of Auto Bild summed up his experience with FSD Supervised with a glowing review of the system. As per the reporter, FSD Supervised already exceeds humans with its all-around vision. “Tesla FSD Supervised sees more than I do. It doesn’t get distracted and never gets tired. I like to think I’m a good driver, but I can’t match this system’s all-around vision. It’s at its best when both work together: my experience and the Tesla’s constant attention,” the journalist wrote.
Tesla FSD in Europe
FSD Supervised is still a driver-assistance system rather than autonomous driving. Still, Auto Bild noted that Tesla’s 360-degree camera suite, constant monitoring, and high computing power mark a sizable leap from earlier iterations. Already active in the U.S., China, and several other regions, the system is currently navigating Europe’s approval pipeline. Tesla has applied for an exemption in the Netherlands, aiming to launch the feature through a free software update as early as February 2026.
What Tesla demonstrated in Berlin mirrors capabilities already common in China and the U.S., where rival automakers have rolled out hands-free or city-navigation systems. Europe, however, remains behind due to a stricter certification environment, though Tesla is currently hard at work pushing for FSD Supervised’s approval in several countries in the region.
Man credits Grok AI with saving his life after ER missed near-ruptured appendix
Tesla expands Model 3 lineup in Europe with most affordable variant yet
