Tesla China recently held in-depth discussions with members of the media from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and other cities to discuss several pertinent topics related to the company, its operations, and its vehicles. David Lau, Vice President of Global Software Engineering at Tesla, spoke during the media event.
The topics discussed included “How Tesla Cultivates Top Engineers” and “The Intelligent Capability of the New Model S/X.” But more importantly, the event focused on how Tesla’s “Plaid Mode” translates not only to the Model S and Model X’s 0-60 mph launch — it also applies to the company’s software development. As such, other topics discussed during the media event were “Enabling Plaid Mode in Software Development” and “How Tesla’s Software Development Maintains Plaid Speed.”
“Tesla has always been challenging tradition, challenging industry conventional thinking, and challenging its own comfort zone… This is indeed difficult, but as long as we keep pushing ourselves to continuously break through boundaries, there is nothing that cannot be achieved,” Lau said at the event, whose local media notes were shared by an attendee to Teslarati.
The Tesla executive also highlighted that Elon Musk’s references to “Plaid” being beyond “Ludicrous” lies beyond pop culture. It also represents an engineer culture with a persistent — if not stubborn — pursuit of disruptive innovation and breakthroughs. This way of thinking appears to have worked, as surveys of engineering students from North America by consulting firm Universum showed that Tesla had become one of the most attractive automotive companies in the industry. In 2020, Tesla was ranked first in the list of companies that engineering students want to work for the most.
“At Tesla, teams have a persistent pursuit of disruptive innovation and breakthroughs. For example, daily discussions revolve around topics such as ‘how to reduce wiring and weight to simplify design,’ ‘how to improve display performance while reducing costs,’ and ‘how to strengthen the technical security network.’ Continuously creating an engineer-friendly atmosphere and attracting a large number of industry experts to Tesla is aimed at achieving a common goal – accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy,” Tesla China’s media release noted.
During the event, attendees from the media showed particular interest in the new Tesla Model S and Model X, which feature the best that the electric vehicle maker could offer today. The executive highlighted that the new Model S and Model X are benchmarks since they play the parts of a “family car” and a “super performance car” at the same time. And thanks to the company’s work in in-vehicle tech, the new Model S and Model X have also become capable “in-car gaming systems” whose performance allows users and passengers to play premium titles.
While Lau’s discussions on how Tesla’s “Plaid” philosophy and the new Model S and Model X were compelling, his comments while discussing the company’s identity as a software-defined automaker were also very interesting. As noted by the executive, Tesla’s software work has been setting benchmarks for a very long time. Lau joined the company way back in 2012, and at the time, Tesla already had the capability to improve its vehicle controllers through over-the-air (OTA) software updates. Rival carmakers were only able to update their entertainment systems at most back then.
“Many people think that the vehicle itself is a completely independent system, but in the Tesla software team’s view, the vehicle software system is only a part of the large software system. The implementation of a large number of vehicle software functions requires consideration of the network and service system. We hope to provide timely feedback on corresponding functions according to customers’ real-time driving experience and continuously optimize the user experience,” Lau said.
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Elon Musk confirms Tesla FSD V14.2 will see widespread rollout
Musk shared the news in a post on social media platform X.
Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla will be implementing a wide rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) V14 with the system’s V14.2 update. Musk shared the news in a post on social media platform X.
FSD V14.1.2 earns strong praise from testers
Musk’s comment came as a response to Tesla owner and longtime FSD tester AI DRIVR, who noted that it might be time to release Full Self-Driving to the fleet because V14.1.2 has already become very refined.
“95% of the indecisive lane changes and braking have been fixed in FSD 14.1.2. I haven’t touched my steering wheel in two days. I think it’s time, Tesla AI,” the longtime FSD tester wrote.
AI DRIVR’s comment received quite a bit of support from fellow Tesla drivers, some of whom noted that the improvements that were implemented in V14.1.2 are substantial. Others also agreed that it’s time for FSD to see a wide release.
In his reply to the FSD tester, CEO Elon Musk noted that FSD V14’s wide release would happen with V14.2. “14.2 for widespread use,” Musk wrote in his reply.
Mad Max mode makes headlines
One of the key features that was introduced with FSD’s current iteration is Mad Max mode, which allows for higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than the previous “Hurry” mode. Videos and social media posts from FSD testers have shown the system deftly handling complex traffic, merging seamlessly, and maintaining an assertive but safe driving behavior with Mad Max mode engaged.
Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy recently noted in a post on X that Mad Max mode was built to handle congested daytime traffic, making it extremely useful for drivers who tend to find themselves in heavy roads during their daily commutes. With Musk now hinting that FSD V14.2 will go on wide release, it might only be a matter of time before the larger Tesla fleet gets to experience the notable improvements of FSD’s V14 update.
News
Multiple Tesla Cybercab units spotted at Giga Texas crash test facility
The vehicles were covered, but one could easily recognize the Cybercab’s sleek lines and compact size.
It appears that Tesla is ramping up its activities surrounding the development and likely initial production of the Cybercab at Giga Texas. This was, at least, hinted at in a recent drone flyover of the massive electric vehicle production facility in Austin.
Cybercab sightings fuel speculations
As observed by longtime Giga Texas drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer, Tesla had several covered Cybercab units outside the facility’s crash testing facility at the time of his recent flyover. The vehicles were covered, but one could easily recognize the Cybercab’s sleek lines and compact size. Tegtmeyer also observed during his flyover that production of the Model Y Standard seems to be hitting its pace.
The drone operator noted that the seven covered Cybercabs might be older prototypes being decommissioned or new units awaiting crash tests. Either scenario points to a ramp-up in Cybercab activity at Giga Texas, however. “In either case, this is another datapoint indicating production is getting closer to happening,” Tegtmeyer wrote on X, highlighting that the autonomous two-seaters were quite exciting to see.
Cybercab production targets
This latest sighting follows reports of renewed Cybercab appearances at both the Fremont Factory and Giga Texas. A test unit was recently spotted driving on Giga Texas’ South River Road. Another Cybercab, seen at Tesla’s Fremont Factory, appeared to be manually driven, suggesting that the vehicle’s current prototypes may still be produced with temporary steering controls.
The Tesla Cybercab is designed to be the company’s highest-volume vehicle, with CEO Elon Musk estimating that the autonomous two-seater should see an annual production rate of about 2 million units per year. To accomplish this, Tesla will be building the Cybercab using its “Unboxed” process, which should help the vehicle’s production line achieve outputs that are more akin to consumer electronics production lines.
Elon Musk
Teslas in the Boring Co. Vegas Loop are about to get a big change
Elon Musk has a big update for Teslas that operate within the Boring Company’s Vegas Loop.
Tesla vehicles operating in the Boring Company’s Vegas Loop are about to get a big change, CEO Elon Musk said.
In Las Vegas, the Boring Company operates the Vegas Loop, an underground tunnel system that uses Teslas to drop people off at various hotspots on the strip. It’s been active for a few years now and is expanding to other resorts, hotels, and destinations.
Currently, there are stops at three resorts: Westgate, the Encore, and Resorts World. However, there will eventually be “over 100 stations and span over 68 miles of tunnel,” the Vegas Loop website says.
The Loop utilizes Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles to send passengers to their desired destinations. They are currently driven using the Full Self-Driving suite, but they also have safety drivers in each vehicle to ensure safety.
Tesla Cybertruck rides are crucial for Vegas Loop expansion to airport
Tesla and the Boring Company have been working to remove drivers from the vehicles used in the Loop, but now, it appears there is a set timeline to have them out, according to CEO Elon Musk:
The Tesla cars operating in The Boring Company tunnels under Las Vegas will be driverless in a month or two https://t.co/mX4nNrJui9
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 18, 2025
Musk says the Boring Co. will no longer rely on safety drivers within the Teslas for operation. Instead, Tesla will look to remove the safety drivers from the cars within the next month or two, a similar timeline for what Musk believes the Robotaxi platform will look like in Austin.
In Texas, as Robotaxi continues to operate as it has since June, there are still safety monitors within the car who sit in the passenger’s seat. They are there to ensure a safe experience for riders.
When the route takes the vehicle on the highway, safety monitors move into the driver’s seat.
However, Tesla wants to be able to remove safety monitors from its vehicles in Austin by the end of the year, Musk has said recently.
In early September, Musk said that the safety monitors are “just there for the first few months to be extra safe.” He then added that there “should be no safety driver by end of year.”
The safety driver is just there for the first few months to be extra safe.
Should be no safety driver by end of year.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 4, 2025
Elon Musk confirms Tesla FSD V14.2 will see widespread rollout
Multiple Tesla Cybercab units spotted at Giga Texas crash test facility
Teslas in the Boring Co. Vegas Loop are about to get a big change
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