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Tesla’s first third-party app is here, and it’s all about fleets

Credit: Tesla, Standard Fleet

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**UPDATED with a comment from Standard Fleet CEO and founder David Hodge.

Tesla appears to have quietly rolled out its support for official third-party applications. The first third-party app is Standard Fleet, a fleet management platform that’s currently being used by a number of Tesla ride-sharing and EV-sharing companies across the globe. 

Standard Fleet is the brainchild of Apple veteran and longtime Tesla owner David Hodge. Launched last year, the platform seeks to provide online and mobile tools to ensure that electric vehicle fleets are managed in an efficient and profitable manner. A key advantage offered by Standard Fleet lies in the fact that it’s software-based, so fleet owners are not required to purchase any cumbersome third-party devices just to monitor and manage their fleet. 

Since its launch, Standard Fleet has received support from a number of notable Tesla-related businesses. These include Revel in New York, which operates a fleet of Model Y crossovers for ride-sharing, as well as MisterGreen Electric Lease, which manages over 5,000 Teslas in Europe. Arizona-based EV Access, whose fleet is nearing the 1,000-unit mark, has also noted that it uses Standard Fleet for its business. 

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Tesla Access

As observed by Teslarati, Standard Fleet’s login page now shows a button that allows users to connect to the fleet management platform’s online dashboard using a Tesla Single Sign-On (SSO) system. Clicking “Sign in with Tesla” directs users to Tesla’s authorization page, where they can grant Standard Fleet access to their Tesla profile information, vehicle location, data, and commands. Once users grant the necessary permissions, they will be directed to Standard Fleet’s dashboard, where they can manage their Tesla fleet. 

Users that provide Standard Fleet with the necessary permissions to access their vehicle data could be assured, as the EV management platform notes that Tesla users could revoke access to their accounts at any time at Tesla.com. Standard Fleet also notes that it connects to Tesla through OAuth, so the company only receives an “access token” from the EV maker. This means that Standard Fleet does not access users’ Tesla passwords at all. 

Credit: Standard Fleet

While Tesla is yet to formally announce its support for Standard Fleet as an official third-party app as of writing, the Tesla login buttons on the EV management platform’s webpage and mobile app seem confirmation enough. The fact that Standard Fleet is also listed in Tesla’s “Third Party Apps” menu is just icing on the cake. 

Credit: Standard Fleet

Electric Fleets 

Standard Fleet’s support as Tesla’s first third-party app seems to be coming at the right time. As noted by Standard Fleet founder David Hodge, it’s only a matter of time before most vehicle fleets become electric. EVs just make sense for fleets, as they are easy to track, maintain, and support. With this in mind, having Tesla’s first third-party app be a fleet management system makes sense, as it suggests that the company is determined to support customers that operate businesses using its electric cars. 

The Model Y is already an excellent fleet vehicle, with its stellar performance, ample range, and space. The Cybertruck, at least when Tesla ramps its production and stabilizes its cost, would likely be an equally good or even better fleet vehicle. There is definitely some demand, after all, for a reasonably-priced rugged vehicle that requires minimal maintenance and is easy to track. Future electric cars like the Robovan and the affordable Tesla that will be produced at Gigafactory Mexico would likely be excellent fleet units as well. 

Standard Fleet founder and CEO David Hodge issued a brief comment about the EV management platform being a third-party application for Tesla. “Teslas are fantastic fleet vehicles. We have nearly 100,000 EVS connected and are thrilled to make this step to improve how we can support our innovative EV Fleet customers,” Hodge said in a comment to Teslarati.

Tesla App Store

The arrival of Standard Fleet as Tesla’s first third-party bodes well for a dedicated App Store for the company’s electric cars. Teslas, after all, are akin to advanced computers on wheels. They already function quite a lot like modern smartphones in the way that they improve and change through over-the-air software updates. An App Store for the company then makes sense as a next step for Tesla. 

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk has referenced the idea of a dedicated Tesla App Store in the past. During a 2019 interview with Ryan McCaffrey of the Ride the Lightning podcast, Musk noted that as the number of Teslas on the road grows, it makes more sense to consider the development of “games and other applications for Tesla.” Ultimately, Standard Fleet is just the beginning, so it would be pretty interesting to see the next third-party applications that Tesla would be supporting in the near future. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads-up. 

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.

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Tesla launches its solution to rare but relevant Supercharger problem

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tesla supercharger
Credit: Tesla

Tesla has launched a new solution to a rare but relevant Supercharger problem with a new Virtual Waitlist, a remedy that will solve sequencing confusion when there is a line to charge at one of the company’s locations.

Teslarati reported on what we called the Virtual Queue last month. In rare occurrences, there were physical altercations at Superchargers when someone might have cut in line to charge. Tesla started to develop some sort of system that would resolve this issue, and now it is finally rolling it out.

Tesla launches solution to end Supercharger fights once and for all

It will start with a Pilot Program, and Tesla is calling it the ‘Waitlist.’

Announced on May 11 on the official TeslaCharging X account, the pilot program is currently active at sites in Los Gatos, Mountain View, and San Francisco in California, as well as San Jose, CA, and the Bronx, NY (East Gun Hill Road). Drivers are encouraged to share feedback directly through the Tesla app to refine the system before a potential broader rollout.

Tesla released the video above to showcase the feature, which automatically joins the waitlist when your vehicle has the Supercharger with the wait as the destination in the navigation. There is also a notification that lets you know your place in line.

In this specific example, the video shows that the wait is less than five minutes, and that there are two cars ahead of the one in the video:

Credit: Tesla

Having a wait at a Supercharger is relatively rare, but it does happen. It is even more frequent now that there are more EVs allowed to use the Supercharger Network. Those non-Tesla EVs can also join the queue, as Tesla added in its social media release of the pilot program that they can join the waitlist using the Tesla app.

The release of this program should help alleviate the rare risk of incidents at Superchargers. Tesla will expand this program as it sees fit, and it gathers valuable data and reviews from users.

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Investor's Corner

Tesla Optimus is already benefiting investors, top Wall Street firm says

Piper Sandler has updated its detailed valuation model for Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), concluding that at recent share prices around $400–$420, investors are essentially acquiring the company’s ambitious Optimus humanoid robot project at no extra cost.

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Credit: Tesla China

Tesla Optimus is already benefiting investors from a fiscal standpoint, at least that is what Alexander Potter at Piper Sandler, a top Wall Street firm covering the company, says.

Piper Sandler has updated its detailed valuation model for Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), concluding that at recent share prices around $400–$420, investors are essentially acquiring the company’s ambitious Optimus humanoid robot project at no extra cost.

Analyst Alexander Potter, in the firm’s latest “Definitive Guide to Investing in Tesla,” built a comprehensive framework covering 17 separate product lines.

This granular approach values Tesla’s core businesses—including electric vehicles, energy storage, Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, in-house insurance, Supercharging network, and a standalone robotaxi operation—at approximately $400 per share, without assigning any value to Optimus or related inference-as-a-service opportunities.

“At $400/share, we think investors can buy Optimus for ‘free,’” Potter stated in the note. Piper Sandler maintained its Overweight rating on Tesla shares and a $500 price target, which implicitly attributes roughly $100 per share to the robot-related businesses— a figure the analyst views as potentially conservative.

The updated model incorporates elements often overlooked by other sell-side analysts, such as detailed forecasts for Tesla’s insurance operations, Supercharger revenue, and a distinct valuation for the robotaxi business separate from FSD software licensing. It also accounts for Tesla’s 2025 CEO compensation plan for the first time.

Potter acknowledged that his estimates for 2026 and 2027 fall below Wall Street consensus, citing factors like declining deliveries from certain discontinued models and reduced regulatory credit income.

However, he expressed limited concern, noting that traditional vehicle delivery metrics are expected to matter less over time as FSD subscriber growth and robotaxi deployment metrics gain prominence. On Optimus specifically, Potter suggested the humanoid robot program, combined with inference services, “arguably will be worth more than Tesla’s other businesses combined,” though the firm has not yet produced formal long-term forecasts for these segments.

Elon Musk reveals shocking Tesla Optimus patent detail

Tesla shares have traded near the $400 range in recent sessions, reflecting ongoing investor focus on the company’s autonomous driving progress and expansion into robotics and AI. The Optimus project remains in early development stages, with Tesla aiming to deploy the robots initially for internal factory tasks before broader commercial applications.

This Piper Sandler analysis highlights the growing emphasis among some investors and analysts on Tesla’s long-term technology platform potential beyond its current automotive and energy businesses.

As with any forward-looking valuation, outcomes will depend on execution timelines, technological breakthroughs, regulatory approvals for autonomous systems, and market adoption of humanoid robotics—areas that carry significant uncertainty and execution risk.

The note underscores a common theme in Tesla coverage: differing views on how to quantify emerging high-growth opportunities like robotics within the company’s overall enterprise value. Investors are advised to consider their own risk tolerance and conduct thorough due diligence regarding these speculative elements.

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Tesla Giga Texas buzzing as new Cybertruck appears to enter production

Additionally, the Cybercab manufacturing ramp-up is continuing amidst Tesla’s busy May, which includes a handful of things from an automotive perspective.

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Credit: Joe Tegtmeyer | X

Tesla Giga Texas is buzzing with a lot of action, as it appears the new Cybertruck trim that was offered a few months back has entered production. Additionally, the Cybercab manufacturing ramp-up is continuing amidst Tesla’s busy May, which includes a handful of things from an automotive perspective.

Drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer captured striking footage over Giga Texas on the morning of May 11, 2026, revealing fresh batches of Cybertrucks that may mark the start of series production for the long-awaited $59,990 Dual Motor AWD variant.

Tesla launches new Cybertruck trim with more features than ever for a low price

The vehicles lined up in staging areas, and we got a great look at three of the units parked on the property:

Tegtmeyer notes the difficulty in visually distinguishing this base AWD model from higher-trim versions, unlike the earlier Long-Range RWD that lacked a motorized tonneau cover.

Tesla launched the $59,990 Dual Motor AWD Cybertruck in late February 2026 with a brief introductory pricing window that closed by month’s end.

Demand proved overwhelming.

Initial U.S. delivery estimates of June 2026 quickly slipped to September–October and, for newer orders, as far as April 2027.

The move underscores robust consumer interest in a more accessible all-wheel-drive Cybertruck priced under $60,000 before incentives—positioning it as a volume play for Tesla’s electric pickup lineup while premium AWD and Cyberbeast variants continue to be sold as usual.

Meanwhile, Cybercab production at the same Austin facility shows steady, if deliberate, progress. Tegtmeyer’s latest flyover documented dozens of glossy production-spec Cybercabs parked in the outbound lot—consistent with Tesla’s early statements that initial output would remain modest before scaling later in 2026.

The purpose-built robotaxi, unveiled in 2024 and lacking a steering wheel or pedals, rolled its first unit off the line in February. Volume manufacturing began in April, with early examples already undergoing autonomous testing around the factory grounds.

Elon Musk has repeatedly emphasized that Cybercab and Semi production will start slowly before ramping “exponentially” toward year-end. The presence of multiple finished units signals Tesla’s Unboxed manufacturing process is maturing, even as the company balances Cybertruck output with autonomy milestones.

Recent drone imagery also shows ongoing construction for Optimus and test-track expansions, highlighting Giga Texas’s evolving role as Tesla’s hub for next-generation vehicles.

For Cybertruck buyers, the potential ramp of the $59K AWD offers hope of shorter waits and broader market access. For autonomy enthusiasts, the growing fleet of Cybercabs hints at robotaxi service trials on the horizon.

While official confirmation from Tesla remains pending, Tegtmeyer’s footage provides the clearest public signal yet that both programs are advancing in parallel at Giga Texas.

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