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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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DIY

Tesla owner fixes common feature complaint with crafty DIY retrofit

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Credit: @mikegapinski

Tesla owners have long griped about the wireless phone charger in the Model Y and other vehicles. It often turns smartphones into miniature ovens rather than reliably topping them up.

Software engineer and Model Y owner Michał Gapiński tackled this issue head-on with a clever DIY upgrade, swapping the cooled wireless charger pad from the China-made Model YL in for the one that came standard in his vehicle.

There are several key differences between the U.S.-built Model Y’s wireless charging pad and the one that Tesla has been installing in the Model YL. The one installed in U.S.-built vehicles lacks active cooling and relies on basic heat dissipation, leading to rapid temperature buildup during charging. In contrast, the Model YL integrates a small fan for active cooling.

This design maintains lower temperatures even in warm ambient conditions, though it does not support faster Qi2 charging on iPhones. The connector matches exactly, making physical swaps feasible on compatible consoles, but coding is required to enable full functionality.

Owners in the U.S. have complained about the wireless charging pad, with many reporting that overheating is fairly common. Within 20 or 30 minutes of placing a phone on the wireless charging pad, many have reported overheating messages on their phones, which halt charging and essentially turn the pad into a fancy place to rest your phone.

Many owners have opted to simply plug their phones into a charging cord. Tesla has acknowledged the problem by releasing several solutions for owners, including a relatively new feature that allows you to simply turn off the charging and simply act as a holder for your phone while driving.

Gapiński said that he sourced the cooled pad affordably from China, and it cost under $200 for the part.

He removed the existing console charger, swapped in the new unit, confirming a perfect connector fit, and handled the trim differences. Since the parameter isn’t fully secured, he enabled it through custom coding outside official Toolbox.

The fan activates quietly, blending with AC and seat cooling. He reported the installation was effective and the wireless charging pad worked perfectly; it even kept the phone cool as it stayed at just 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Many times, the wireless charging pad will bring the phone’s temperature well above 100 degrees, sometimes even being relatively hot to the touch.

This retrofit highlighted an elegant, owner-driven solution to a factory shortcoming. It is expected that Tesla will begin installing the cooled charging pads into new cars in the U.S. soon, and hopefully, it will offer some sort of retrofit service or kit to owners here who want to use the charging pad effectively.

For those who love to tinker, it’s an accessible upgrade, proving that innovation thrives beyond the production line.

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Tesla exec says Roadster unveil is soon — for real this time

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(Credit: teslaindiafansclub/Instagram)

The Tesla Roadster unveiling could be coming “in a few weeks,” according to the company’s Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen, who said at the Tesla Takeover Europe Event in Austria that the all-electric hypercar could finally make its way to the production line after years of anticipation.

Von Holzhausen delivered the news just days after The Information reported that Tesla planned to push the Roadster unveiling to August. It was slated for both April and May of this year, but now it seems the company is leaning toward a late Summer event to cap off the heat with perhaps its most anticipated vehicle of all-time.

Franz has been with Tesla since 2008, and has played a pivotal role in the iconic design language the company has utilized with its vehicles. Speaking to the crowd in Austria virtually, von Holzhausen’s comments injected fresh excitement into a project that has been plagued by delays for nine years.

The second-generation Roadster promises to redefine supercar standards. Tesla’s website still highlights ambitious targets: 0-60 mph in under 1.9 seconds (with optional SpaceX thruster pack potentially achieving 1.1 seconds or less), a top speed exceeding 250 mph, and a range of about 620 miles.

Equipped with a tri-motor all-wheel-drive setup delivering over 1,000 horsepower, the four-seater aims to blend blistering acceleration, everyday usability, and innovative features like cold gas thrusters for short-hop capabilities, technology that will combine the project with SpaceX.

But years after the company promised to start production, which was slated for 2020, the timeline for the Roadster has continued to shift.

Tesla has strung along those who have put $50,000 deposits down, as well as fans and enthusiasts of the company who have been long awaiting the company to bring forth a car truly designed for the human driver, and not autonomy. The Roadster is more than just a halo vehicle for Tesla; it showcases the company’s ability to push the boundaries while incorporating synergies from other Musk companies.

However, it has to make it to production, which is something Musk and Co. have pushed back repeatedly.

As Tesla navigates Robotaxi development and broader autonomy goals, the Roadster serves as a reminder of its performance roots. If von Holzhausen’s timeline holds, fans could witness this engineering marvel by late June or early July 2026. Whether a full unveiling, demo, or initial deliveries, it marks a milestone for electric supercars.

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Tesla Roadster unveiling gets pushed again, but new event details emerge

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Credit: Dan Burkland

Tesla has reportedly pushed the unveiling of the Roadster once again, but there are also evidently new details about the event that the company plans to show off.

The Information reported this morning that Tesla will now unveil, for the second time, the next-generation Roadster in August, a further delay from the multiple timeline that the company had previously stated.

The report has not been confirmed or denied by Tesla at any capacity.

It also states the unveiling event will take place in Texas, the same place that Tesla executives revealed in May would be the place of manufacture for the company’s highly-anticipated supercar, which boasts a top speed of over 250 MPH and 650 miles of range, according to its website.

Tesla is also expected to showcase the SpaceX package, which will be used for faster acceleration and potentially hovering capabilities, at the unveiling event, the report states. Musk has always planned for this to happen, but now it seems it is more realistic than ever

The Roadster has had its unveiling date and manufacturing date pushed back on many occasions. It was set to start production in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic crippled supply chain operations, forcing Tesla to push its timeline back considerably.

However, COVID has been over for some time, and Tesla has still not managed to successfully schedule and execute an unveiling event, which is something fans and enthusiasts, as well as those who have put down a $50,000 deposit, have been waiting for.

The vehicle was close to completion last year, but Musk truly wanted Lars Moravy and Franz von Holzhausen to push the limits of the Roadster. In July of last year, Moravy said:

“Roadster is definitely in development. We did talk about it last Sunday night. We are gearing up for a super cool demo. It’s going to be mind-blowing; We showed Elon some cool demos last week of the tech we’ve been working on, and he got a little excited.”

It is important to note two things: Tesla has not confirmed these details, and the company has regularly pushed these dates back. Until Tesla sends out formal invitations with a concrete date, taking any unveiling event reports with a grain of salt is a good idea.

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