Tesla’s first street, labeled “Tesla Straße,” has been erected in Germany near Giga Berlin.
Tesla has been working to construct and develop its next production facility in Brandenburg, Germany, since January 2020. Now, the first street named after the electric automaker has arrived.
Photos shared by @Gf4Tesla show the street sign, which was erected on the morning of Friday, August 14, 2020. The sign will direct drivers off of German drivers off of the L38, which is located just off of Bundesautobahn Route 10.
#GigaBerlin
August 14 / 2020
Hey, today is the official opening of "Tesla Straße". 👍 pic.twitter.com/9c8HBKusqK— Gigafactory Berlin News (@Gf4Tesla) August 14, 2020
-->The “1” that is placed just below the street sign is indicative of the street address. For example, a house situated at the address “1 Tesla Straße” would be on this road, making it easier for drivers to find places of interest that they could be traveling to.
The placement of the street sign is indicative of Tesla’s presence in Germany as if the construction of a Gigafactory was not enough. The electric automaker has won over plenty of people in the European country as it will provide economic stimulation through vehicle production and employment opportunities.
However, Tesla’s street sign in Brandenburg could be taken as an official initiation into the country. Often times, street signs are named after prominent figures or are symbolic of what an area means. For example, many streets are named after important figures in history, and others are named after what stands at the location currently. This point is relevant for streets like “Martin Luther King Boulevard,” or for SpaceX Headquarters in Hawthorne, California, which sits on Rocket Road.
Interestingly, several GPS and Mapping applications have already included Tesla Straße into its infrastructure. Apple Maps is one example, and one Twitter user by the name of @AndiOlli80 stated that TomTom has also implemented the street into its system.
Construction crews at the Giga Berlin site are currently working on completing the fabrication of each of the facility’s structures. Now, the Drive Unit is the closest to completion, as the framework for the building is finished, but crews are installing walls and ceilings for the building.
Giga Berlin’s paint shop and Body In White buildings are also moving along quickly in part to prefabricated construction methods, and crews are working toward completing those facilities in a timely fashion.
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August 14 / 2020+++Weekend update +++
A lot has happened again during the week.
– Drive Unit ( DU ) built more walls and started to cover the roof.
– Body in white ( BW ) will be extended, more pillars will be set and steel skeleton beams.
……📈 pic.twitter.com/3RPtLTRGL0— Gigafactory Berlin News (@Gf4Tesla) August 14, 2020
Giga Berlin will manufacture the Model Y first, and production is expected to begin in July 2021.
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News
Swedish union rep pissed that Tesla is working around a postal blockade they started
Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Two years into their postal blockade, Swedish unions are outraged that Tesla is still able to provide its customers’ vehicles with valid plates through various clever workarounds.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia called it “embarrassing” that the world’s largest EV maker, owned by CEO Elon Musk, refuses to simply roll over and accept the unions’ demands.
Unions shocked Tesla won’t just roll over and surrender
The postal unions’ blockade began in November 2023 when Seko and IF Metall-linked unions stopped all mail to Tesla sites to force a collective agreement. License plates for Tesla vehicles instantly became the perfect pressure point, as noted in a Dagens Arbete report.
Tesla responded by implementing initiatives to work around the blockades. A recent investigation from Arbetet revealed that Tesla Sweden is now using dozens of private residences, including one employee’s parents’ house in Trångsund and a customer-relations staffer’s home in Vårby, as a way to obtain license plates for its vehicles.
Seko chairman Gabriella Lavecchia is not pleased that Tesla Sweden is working around the unions’ efforts yet again. “It is embarrassing that one of the world’s largest car companies, owned by one of the world’s richest people, has sunk this low,” she told the outlet. “Unfortunately, it is completely frivolous that such a large company conducts business in this way.”
-->Two years on and plates are still being received
The Swedish Transport Agency has confirmed Tesla is still using several different workarounds to overcome the unions’ blockades.
As noted by DA, Tesla Sweden previously used different addresses to receive its license plates. At one point, the electric vehicle maker used addresses for car care shops. Tesla Sweden reportedly used this strategy in Östermalm in Stockholm, as well as in Norrköping and Gothenburg.
Another strategy that Tesla Sweden reportedly implemented involved replacement plates being ordered by private individuals when vehicles change hands from Tesla to car buyers. There have also been cases where the police have reportedly issued temporary plates to Tesla vehicles.
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Czech Deputy excited for Tesla FSD, hints at Transport Committee review
The ANO party lawmaker shared his thoughts about FSD in a post on social media platform X.
Martin Kolovratník, a Czech Republic Chamber of Deputies member, has expressed his excitement for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) after an apparent constituent called for a quick approval for the advanced safety system.
The ANO party lawmaker, who drives both diesel and EV, shared his thoughts about the matter in a post on social media platform X.
The official’s initial statements
Kolovratník kicked off the exchange with a post outlining his coalition’s efforts to scrap highway toll exemptions for electric vehicles and plug-ins starting in 2027.
“Times have changed. Electric vehicles are no longer a fringe technology, but a full-fledged part of operations. And if someone uses the highway network, they should follow the same rules as everyone else. That’s the basis of fairness,” he wrote.
He emphasized equity over ideology, noting his personal mix of diesel and electric driving. “For this reason, there is no reason to continue favoring one technology at the expense of another… It’s not about ideology, it’s about equal conditions. That’s why we clearly agreed within the new coalition: the exemption for electric vehicles and plug-ins will end in 2027. The decision is predictable, understandable, and economically sound.”
-->Tesla FSD enthusiasm
The conversation pivoted to Tesla’s FSD when X user @robotinreallife, who seems to be one of the official’s constituents, replied that other matters are more important than ending highway exemptions for EVs.
“I’m happy to pay for the highway, but I have a question about a much more fundamental matter: The Netherlands will approve the operation of Tesla FSD in February 26, a technology that has been proven to reduce accidents. The Czech Republic has the option to immediately recognize this certification. Do you plan to support this step so that we don’t unnecessarily delay?” the X user asked.
Kolovratník responded promptly, sharing his own excitement for the upcoming rollout of FSD. “I know about it. I like it and it seems interesting to me. Once we set up the committees and subcommittees, we’ll open it right away in that transport one. Thanks for the tip, I’ll deliver the report,” the official noted in his reply on X.
Kolovratník’s nod to FSD hints at the system’s potentially smooth rollout to Czechia in the coming year. With the Netherlands possibly greenlighting FSD (Supervised) in early 2026, Kolovratník’s commitment could accelerate cross-border certification, boosting FSD’s foray into Europe by a notable margin.
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Tesla Model 3 named New Zealand’s best passenger car of 2025
Tesla flipped the switch on Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in September, turning every Model 3 and Model Y into New Zealand’s most advanced production car overnight.
The refreshed Tesla Model 3 has won the DRIVEN Car Guide AA Insurance NZ Car of the Year 2025 award in the Passenger Car category, beating all traditional and electric rivals.
Judges praised the all-electric sedan’s driving dynamics, value-packed EV tech, and the game-changing addition of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) that went live in New Zealand this September.
Why the Model 3 clinched the crown
DRIVEN admitted they were late to the “Highland” party because the updated sedan arrived in New Zealand as a 2024 model, just before the new Model Y stole the headlines. Yet two things forced a re-evaluation this year.
First, experiencing the new Model Y reminded testers how many big upgrades originated in the Model 3, such as the smoother ride, quieter cabin, ventilated seats, rear touchscreen, and stalk-less minimalist interior. Second, and far more importantly, Tesla flipped the switch on Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in September, turning every Model 3 and Model Y into New Zealand’s most advanced production car overnight.
FSD changes everything for Kiwi buyers
The publication called the entry-level rear-wheel-drive version “good to drive and represents a lot of EV technology for the money,” but highlighted that FSD elevates it into another league. “Make no mistake, despite the ‘Supervised’ bit in the name that requires you to remain ready to take control, it’s autonomous and very capable in some surprisingly tricky scenarios,” the review stated.
-->At NZ$11,400, FSD is far from cheap, but Tesla also offers FSD (Supervised) on a $159 monthly subscription, making the tech accessible without the full upfront investment. That’s a game-changer, as it allows users to access the company’s most advanced system without forking over a huge amount of money.
Swedish union rep pissed that Tesla is working around a postal blockade they started
Czech Deputy excited for Tesla FSD, hints at Transport Committee review
