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Tesla prepares for Model Y pilot line in China with massive hiring ramp
Tesla is preparing for the production of the Model Y in China at its Giga Shanghai facility with a massive hiring ramp of nearly 900 manufacturing jobs.
Tesla is preparing for the first production push of the Model Y crossover in the Chinese market and expects to begin production at the beginning of 2021. Before the manufacturing efforts can continue, the company must hire a sizeable team that will be able to handle the large scale production of the vehicle.
Tesla owner and enthusiast @Ray4Tesla on Twitter shared the job postings, which detail the position names and the number of workers the company plans to hire for the project.
JUST IN: @Teslacn is on a massive hiring spree for production operators for all the departments at GF3. For the following 4 depts, the hiring indicates specific # of spots available:
Motor shop: 180
GA: 370
Body: 140
Logistics: 200Hiring for Phase 2? Can’t wait to know more. pic.twitter.com/OGfH2zXbGC
— Ray (@ray4tesla) August 27, 2020
Giga Shanghai is currently under expansion to make room for Model Y production. Phase 2 of the facility will build the electric crossover, and Tesla is also using a new manufacturing process for the vehicle through a massive casting machine.
Tesla is not only hiring for the casting workshop but also in eight other areas. The largest hiring pushes will take place in the Motor Workshop with 180 open positions, the Assembly Workshop with 370 jobs, and the Body Shop with 140 positions.
Each of these portions of the Giga Shanghai Phase 2 facility are geared toward hiring production operators who will be responsible for putting together the Model Y on the production line. These areas require the highest number of workers to ensure the production of the vehicle is efficient and manageable.
Among the other positions available for the Model Y line are in the stamping, paint, logistics, quality, and supercharging shops, all of which will contribute an “all hands on deck” approach to the quickly arriving date of production of the crossover.
The effort of hiring more workers at Giga Shanghai follows a company-wide expansion of the team in China altogether. Not only is Tesla looking to add more team members at its manufacturing facility, but the company has also posted several job offerings throughout various areas of China that are located at service centers and showrooms.
The wave of new hires is in preparation for the increased demand that Tesla has experienced in China since beginning deliveries of the Model 3 in January 2020. The mass-market sedan has quickly become the most popular electric car in China, overtaking the BYD Qin Pro.
The Model 3 shares 13% of the total market share of EVs sold in China in 2020, which is over tw0-and-a-half times larger than the Qin Pro EV, which only has 5%, the EV Sales Blog reported.
Tesla is anticipating on the Model Y being the company’s most popular vehicle yet because of its body style and increased cargo space. The company focused on improving the manufacturing of the car, which started with improving the chassis and eliminating so many pieces from the car’s frame. The casting machine will create a one-piece chassis that will increase manufacturing efficiency.
Pair the manufacturing developments with a larger team at Giga Shanghai, and Tesla could begin building the Model Y could enter production sooner than expected.
News
Tesla pushes Full Self-Driving outright purchasing option back in one market
Tesla announced last month that it would eliminate the ability to purchase the Full Self-Driving software outright, instead opting for a subscription-only program, which will require users to pay monthly.
Tesla has pushed the opportunity to purchase the Full Self-Driving suite outright in one market: Australia.
The date remains February 14 in North America, but Tesla has pushed the date back to March 31, 2026, in Australia.
NEWS: Tesla is ending the option to buy FSD as a one-time outright purchase in Australia on March 31, 2026.
It still ends on Feb 14th in North America. https://t.co/qZBOztExVT pic.twitter.com/wmKRZPTf3r
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) February 13, 2026
Tesla announced last month that it would eliminate the ability to purchase the Full Self-Driving software outright, instead opting for a subscription-only program, which will require users to pay monthly.
If you have already purchased the suite outright, you will not be required to subscribe once again, but once the outright purchase option is gone, drivers will be required to pay the monthly fee.
The reason for the adjustment is likely due to the short period of time the Full Self-Driving suite has been available in the country. In North America, it has been available for years.
Tesla hits major milestone with Full Self-Driving subscriptions
However, Tesla just launched it just last year in Australia.
Full Self-Driving is currently available in seven countries: the United States, Canada, China, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.
The company has worked extensively for the past few years to launch the suite in Europe. It has not made it quite yet, but Tesla hopes to get it launched by the end of this year.
In North America, Tesla is only giving customers one more day to buy the suite outright before they will be committed to the subscription-based option for good.
The price is expected to go up as the capabilities improve, but there are no indications as to when Tesla will be doing that, nor what type of offering it plans to roll out for owners.
Elon Musk
Starlink terminals smuggled into Iran amid protest crackdown: report
Roughly 6,000 units were delivered following January’s unrest.
The United States quietly moved thousands of Starlink terminals into Iran after authorities imposed internet shutdowns as part of its crackdown on protests, as per information shared by U.S. officials to The Wall Street Journal.
Roughly 6,000 units were delivered following January’s unrest, marking the first known instance of Washington directly supplying the satellite systems inside the country.
Iran’s government significantly restricted online access as demonstrations spread across the country earlier this year. In response, the U.S. purchased nearly 7,000 Starlink terminals in recent months, with most acquisitions occurring in January. Officials stated that funding was reallocated from other internet access initiatives to support the satellite deployment.
President Donald Trump was aware of the effort, though it remains unclear whether he personally authorized it. The White House has not issued a comment about the matter publicly.
Possession of a Starlink terminal is illegal under Iranian law and can result in significant prison time. Despite this, the WSJ estimated that tens of thousands of residents still rely on the satellite service to bypass state controls. Authorities have reportedly conducted inspections of private homes and rooftops to locate unauthorized equipment.
Earlier this year, Trump and Elon Musk discussed maintaining Starlink access for Iranians during the unrest. Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington of encouraging dissent, though U.S. officials have mostly denied the allegations.
The decision to prioritize Starlink sparked internal debate within U.S. agencies. Some officials argued that shifting resources away from Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) could weaken broader internet access efforts. VPNs had previously played a major role in keeping Iranians connected during earlier protest waves, though VPNs are not effective when the actual internet gets cut.
According to State Department figures, about 30 million Iranians used U.S.-funded VPN services during demonstrations in 2022. During a near-total blackout in June 2025, roughly one-fifth of users were still able to access limited connectivity through VPN tools.
Critics have argued that satellite access without VPN protection may expose users to geolocation risks. After funds were redirected to acquire Starlink equipment, support reportedly lapsed for two of five VPN providers operating in Iran.
A State Department official has stated that the U.S. continues to back multiple technologies, including VPNs alongside Starlink, to sustain people’s internet access amidst the government’s shutdowns.
News
Tesla ramps up Sweden price war with cheaper Model Y offer
The incentive effectively acts as a manufacturer-funded EV bonus and makes the entry-level Model Y more affordable.
Tesla has introduced a new 40,000 SEK incentive in Sweden, lowering the price of its most affordable Model Y to a record low. The incentive effectively acts as a manufacturer-funded EV bonus and makes the entry-level Model Y more affordable.
As per a report from Swedish auto outlet Allt om Elbil, Tesla Sweden is offering a 40,000 SEK electric car bonus on the entry-level Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive variant. The incentive lowers the purchase price of the base all-electric crossover to 459,900–459,990 SEK, depending on listing.
The bonus applies to orders and deliveries completed by March 31, 2026. Tesla Sweden is also offering zero-interest financing as part of the campaign.
Last fall, Tesla launched a new base version of the Model Y starting at 499,990 SEK. The variant features a refreshed design and simplified equipment compared to the Premium and Performance variants. The new 40,000 SEK incentive now pushes the entry model well below the 460,000 SEK mark.
So far this year, the Model Y remains the most registered electric vehicle in Sweden and the third most registered new car overall. However, most registrations have been for higher Premium-spec versions. The new incentive could then be Tesla’s way to push sales of its most affordable Model Y variant in the country.
Tesla is also promoting private leasing options for the entry-level Model Y at 4,995 SEK per month. Swedish automotive observers have noted that leasing may remain the more cost-effective option compared to purchasing outright, even after the new discount.
The base Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive offers a WLTP range of 534 kilometers, a top speed of 201 km/h, and a 0–100 km/h time of 7.2 seconds. Tesla lists energy consumption at 13.1 kWh per 100 kilometers, making it the most efficient version of the vehicle in the lineup and potentially lowering overall ownership costs.