News
Edmunds backtracks on ‘Tesla Killer’ narrative amid Cadillac LYRIQ unveiling
By now, the lead that Tesla enjoys in the electric vehicle market is so notable that the idea of “Tesla Killers” from legacy automakers has become quite difficult to justify. This has not stopped some publications from pursuing such a narrative, of course. But sometimes, “Tesla Killer” narratives, much like the vehicles that they represent, have a tendency to fizzle out.
General Motors’ luxury brand, Cadillac, recently unveiled its latest all-electric vehicle, the LYRIQ. A midsize SUV that’s expected to be priced somewhere in the $70,000 range, the LYRIQ is filled to the brim with the best that GM could offer. It’s projected to have a range of at least 300 miles from the company’s “Ultium” batteries, it’s fitted with the company’s Autopilot-rivaling SuperCruise feature, and it’s equipped with augmented reality heads-up display functions.
It was then no surprise that leading up to its unveiling, popular automotive resource Edmunds decided to revive the “Tesla Killer” narrative on social media. To be fair, this was quite characteristic of the publication, seeing as it did the same thing when the Porsche Taycan was unveiled last year. The agency seemed to follow through when the vehicle was unveiled as well, lauding the LYRIQ for its daring cabin design and its stunning interior.
Interestingly enough, Edmunds opted to walk back on its “Tesla Killer” narrative when details of the LYRIQ’s specs and features were released. This became evident when the publication noted that it’s probably best to park the “Tesla Killer” headlines for now, since the LYRIQ would not be available until the winter of 2022. That’s a long way ahead, and that’s a lot of time for companies like Tesla to push their tech even further.
Edmunds’ humorous about-face aside, the LYRIQ does seem to be an honest-to-goodness effort towards electrification on GM’s part. The LYRIQ may be designed with somewhat polarizing lines and an equally questionable grill, but it’s hard not to be impressed by the vehicle’s feature set and tech. SuperCruise, for example, is arguably the one legitimate competitor to Autopilot available today, and the LYRIQ’s HUD is something that Tesla is yet to implement on any of its electric cars.
That being said, it is quite interesting to note that Cadillac was quite secretive with some pertinent details about the LYRIQ, such as its price. Edmunds estimates the vehicle will cost somewhere in the $70,000 range, which would make it more expensive than the Model Y but cheaper than the Model X. Cadillac was also quite silent about some of the LYRIQ’s performance specs, such as its acceleration or the power of its electric motors.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” Musk said.
Tesla is preparing to expand its all-electric Semi truck program to Europe, with CEO Elon Musk indicating that the Class 8 vehicle could arrive in the region 2027.
Musk shared his update during an interview about Giga Berlin with plant manager André Thierig, which was posted on X by the official Tesla Manufacturing account.
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” he said.
Tesla has already begun limited production and customer deployments of the Tesla Semi in the United States, with the company working to scale output through the Semi factory near Giga Nevada. Considering Musk’s comments, it appears that a European rollout would be the next phase of the vehicle’s expansion beyond North America.
Musk’s use of the word “hopefully” leaves room for flexibility, but the remark signals that Europe is next in Tesla’s commercial expansion plans.
Musk has consistently argued that electrification should extend beyond passenger vehicles. During the same interview, he reiterated his view that “all ground transport should be electric,” adding that ships, and eventually aircraft, would follow.
The Semi plays a central role in that strategy. Heavy-duty freight remains one of the most emissions-intensive segments of road transport, and European regulators have increasingly pushed for lower-emission commercial fleets.
Tesla recently refreshed the Semi lineup on its official website, listing two variants: Standard and Long Range. The Standard trim offers up to 325 miles of range with an energy consumption rating of 1.7 kWh per mile, while the Long Range version provides up to 500 miles, which should be more than ample for European routes.
Elon Musk
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said.
Tesla could add the Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot to the production lineup at Giga Berlin, as per recent comments from CEO Elon Musk.
During a recent interview with Giga Berlin plant manager André Thierig, Musk identified the Cybercab as the most likely next major product for the German factory, with Optimus potentially following after.
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said. He added that there are also “possibilities of Tesla Optimus” being produced in the facility.
Tesla has already begun production of the Cybercab in Giga Texas, with volume production expected to ramp this year. Based on Musk’s comments, it appears that if conditions align in Europe, Giga Berlin could eventually join that effort.
The CEO’s comments about Optimus coming to Gigafactory Berlin are quite unsurprising too considering that Musk has mentioned in the past that the humanoid robot will likely be Tesla’s highest volume product in the long run.
Giga Berlin will likely be able to produce mass volumes of Optimus, as the Model S and Model X lines being converted to an Optimus line in the Fremont Factory are already expected to produce 1 million units of the humanoid robot annually.
Apart from his comments about the Cybercab and Optimus, Elon Musk also confirmed that Giga Berlin has started ramping battery cell production and will continue expanding Model Y output, particularly as supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) gains regulatory approvals in Europe.
Taken together, the remarks suggest Berlin’s role could evolve beyond vehicle assembly into a broader multi-product manufacturing hub, not just a regional Model Y plant.
Energy
Tesla Powerwall distribution expands in Australia
Inventory is expected to arrive in late February and official sales are expected to start mid-March 2026.
Supply Partners Group has secured a distribution agreement for the Tesla Powerwall in Australia, with inventory expected to arrive in late February and official sales beginning in mid-March 2026.
Under the new agreement, Supply Partners will distribute Tesla Powerwall units and related accessories across its national footprint, as noted in an ecogeneration report. The company said the addition strengthens its position as a distributor focused on premium, established brands.
“We are proud to officially welcome Tesla Powerwall into the Supply Partners portfolio,” Lliam Ricketts, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at Supply Partners Group, stated.
“Tesla sets a high bar, and we’ve worked hard to earn the opportunity to represent a brand that customers actively ask for. This partnership reflects the strength of our logistics, technical services and customer experience, and it’s a win for installers who want premium options they can trust.”
Supply Partners noted that initial Tesla Powerwall stock will be warehoused locally before full commercial rollout in March. The distributor stated that the timing aligns with renewed growth momentum for the Powerwall, supported by competitive installer pricing, consumer rebates, and continued product and software updates.
“Powerwall is already a category-defining product, and what’s ahead makes it even more compelling,” Ricketts stated. “As pricing sharpens and capability expands, we see a clear runway for installers to confidently spec Powerwall for premium residential installs, backed by Supply Partners’ national distribution footprint and service model.”
Supply Partners noted that a joint go-to-market launch is planned, including Tesla-led training for its sales and technical teams to support installers during the home battery system’s domestic rollout.
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
