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Tesla redefines ‘luxury’ segment as industry shifts focus to technology

Published

7 years ago

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Tesla’s official website dubs the Model S, X, and 3 as “premium” electric cars. Nevertheless, Tesla’s electric cars such as the Model S have proven to be formidable entries in the luxury segment, particularly against mainstays from legacy automakers such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the BMW 7 Series, which are characterized by plush amenities and expensive interior accents. How then, are Tesla’s premium vehicles, which adopt a minimalistic theme and an almost spartan interior, performing so well in a market where more is usually better? By invoking a sense of luxury through deep software integration, of course.

To say that Tesla’s electric cars have their own fair share of critics is an understatement. Among the criticisms directed at the company’s vehicles is the fact that they do not have the same luxurious features found on other vehicles in their class. Critics of Tesla would be quick to point out that the company’s vehicles are not fitted with the same premium materials found in their German rivals. Tesla’s cars continue to sell, however, because as those who have found themselves behind the wheel of a Tesla know, the company’s electric cars are just an entirely different breed of vehicle, offering a completely different driving experience.

It’s not difficult to find social media posts from Tesla owners who state that they would never go back to driving a car powered by an internal combustion engine again. With the release of the Model 3, the number of new Tesla owners are increasing, and so are the numbers of positive reviews for the company’s electric cars. Considering Tesla’s plan for the Model 3, it is no surprise that the vehicle, which features a radically minimalistic interior, is frequently dubbed as the “iPhone of cars.”  

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In a way, comparisons between Tesla and Apple are understandable, considering that both companies release products built around custom software. Apple designs its software for its hardware, ensuring that its offerings, such the iPhone, functions and performs optimally. This integration of hardware and software ultimately became the trigger that changed the market’s perception of what smartphones were capable of. Other manufacturers attempted to take on the iPhone through their own devices, including Samsung’s Android-powered S and Note series. To match the smoothness of Apple’s iOS-powered iPhones, Samsung equipped its flagship devices with as much specs, features, and accessories as the smartphones can handle. Samsung eventually pushed too far with its “more is better” strategy once, and the result was the Galaxy Note 7, a smartphone that literally went up in flames. Today, a perfect Android phone exists, and that is the Google Pixel series, a smartphone line built specifically for Android OS.

For now, Tesla’s competitors in the luxury segment are adopting a strategy not that different from Samsung. They adopt software and tech, but the level of integration is not that deep. Tech used by legacy carmakers, such as BMW with the top-tier M3’s heads-up display, could be seen as simple add-ons to a legacy platform and very little else. Tesla, on the other hand, builds everything in house, making software that works for the car and a car that works for the software. This becomes evident in improvements rolled out through over-the-air updates and features such as Enhanced Autopilot.

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This integration allows Tesla’s electric cars to feel like a unified experience — one that can redefine how some perceive cars as a whole. For drivers of the premium electric cars, driving such a vehicle could be a turning point, similar to when one used a touch-based smartphone for the first time after using devices with physical keyboards for years. With the release of the Model 3, and based on positive reactions from the vehicle’s owners, it appears that the iPhone of cars has definitely arrived in the auto industry. As for the “Google Pixel of cars,” it seems that it might take a while before that vehicle would be made.

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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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Lifestyle

Elon Musk seemingly confirms Cybertruck gift to 13-year-old cancer fighter

Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure, the teen has undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12.

Published

4 weeks ago

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March 6, 2025

By

Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk has seemingly confirmed that he will be sending a Tesla Cybertruck to 13-year-old Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a 13-year-old Houston boy fighting brain cancer. The teen was recognized as an honorary Secret Service member by U.S. President Donald Trump during his address to Congress on Tuesday. 

A Chance Meeting

The Tesla CEO’s Cybertruck pledge was mentioned during DJ’s short interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. When Collins asked the 13-year-old what he told the Tesla CEO, DJ answered that he asked for a Cybertruck.

“I said, ‘can you do me a big favor, when you get back to Houston can you send us a Cybertruck down there?’” the cancer fighter stated.

Daniel noted that Musk responded positively to his request, which was highlighted by Collins in a post on X. Musk responded to the post with a heart emoji, suggesting that he really will be sending a Cybertruck to the 13-year-old cancer fighter.

Teen’s Cancer Battle Inspires

Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare form of brain and spine cancer with no cure, Daniel has undergone 13 surgeries by the time he was 12. During his speech, Trump highlighted the 13-year-old’s long battle with his disease. 

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“Joining us in the gallery tonight is a young man who truly loves our police. The doctors gave him five months at most to live. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true,” Trump stated.

Daniels officially received an honorary badge from U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran, to much applause during the event.

Surprisingly Partisan

While Daniels’ story has been inspiring, Trump’s focus on the 13-year-old cancer fighter has received its own fair share of criticism. MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace, while referencing Daniels’ love for law enforcement, noted that she is hoping the 13-year-old never has to defend the U.S. capitol against Trump supporters. “If he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide,” Wallace stated.

Anti-Musk and Trump accounts on X have also thrown jokes at the cancer fighter’s honorary badge, with some dubbing the 13-year-old as a “DEI hire” that should be looked into by DOGE.

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Tesla owner highlights underrated benefit of FSD Supervised

Published

2 months ago

on

January 31, 2025

By

Credit: Tesla

Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.

If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.

FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:

  • But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
  • This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
  • As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
  • For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States. 

FSD user’s tale:

  • As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
  • During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
  • In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous. 
  • “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
  • “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.

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

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Tesla Optimus “stars” in incredible fanmade action short film

Published

3 months ago

on

January 14, 2025

By

Credit: @SoKrispyMedia/YouTube

There are few things that prove an enthusiast’s love towards a company more than a dedicated short film. This was highlighted recently when YouTube’s SoKrispyMedia posted a 10-minute action movie starring Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, as well as several of the company’s most iconic products. 

The video: 

  • Shot like a Hollywood action flick, the video featured a rather humorous plot involving a group of thieves that mistakenly targeted a Tesla Model 3 driver. 
  • The Model 3 driver then ended up speaking to Tesla for assistance, and some high-octane and high-speed hijinks ensued.
  • While the short film featured several Tesla products like the Model 3, Superchargers, and the Cybertruck, it is Optimus that truly stole the show.
  • Optimus served several roles in the short film, from an assistant in a Tesla office to a “robocop” enforcer that helped out the Model 3 driver.

Cool inside jokes: 

  • The best Tesla videos are those that show an in-depth knowledge of the company, and SoKrispyMedia definitely had it. 
  • From the opening scenes alone, the video immediately poked fun at TSLA traders, the large number of gray Tesla owners, and the fact that many still do not understand Superchargers.
  • The video even poked fun at Tesla’s software updates, as well as how some Tesla drivers use Autopilot or other features without reading the fine print in the company’s release notes.
  • The video ended with a tour de force of references to Elon Musk products, from the Tesla Cybertruck to the Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower, which was released back in 2018.

Check out SoKrispyMedia’s Tesla action short film in the video below.

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

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