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Tesla to allow service requests with ‘1 or 2 taps’ in mobile app, says Elon Musk

[Credit: Chris Kern/Twitter]

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Earlier this year, Elon Musk noted that Tesla owners would be able to request service for their vehicles through their smartphones. During his announcements then, Musk stated that the higher operating costs of the smartphone-based service requests would be “worth doing” for the company, considering that it would result in better “owner happiness.”

A recent set of tweets from Elon Musk provided a number of additional details for the company’s upcoming mobile app-based service request system. For one, Musk stated that the company is “adding functionality to the Tesla phone app allowing owners to request service for top issues” with just one or two taps. With such a system in place, owners of Tesla’s electric cars would soon be able to request service in a manner that is convenient and quick.

Musk further noted that in the event of a breakdown or accident (assuming that there are no injuries, of course), Tesla Service would arrive at the scene with a top-of-the-line loaner vehicle that’s ready for use. While a vehicle is being repaired, Tesla could also push data to the mobile app that would allow owners to view updates on the progress of their electric cars’ diagnosis.

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With the ongoing production ramp of the Model 3, Tesla is now at a point where the size of its fleet is bound to get larger over the coming quarters and years. The release of high-volume vehicles like the Model Y, and possibly even the Tesla pickup truck, as well as the arrival of other vehicles like the Tesla Roadster and the Tesla Semi, would all but increase the number of the company’s electric cars on the road.

The increasing number of Tesla electric cars highlight the need to deploy a service system that can handle the needs and demands of a large fleet. Tesla is already preparing for such a scenario by improving its service capabilities, such as the launch of in-house body shops that are capable of conducting minor bodywork repair, as well as the ramp of its mobile service vehicles. Tesla mentioned these improvements specifically in the company’s Q3 2018 Update Letter.

“We expect our Services and Other business to continue to grow mainly due to used car sales volumes. We will increase investment in our service infrastructure in North America through (the) deployment of new service locations and additional mobile service vehicles.”

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Tesla’s Support Page notes that Roadside Assistance services are offered to owners as a way to “minimize inconvenience” in the event that a vehicle becomes inoperable. The service, which is available 24/7, is provided for the first four years of ownership, or 50,000 miles. Depending on the car, additional coverage for the battery and drive unit are also offered with a separate policy for 8 years or 125,000 miles, or 8 years and unlimited miles.

Tesla Roadside Assistance currently offers transportation services of up to 500 miles to the nearest Service Center in the event of a warrantable breakdown that renders the vehicle undrivable. Flat tire services, aid in the event that an owner is locked outside the car, and assistance in the event that an electric car runs out of range, are also offered as part of Tesla’s Roadside Assistance services.

Tesla stands as one of the carmakers in the market today with a high Net Promoter Score. IndexNPS, which tracks the NPS scores of companies, notes that Tesla’s score of 96 is higher than legacy carmakers like Porsche, Audi, Toyota, Subaru, Honda, Hyundai and GMC, whose scores range between 73 and 84. One of the reasons behind these is the company’s proactive approach to improving its services, as evidenced by the expansion of its mobile service fleet, as well as its mobile app’s upcoming capability to conduct service requests.

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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Elon Musk

Elon Musk sends stern warning to Tesla vandals, doubters

Elon Musk sent another warning to vandals that have attacked Tesla for political reasons.

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NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Elon Musk has sent a stern warning to Tesla vandals, doubters, and attackers, who have subjected the company and its owners to political violence through arson and other modes of retaliation.

Over the past few months, Tesla showrooms and vehicles have been hit with numerous attacks from those who have opposed Musk and his political involvement with the Trump Administration. Although Musk has stepped back from his role within government significantly since the start of May, the company is still looked at as a political target.

While the White House has put a clear-cut line on the acts, calling them domestic terrorism and holding those responsible for the damage they have done, there are still numerous and daily instances of keying cars or worse.

Yesterday, Musk continued to send stern warnings to those who oppose Tesla and choose to handle their distaste for the company with violence and vandalism. In a Bloomberg interview at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk was asked if he took what has happened to Tesla “over the past few months personally.”

Musk replied simply but sternly: “Yes.”

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He went on to say that not only will those who vandalized the company and its products owned by consumers be held to the fullest extent of the law, but also those who fund it.

Musk also said during a CNBC interview yesterday that very few people buy a company’s products because of the CEO’s political beliefs, and many people do not even know where those CEOs stand on various social issues.

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Although Musk has gone out of his way to be transparent about his beliefs, he has a valid point. He obviously felt that, because of his influence, he held a duty to uphold American values and protect what he felt was an attack on free speech and human rights.

Disagreeing with Musk and his political stances is totally reasonable, but damaging products that consumers bought from his companies is not impacting him directly. Instead, it is making consumers’ lives more difficult.

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Tesla Model 3 gets perfect 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating

Tesla prides itself on producing some of the safest vehicles on the road today.

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Credit: Tesla Singapore/X

Tesla prides itself on producing some of the safest vehicles on the road today. Based on recent findings from the Euro NCAP, the 2025 Model 3 sedan continues this tradition, with the vehicle earning a 5-star overall safety rating from the agency.

Standout Safety Features

As could be seen on the Euro NCAP’s official website, the 2025 Model 3 achieved an overall score of 90% for Adult Occupants, 93% for Child Occupants, 89% for Vulnerable Road Users, and 87% for Safety Assist. This rating, as per the Euro NCAP, applies to the Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive, Long Range Rear Wheel Drive, Long Range All Wheel Drive, and Performance All Wheel Drive.

The Euro NCAP highlighted a number of the Model 3’s safety features, such as its Active Hood, which automatically lifts during collisions to mitigate injury risks to vulnerable road users, and Automatic Emergency Braking System, which now detects motorcycles through an upgraded algorithm. The Euro NCAP also mentioned the Model 3’s feature that prevents initial door opening if someone is approaching the vehicle’s blind spot.

Standout Safety Features

In a post on its official Tesla Europe & Middle East account, Tesla noted that the company is also introducing new features that make the Model 3 even safer than it is today. These include functions like head-on collision avoidance and crossing traffic AEB, as well as Child Left Alone Detection, among other safety features.

“We also introduced new features to improve Safety Assist functionality even further – like head-on collision avoidance & crossing traffic AEB – to detect & respond to potential hazards faster, helping avoid accidents in the first place. 

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“Lastly, we released Child Left Alone Detection – if an unattended child is detected, the vehicle will turn on HVAC & alert caregivers via phone app & the vehicle itself (flashing lights/audible alert). Because we’re using novel in-cabin radar sensing, your Tesla is able to distinguish between adult vs child – reduced annoyance to adults, yet critical safety feature for kids,” Tesla wrote in its post on X.

Below is the Euro NCAP’s safety report on the 2025 Tesla Model 3 sedan.

Euroncap 2025 Tesla Model 3 Datasheet by Simon Alvarez on Scribd

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USDOT Secretary visits Tesla Giga Texas, hints at national autonomous vehicle standards

The Transportation Secretary also toured the factory’s production lines and spoke with CEO Elon Musk.

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Credit: Elon Musk/X

United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean Duffy recently visited Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas complex, where he toured the factory’s production lines and spoke with CEO Elon Musk. In a video posted following his Giga Texas visit, Duffy noted that he believes there should be a national standard for autonomous vehicles in the United States.

Duffy’s Giga Texas Visit

As could be seen in videos of his Giga Texas visit, the Transportation Secretary seemed to appreciate the work Tesla has been doing to put the United States in the forefront of innovation. “Tesla is one of the many companies helping our country reach new heights. USDOT will be right there all the way to make sure Americans stay safe,” Duffy wrote in a post on X. 

He also praised Tesla for its autonomous vehicle program, highlighting that “We need American companies to keep innovating so we can outcompete the rest of the world.”

National Standard

While speaking with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the Transportation Secretary stated that other autonomous ride-hailing companies have been lobbying for a national standard for self-driving cars. Musk shared the sentiment, stating that “It’d be wonderful for the United States to have a national set of rules for autonomous driving as opposed to 50 independent sets of rules on a state-by-state rules basis.”

Duffy agreed with the CEO’s point, stating that, “You can’t have 50 different rules for 50 different states. You need one standard.” He also noted that the Transportation Department has asked autonomous vehicle companies to submit data. By doing so, the USDOT could develop a standard for the entire United States, allowing self-driving cars to operate in a manner that is natural and safe.

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