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Tesla Model 3 gets perfect 5-star rating from Australia’s ANCAP safety agency
The Tesla Model 3’s reign as one of the safest vehicles on the road today continues, with the electric sedan getting a perfect 5-Star Safety Rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), a safety performance assessment system based in Australia. The impressive findings were announced in a press release on Tuesday, with the ANCAP lauding the vehicle for its suite of active and passive safety features.
The ANCAP granted a score of 96% for the Model 3’s Adult Occupant Protection systems, with full points being achieved by the vehicle for three out of four destructive crash tests. Full points were also scored by the front passenger in the frontal offset test, which simulates a direct, head-on collision. Maximum points were given to the vehicle for child occupants in the side impact test as well.
It should be noted that the Model 3’s 94% score for the ANCAP’s Safety Assist category is the highest Safety Assist score achieved by any vehicle against the ANCAP’s protocols, which are currently based on the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP). Quite interestingly, the Euro NCAP also gave the Model 3 a perfect 5-Star Safety Rating earlier this month, though the vehicle’s Child Occupant Protection score in the ANCAP is a hair higher at 87% compared to its European counterpart’s 86% rating.
Just like the Euro NCAP, the ANCAP took note of the Model 3’s range of standard driver assistance systems which protect the vehicle’s occupants on the road. Among these are an advanced lane support system capable of emergency lane-keeping, as well as features such as autonomous emergency braking systems. James Goodwin, ANCAP Chief Executive Officer, stated that the Model 3’s results ultimately bodes well for Tesla and the company’s overall commitment to safety.
“This is an impressive result, and great to see electric vehicles continuing to prioritize safety. It is encouraging to see Tesla give equal attention to the active safety systems and technologies on board as well as the safety fundamentals through the structure and restraints,” Goodwin said.
The Model 3’s 5-Star ANCAP Safety Ratings apply to all Model 3 variants that will be sold in the Australian and New Zealand region. Quite interestingly, the safety agency mentioned in its recent press release that the electric sedan will be introduced to the Australian and New Zealand area starting this August 2019.
The stellar scores on the ANCAP adds yet another notch to the Tesla Model 3’s belt. The vehicle, after all, has been sweeping perfect safety ratings since it was released. So far, the US’ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Euro NCAP have given the vehicle a perfect safety score, despite the latter’s more stringent standards. With the ANCAP also giving the vehicle full marks, it appears that the Model 3 has undeniably made itself one of the safest vehicles available for purchase today, bar none.
Read the full results of the ANCAP’s safety tests of the Tesla Model 3 below.
Tesla Model 3 ANCAP Results by Simon Alvarez on Scribd
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares big Tesla Optimus 3 production update
According to Musk, Tesla is in the final stages of completing Optimus 3, which he described as one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated that production of Optimus 3 could begin this summer. Musk shared the update in his interview at the Abundance Summit.
According to Musk, Tesla is in the final stages of completing Optimus 3, which he described as one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots.
“We’re in the final stages of completion of Optimus 3, which is really going to be by far the most advanced robot in the world. Nothing’s even close. In fact, I haven’t even seen demos of robots that are as good as Optimus 3,” Musk said.
He also set expectations on the pace of Optimus 3’s production ramp, stating that the initial volumes of the humanoid robot will likely be very low. Musk did, however, also state that high production rates for Optimus 3 should be possible in 2027.
“I think we’ll start production on Optimus 3 this summer, but very slow at first, like sort of this classic S-curve ramp of manufacturing units versus time. And then, probably reach high volume production around summer next year,” he said.
Interestingly enough, the CEO hinted that Tesla is looking to iterate on the robot quickly, potentially releasing a new Optimus design every year.
“We’ll have Optimus 4 design complete next year. We’ll try to release a new robot design every year,” Musk stated.
Tesla has already outlined broader plans for scaling Optimus production beyond its first manufacturing line. Musk previously stated that Optimus 4 will be built at Gigafactory Texas at significantly higher production volumes.
Initial production lines for the robot are expected to be located at Tesla’s Fremont Factory, where the company plans to establish a line capable of producing up to 1 million robots per year.
A larger production ramp is expected to occur at Gigafactory Texas, where Musk has previously suggested could eventually support production of up to 10 million robots per year.
“We’re going to launch on the fastest production ramp of any product of any large complex manufactured product ever, starting with building a one-million-unit production line in Fremont. And that’s Line one. And then a ten million unit per year production line here,” Musk said previously.
The comments suggest that while Optimus 3 will likely begin production at Fremont, Tesla’s larger-scale manufacturing push could arrive with Optimus 4 at Gigafactory Texas.
Elon Musk
Tesla showcases Optimus humanoid robot at AWE 2026 in Shanghai
Tesla’s humanoid robot was presented as part of the company’s exhibit at the Shanghai electronics show.
Tesla showcased its Optimus humanoid robot at the 2026 Appliance & Electronics World Expo (AWE 2026) in Shanghai. The event opened Thursday and featured several Tesla products, including the company’s humanoid robot and the Cybertruck.
The display was reported by CNEV Post, citing information from local media outlet Cailian and on-site staff at the exhibition.
Tesla’s humanoid robot was presented as part of the company’s exhibit at the Shanghai electronics show. On-site staff reportedly stated that mass production of the robot could begin by the end of 2026.
Tesla previously indicated that it plans to manufacture its humanoid robots at scale once production begins, with its initial production line in the Fremont Factory reaching up to 1 million units annually. An Optimus production line at Gigafactory Texas is expected to produce 10 million units per year.
Tesla China previously shared a teaser image on Weibo showing a pair of highly detailed robotic hands believed to belong to Optimus. The image suggests a design with finger proportions and structures that closely resemble those of a human hand.
Robotic hands are widely considered one of the most difficult engineering challenges in humanoid robotics. For a system like Optimus to perform complex real-world tasks, from factory work to household activities, the robot would require highly advanced dexterity.
Elon Musk has previously stated that Optimus has the capability to eventually become the first real-world example of a Von Neumann machine, a self-replicating system capable of building copies of itself, even on other planets. “Optimus will be the first Von Neumann machine, capable of building civilization by itself on any viable planet,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
Elon Musk
Tesla Cybercab production line is targeting hundreds of vehicles weekly: report
According to the report, Tesla has been adding staff and installing new equipment at its Austin factory as it prepares to begin Cybercab production.
Tesla is reportedly designing its Cybercab production line to manufacture hundreds of the autonomous vehicles each week once mass production begins. The effort is underway at Gigafactory Texas in Austin as the company prepares to start building the Robotaxi at scale.
The details were reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing people reportedly familiar with the matter.
According to the report, Tesla has been adding staff and installing new equipment at its Austin factory as it prepares to begin Cybercab production.
People reportedly familiar with Tesla’s plans stated that the company has been growing its staff and bringing in new equipment to start the mass production of the Cybercab this April.
The Cybercab is Tesla’s upcoming fully autonomous two-seat vehicle designed without a steering wheel or pedals. The vehicle is intended to operate primarily as part of Tesla’s planned Robotaxi ride-hailing network.
“There’s no fallback mechanism here. Like this car either drives itself or it does not drive,” Musk stated during Tesla’s previous earnings call.
Tesla has indicated that Cybercab production could begin as soon as April, though Elon Musk has noted that early production will likely be slow before ramping over time. Musk has stated that the Cybercab’s slow ramp is due in no small part to the fact that it is a completely new vehicle platform.
Tesla’s Cybercab is designed to work with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system and support its planned autonomous ride-hailing service. The company has suggested that the vehicle could cost under $30,000, making it one of Tesla’s most affordable models if produced at scale. Musk has confirmed in a previous X post that the vehicle will indeed be offered to regular consumers at a price below $30,000.
Musk has previously stated that Tesla could eventually produce millions of Cybercabs annually if demand and production capacity scale as planned.
Elon Musk shares big Tesla Optimus 3 production update
Tesla showcases Optimus humanoid robot at AWE 2026 in Shanghai
