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Tesla video conference developer launches service with Model 3 giveaway

(Credit: Beacon)

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Mass Luminosity officially launched Beacon, its video conferencing platform. The company is also responsible for Beacon 4 Tesla, the first platform to make video conference calls from Tesla vehicles possible. 

Beacon officially exited its beta phase with the launch of Beacon X, the free version of the platform. Up to six users can chat with each other with Beacon X for an unlimited amount of time. Other plans for Beacon will roll out later this year, including Beacon PLUS and Beacon MAX.

Beacon PLUS is a premium version of the platform that allows up to 25 users to talk with each other for $4.95 per month. Beacon MAX, on the other hand, allows up to 100 users for $14.94 per month. 

(Credit: Beacon)

Mass Luminosity is also working on Beacon 4 Tesla. As the name entails, the developers of Beacon want to bring the service into Tesla cars so drivers can be more productive on the road. Founder and CEO of Mass Luminosity, Angel Munoz, owns a Tesla Model S and believes Beacon would be useful to Tesla owners like himself. Munoz developed Beacon closely with Beacon’s Senior VP of Technology, Teodor Atroshenko. 

The pair had been testing Beacon 4 Tesla using Munoz’s Model S, with positive results. Since Beacon can be used through browsers, Beacon X users can try it out in their Tesla vehicles as well. Munoz and Atroshenko hope to work with Tesla directly in the future. They wish to fully integrate Beacon with Teslas by using the cars’ in-cabin cameras.

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Interestingly enough, Munoz chose to commemorate Beacon’s launch with a global giveaway. And the grand prize happens to be a 2022 Tesla Model 3, wrapped in Beacon’s purple color. Mass Luminosity is also giving away 85 secondary prizes, listed below. 

  • 20 Steiger Dynamics Branded T-Shirts
  • 15 XFX Baseball Caps with Gaiter Masks
  • 10 Resident Evil Village PC Games 
  • 10 NZXT H510 COMPACT mid-tower Chassis
  • 10 EKWB EK – AIO 240 MM D – RGB CPU Liquid Cooler
  • 10 Seasonic Focus PX – 850, 850W 80+ Platinum Power Supply
  • 10 Logitech G Pro X Wireless Headset w/ Blue Voice Mic

Kevin O’Leary, a.k.a “Mr. Wonderful” from Shark Tank, celebrated Beacon’s launch with Angel Munoz with a short video. 

“Angel has done something—well, I would call it very disruptive, definitely very entrepreneurial,” Mr. Wonderful said. “He’s launched Beacon, a revolutionarily video conferencing experience that’s potentially even more secure, better quality, and even easier to use.”

The main creators of Beacon, Munoz and Atroshenko, focused on three core essentials when creating the platform, namely simplicity, quality, and security. Mr. Wonderful seems to think Beacon hit all three of these right on the mark. 

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Maria--aka "M"-- is an experienced writer and book editor. She's written about several topics including health, tech, and politics. As a book editor, she's worked with authors who write Sci-Fi, Romance, and Dark Fantasy. M loves hearing from TESLARATI readers. If you have any tips or article ideas, contact her at maria@teslarati.com or via X, @Writer_01001101.

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Elon Musk

First Tesla Cybercab rolls off Giga Texas production line

Tesla’s official account on X shared an image showing employees gathered around the first Cybercab built at Gigafactory Texas.

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Credit: Tesla/X

Tesla has produced the first Tesla Cybercab at Texas Gigafactory, marking a key milestone ahead of the planned autonomous two-seater’s production in April. The two-seat Robotaxi, which was unveiled in 2024, is designed without pedals or a steering wheel and represents Tesla’s most aggressive step yet toward fully autonomous mobility.

Tesla’s official account on X shared an image showing employees gathered around the first Cybercab built at Gigafactory Texas. Elon Musk echoed the milestone, writing, “Congratulations to the Tesla team on making the first production Cybercab!”

Previous comments from Musk on X reiterated the idea that production of the Cybercab “starts in April.” The vehicle will launch without traditional driver controls, and it will rely entirely on Tesla’s vision-based Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.

The Cybercab is positioned to compete with autonomous services such as Waymo. While Tesla has deployed Model Y vehicles in limited Robotaxi operations in Austin and the Bay Area, a serious ramp of the service to other cities across the United States is yet to be implemented. The production of the Cybercab could then be seen as a push towards the company’s autonomy plans.

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Musk has linked the Cybercab to Tesla’s proposed “Unboxed” manufacturing process, which would assemble large vehicle modules separately before integrating them, rather than following a traditional production line. The approach is intended to cut costs, reduce factory footprint, and speed up output.

That being said, Elon Musk has set expectations for the Cybercab’s production ramp. As per Musk, it would likely take some time before meaningful volumes of the Cybercab are produced because it is such a new and different vehicle. But when the vehicle hits its pace, volumes will be notable. 

“Initial production is always very slow and follows an S-curve. The speed of production ramp is inversely proportionate to how many new parts and steps there are. For Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production rate will be agonizingly slow, but eventually end up being insanely fast,” Musk noted.

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Elon Musk

California city weighs banning Elon Musk companies like Tesla and SpaceX

A resolution draft titled, “Resolution Ending Engagement With Elon Musk-Controlled Companies and To Encourage CalPERS To Divest Stock In These Companies,” alleges that Musk “has engaged in business practices that are alleged to include violations of labor laws, environmental regulations, workplace safety standards, and regulatory noncompliance.”

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tesla supercharger
Credit: Tesla

A California City Council is planning to weigh whether it would adopt a resolution that would place a ban on its engagement with Elon Musk companies, like Tesla and SpaceX.

The City of Davis, California, will have its City Council weigh a new proposal that would adopt a resolution “to divest from companies owned and/or controlled by Elon Musk.”

This would include a divestment proposal to encourage CalPERS, the California Public Employees Retirement System, to divest from stock in any Musk company.

A resolution draft titled, “Resolution Ending Engagement With Elon Musk-Controlled Companies and To Encourage CalPERS To Divest Stock In These Companies,” alleges that Musk “has engaged in business practices that are alleged to include violations of labor laws, environmental regulations, workplace safety standards, and regulatory noncompliance.”

It claims that Musk “has used his influence and corporate platforms to promote political ideologies and activities that threaten democratic norms and institutions, including campaign finance activities that raise ethical and legal concerns.”

If adopted, Davis would bar the city from entering into any new contracts or purchasing agreements with any company owned or controlled by Elon Musk. It also says it will not consider utilizing Tesla Robotaxis.

Hotel owner tears down Tesla chargers in frustration over Musk’s politics

A staff report on the proposal claims there is “no immediate budgetary impact.” However, a move like this would only impact its residents, especially with Tesla, as the Supercharger Network is open to all electric vehicle manufacturers. It is also extremely reliable and widespread.

Regarding the divestment request to CalPERS, it would not be surprising to see the firm make the move. Although it voted against Musk’s compensation package last year, the firm has no issue continuing to make money off of Tesla’s performance on Wall Street.

The decision to avoid Musk companies will be considered this evening at the City Council meeting.

The report comes from Davis Vanguard.

It is no secret that Musk’s political involvement, especially during the most recent Presidential Election, ruffled some feathers. Other cities considered similar options, like the City of Baltimore, which “decided to go in another direction” after awarding Tesla a $5 million contract for a fleet of EVs for city employees.

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Tesla launches new Model 3 financing deal with awesome savings

Tesla is now offering a 0.99% APR financing option for all new Model 3 orders in the United States, and it applies to all loan terms of up to 72 months.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has launched a new Model 3 financing deal in the United States that brings awesome savings. The deal looks to move more of the company’s mass-market sedan as it is the second-most popular vehicle Tesla offers, behind its sibling, the Model Y.

Tesla is now offering a 0.99% APR financing option for all new Model 3 orders in the United States, and it applies to all loan terms of up to 72 months.

It includes three Model 3 configurations, including the Model 3 Performance. The rate applies to:

  • Model 3 Premium Rear-Wheel-Drive
  • Model 3 Premium All-Wheel-Drive
  • Model 3 Performance

The previous APR offer was 2.99%.

Tesla routinely utilizes low-interest offers to help move vehicles, especially as the rates can help get people to payments that are more comfortable with their monthly budgets. Along with other savings, like those on maintenance and gas, this is another way Tesla pushes savings to customers.

The company had offered a similar program in China on the Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, but it had ended on January 31.

The Model 3 was the second-best-selling electric vehicle in the United States in 2025, trailing only the Model Y. According to automotive data provided by Cox, Tesla sold 192,440 units last year of the all-electric sedan. The Model Y sold 357,528 units.

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