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Tesla Model 3 ‘handover party’ will be on July 28, first 30 customers will receive keys

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Tesla will hold a Model 3 ‘handover party’ otherwise known as the Model 3 launch event on Friday, July 28. CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the first 30 customers of the highly sought after electric sedan that’s expected to have over 300 miles of range will be presented keys to their vehicles. We saw a similar type event for Model X when the first six Falcon-winged SUVs were handed over to their new owners, including Tesla board members and early investors like Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Expected in the event is a presentation by Musk touting Model 3’s features, including its battery range and performance. The first batch of Model 3 vehicles produced – Tesla announced that Model 3 production is two weeks ahead of schedule – will be single motor rear-wheel drive vehicles, followed by a dual motor and performance variant of the Model 3 in early 2018.

With less than four weeks remaining before the first vehicles are handed over to their new owners, Tesla will likely do a limited launch of the Model 3 Design Studio to early customers. Musk noted during Tesla’s recent annual shareholder’s meeting that the initial rollout of the online configurator will provide buyers with a choice of color and wheel type.

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“It’s kinda gonna be like what color do you want, and what size do you want? That’s basically gonna be the configurator” said Musk about the upcoming Model 3 Design Studio. Tesla’s recent specifications sheet comparing Model S vs. Model 3 revealed the choice of an 18″ or 19″ wheel for Model 3.

Attendees of the upcoming invite-only Model 3 event will also likely be given the opportunity to ride in the final production vehicle.

What else might we expect from the Model 3 launch event?

  • Showcase of Project Loveday fan-made Tesla commercials – According to the terms and conditions outlined for the contest, one Grand Prize Winner “with the top winning Submission will be invited to and introduced at a future Tesla product launch event. Tesla will pay for reasonable travel expenses and accommodations for 2 people for 2 nights.” It’s unclear whether the upcoming Model 3 handover party qualifies as a “product launch event”, but timing for the end of the contest and Model 3’s July 28 event would lead us to believe that the Grand Prize Project Loveday winner will have their commercial featured at the upcoming event.
  • Boring Company demonstration – Because the Model 3 event will likely be held at Tesla’s Design Studio which is adjacent to SpaceX and also The Boring Company’s soon-to-be-operational electric skate elevator, we might even see a first demonstration of a Model 3 being lowered into a transportation tunnel.
  • Tesla Model 3 total reservation tally to date

As always, Teslarati will be at the handover party bringing you live behind the scenes coverage from the event. Be sure to follow us @Teslarati to see pre-event photos and more.

I'm friendly. You can email me. gene@teslarati.com

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Tesla Diner to transition to full-service restaurant as Chef heads for new venture

“I am leaving the Tesla Diner project to focus on the opening of Mish, my long-desired Jewish deli. Projects like Mish and the Tesla Diner require a sharpness of focus and attention, and my focus and attention is now squarely on Mish.”

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla Diner, the all-in-one Supercharging and dining experience located in Los Angeles, will transition to a full-service restaurant in January, staff said, as Chef Eric Greenspan said he would take on a new project.

A report from the Los Angeles Times says Greenspan confirmed through a text that he would leave the Diner and focus on the opening of his new Jewish deli, Mish.

Greenspan confirmed to the paper:

“I am leaving the Tesla Diner project to focus on the opening of Mish, my long-desired Jewish deli. Projects like Mish and the Tesla Diner require a sharpness of focus and attention, and my focus and attention is now squarely on Mish.”

Greenspan took on the job at the Tesla Diner and curated the menu back in March, focusing on locally-sourced ingredients and items that would play on various company products, like Cybertruck-shaped boxes that hold burgers.

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Tesla Cybertruck leftovers are the main course at the Supercharger Diner

The Tesla Diner has operated as somewhat of a self-serve establishment, where Tesla owners can order directly from their vehicles through the center touchscreen. It was not exclusive to Tesla owners. Guests could also enter and order at a counter, and pick up their food, before sitting at a booth or table.

However, the report indicates Tesla is planning to push it toward a sit-down restaurant, full of waiters, waitresses, and servers, all of which will come to a table after you are seated, take your order, and serve your food.

It will be more of a full-featured restaurant experience moving forward, which is an interesting move from the company, but it also sounds as if it could be testing for an expansion.

We know that Tesla is already considering expanding locations, as it will be heading to new areas of the country. CEO Elon Musk has said that Tesla will be considering locations in Palo Alto near the company’s Engineering HQ, and in Austin, where its HQ and Gigafactory Texas are located.

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Musk said that the Diner has been very successful in its first few months of operation.

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Tesla adds new surprising fee to Robotaxi program

“Additional cleaning was required for the vehicle after your trip. A fee has been added to your final cost to cover this service. Please contact us if you have any questions.”

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Credit: Grok

Tesla has added a new and somewhat surprising fee to the Robotaxi program. It’s only surprising because it was never there before.

Tesla shocked everyone when it launched its Robotaxi platform and offered riders the opportunity to tip, only to tell them they do not accept tips. It was one of the company’s attempts at being humorous as it rolled out its driverless platform to people in Austin.

As it has expanded to new cities and been opened to more people, as it was yesterday to iOS users, Tesla has had to tweak some of the minor details of the Robotaxi and ride-hailing platforms it operates.

First Look at Tesla’s Robotaxi App: features, design, and more

With more riders, more vehicles, and more operational jurisdictions, the company has to adjust as things become busier.

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Now, it is adjusting the platform by adding “Cleaning Fees” to the Robotaxi platform, but it seems it is only charged if the vehicle requires some additional attention after your ride.

The app will communicate with the rider with the following message (via Not a Tesla App):

“Additional cleaning was required for the vehicle after your trip. A fee has been added to your final cost to cover this service. Please contact us if you have any questions.”

The cost of the cleaning will likely depend on how severe the mess is. If you spill a soda, it will likely cost less than if you lose your lunch in the back of the car because you had a few too many drinks.

This is an expected change, and it seems to be one that is needed, especially considering Tesla is operating a small-scale ride-hailing service at the current time. As it expands to more states and cities and eventually is available everywhere, there will be more situations that will arise.

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The messes in vehicles are not a new situation, especially in a rideshare setting. It will be interesting to see if Tesla will enable other fees, like ones for riders who request a ride and do not show up for it.

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Tesla Model Y sold out in China for 2025

Customers who wish to get their cars by the end of the year would likely need to get an inventory unit.

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Credit: Grok Imagine

It appears that the Model Y has been sold out for 2025 in China. This seems to be true for the four variants of the vehicle that are currently offered in the country. 

Tesla China’s order page update

A look at Tesla China’s order page for the Model Y shows a message informing customers that those who wish to guarantee delivery by the end of the year should purchase an inventory unit. This was despite the Model Y RWD and Model Y L showing an estimated delivery timeline of 4-8 weeks, and the Model Y Long Range RWD and Model Y Long Range AWD showing 4-13 weeks. 

As per industry watchers, these updates on the Model Y’s order page suggest that Tesla China’s sales capacity for the remainder of 2025 has been sold out. The fact that estimated delivery timeframes for the Model Y Long Range RWD and AWD extend up to 13 weeks also bodes well for demand for the vehicle, especially given strong rivals like the Xiaomi YU7, which undercuts the Model Y in price. 

Tesla China’s upcoming big updates

What is quite interesting is that Tesla China is still competing in the country with one hand partly tied behind its back. So far, Tesla has only been able to secure partial approval for its flagship self-driving software, FSD, in China. This has resulted in V14 not being rolled out to the country yet. Despite this, Tesla China’s “Autopilot automatic assisted driving on urban roads,” as the system is called locally, has earned positive reviews from users.

As per Elon Musk during the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, however, Tesla is expecting to secure full approval for FSD in China in early 2026. “We have partial approval in China, and we hopefully will have full approval in China around February or March or so. That’s what they’ve told us,” Musk said.

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