Connect with us

News

Tesla owner crashes head-on with tree, wishes Autopilot was on

(Credit: @martingrefte/Twitter)

Published

on

Tesla’s Autopilot is one of the most advanced driver-assist systems in the market today; but beyond its convenience features, it is also designed to keep drivers safe. This was something that became evident for electric vehicle veteran and Model 3 owner Martin Grefte, who unfortunately ended up in a head-on collision with a tree last month. 

Grefte noted that on the day of the accident, he was not the most attentive driver. He had just received word that his sister in law had been taken to the intensive care unit due to the coronavirus. Thus, his attention was focused mostly on his family member, not on the road. He ended up driving off the exit of the highway, straight into a wooded area, and crashing head-on into a tree at 72 km/h. 

https://twitter.com/martingrefte/status/1263901060856532992?s=20

The impact was massive, and it completely obliterated the front of the Model 3. Images from the crash revealed that the Model 3’s front crumple zone ended up being wrapped around the tree. But thanks to the Model 3’s stellar 5-Star Safety Rating and the vehicle’s all-electric construction, Grefte was able to escape from the accident relatively unharmed. He had some minor scratches from a branch that went through the Model 3’s front window, but that was it. 

While relating his experience on Twitter, Grefte stated that his vehicle might have avoided the accident if it had been operating on Autopilot. Considering his circumstances during the day of the accident, the Tesla owner noted that Autopilot would have proven a far safer driver than himself. 

https://twitter.com/martingrefte/status/1264255801276891137?s=20

“You know, if you pull off a highway, autopilot turns automatically ‘off.’ And mostly on all exits, I put it ‘on’ again. But I did not do that this time. In this case (I’m) sure ‘Autopilot’ certainly would have been better than ‘Human pilot’ and would have avoided the crash,” he wrote.

Advertisement
https://twitter.com/martingrefte/status/1264528561844748288?s=20

The experience proves that Teslas are among the safest cars in the market today; so much so that the day following the accident, Grefte decided to order another Model 3 from the electric car maker. There are very few cars on the road, after all, which could protect passengers to such a degree as the all-electric sedan. Such is simply the mark of Tesla, and its vehicles’ construction and design. 

Yet behind the Model 3’s safety rating, Grefte’s experience speaks a lot about the value of Autopilot as a safety feature. Tesla critics would scoff at the idea, but Autopilot has the capability to prevent a lot of crashes that result from distracted drivers. Fortunately, Tesla is now bundling basic Autopilot with each vehicle purchase save for the $35,000 Standard Range Model 3. With this, more and more of Tesla’s fleet will have access to features that not only make driving a lot more convenient, but safer as well.

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.

Advertisement
Comments

News

Tesla Superchargers open to Lucid Air, but not without one key thing

Lucid’s full lineup of EVs is now able to use Tesla Superchargers in the United States and Canada.

Published

on

Tesla Superchargers will be open to Lucid Air vehicles starting on July 31, a move that comes nearly two years after the companies agreed to terms that would allow them to partner.

Lucid joins a long list of EV makers that have a full lineup of EVs that can utilize Tesla’s extensive Supercharger Network across the United States and parts of Canada. In all, over 32,500 Tesla Superchargers will be accessible to Lucid owners at the end of the month.

Lucid NACS adoption ‘must have been a bitter pill to swallow’: Elon Musk

All Air models, regardless of year or trim level, will gain access to the entire North American Tesla Supercharger Network. It will just need one key thing to charge: an NACS adapter.

Lucid Air sedans will require a DC NACS to CCS1 adapter in order to enable charging at the Tesla stalls. These will be priced at $220 plus tax.

Emad Dlala, Senior VP of Powertrain at Lucid, said:

“In addition to offering the longest-range electric vehicle available, Lucid is committed to offering our customers seamless and wide access to public charging. Access to the Tesla Supercharging Network for the Lucid Air is yet another major milestone.”

Charging speeds will allow Air EVs to charge at up to 50 kW, gaining up to 200 miles of range per hour.

As for the Lucid Gravity, the company’s SUV, it will not require the adapter because of its native NACS port. It gained access to the Supercharger Network in January.

Although Lucid Airs will not be able to charge at the rate of some other vehicles, they do boast some of the best range ratings in the EV industry. Having the luxury of additional charging piles to access will increase the value of the long-range ratings Lucid offers with its vehicles.

Lucid joins several other automakers that have a full lineup of EVs that have access to the Tesla Supercharger Network:

  • Ford
  • Rivian
  • General Motors (Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac)
  • Volvo
  • Polestar
  • Nissan
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Hyundai
  • Kia
  • Genesis
  • Honda
  • Acura
  • Aptera

Other brands, like BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Subaru, are expected to gain access in the near future.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla Robotaxi wins over firm that said it was ‘likely to disappoint’

Tesla Robotaxi recently won over a Wall Street firm that had recently said the platform was “likely to disappoint.”

Published

on

tesla robotaxi app on phone
Credit: Tesla

Tesla Robotaxi recently won over a Wall Street firm that had recently said the platform was “likely to disappoint.” The ride-hailing service has been operating for about a month, and driverless rides have been offered to a small group of people that continues to expand nearly every day.

JPMorgan went to Austin to test the Tesla Robotaxi platform, and it did so just a few weeks after listing Tesla as one of its “six stocks to short” in 2025. Highlighting the loss of the EV tax credit and labeling the Robotaxi initiative as one that was “likely to disappoint,” despite Tesla’s prowess in its self-driving software.

Analyst Ryan Brinkman has been skeptical of Tesla for some time, even stating that the company’s “sky-high valuation” was not in line with other stocks in the Magnificent Seven.

However, a recent visit to Texas that was made by JPMorgan analysts proved that the Robotaxi platform, despite being in its earliest stages, was enough for them to change their tune, at least slightly. The firm gave its props to the Tesla Robotaxi platform in a note by stating it was “certainly solid and felt like a safe ride at all times.”

It’s always nice to hear skeptics report positive experiences, especially as Robotaxi continues to improve and expand.

Tesla has already expanded its geofence for the Robotaxi suite in Austin, picking a very interesting shape for its newest boundaries:

Tesla’s Robotaxi expansion wasn’t a joke, it was a warning to competitors

As Robotaxi expands, Tesla is dealing with competition from Waymo, another self-driving ride-hailing service that is operating in Austin, among other areas. After Tesla’s expansion, which brought its accessible area to a greater size than Waymo’s, it responded by doubling its geofence.

Waymo’s expansion surpassed Tesla’s size considerably, and it seems Tesla is preparing to expand its geofence in the coming weeks.

Waymo responds to Tesla’s Robotaxi expansion in Austin with bold statement

The Robotaxi platform is not yet available to the public, but Tesla has been inviting more people to try it with every passing day. Currently, the map is roughly 42 square miles, but many believe Tesla is able to broaden this by a considerable margin whenever it decides.

Continue Reading

Investor's Corner

Tesla needs to confront these concerns as its ‘wartime CEO’ returns: Wedbush

Tesla will report earnings for Q2 tomorrow. Here’s what Wedbush expects.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is set to report its earnings for the second quarter of 2025 tomorrow, and although Wall Street firm Wedbush is bullish as the company appears to have its “wartime CEO” back, it is looking for answers to a few concerns investors could have moving forward.

The firm’s lead analyst on Tesla, Dan Ives, has kept a bullish sentiment regarding the stock, even as Musk’s focus seemed to be more on politics and less on the company.

However, Musk has recently returned to his past attitude, which is being completely devoted and dedicated to his companies. He even said he would be sleeping in his office and working seven days a week:


Nevertheless, Ives has continued to push suggestions forward about what Tesla should do, what its potential valuation could be in the coming years with autonomy, and how it will deal with the loss of the EV tax credit.

Tesla preps to expand Robotaxi geofence once again, answering Waymo

These questions are at the forefront of what Ives suggests Tesla should confront on tomorrow’s call, he wrote in a note to investors that was released on Tuesday morning:

“Clearly, losing the EV tax credits with the recent Beltway Bill will be a headwind to Tesla and competitors in the EV landscape looking ahead, and this cash cow will become less of the story (and FCF) in 2026. We would expect some directional guidance on this topic during the conference call. Importantly, we anticipate deliveries globally to rebound in 2H led by some improvement on the key China front with the Model Y refresh a catalyst.”

Ives and Wedbush believe the autonomy could be worth $1 trillion for Tesla, especially as it continues to expand throughout Austin and eventually to other territories.

In the near term, Ives expects Tesla to continue its path of returning to growth:

“While the company has seen significant weakness in China in previous quarters given the rising competitive landscape across EVs, Tesla saw a rebound in June with sales increasing for the first time in eight months reflecting higher demand for its updated Model Y as deliveries in the region are starting to slowly turn a corner with China representing the heart and lungs of the TSLA growth story. Despite seeing more low-cost models enter the market from Chinese OEMs like BYD, Nio, Xpeng, and others, the company’s recent updates to the Model Y spurred increased demand while the accelerated production ramp-up in Shanghai for this refresh cycle reflected TSLA’s ability to meet rising demand in the marquee region. If Musk continues to lead and remain in the driver’s seat at this pace, we believe Tesla is on a path to an accelerated growth path over the coming years with deliveries expected to ramp in the back-half of 2025 following the Model Y refresh cycle.”

Tesla will report earnings tomorrow at market close. Wedbush maintained its ‘Outperform’ rating and held its $500 price target.

Continue Reading

Trending