News
Tesla Model 3 Highland spotted driving uncovered in California
Tesla’s Model 3 has gained a refreshed design, with the updated model launching in several countries outside of the U.S. in the last few months. The new Model 3, dubbed the Highland or the Model 3+, has now been spotted completely uncovered in the U.S. for the first time, ahead of the automaker’s official North American launch of the vehicle.
Reddit user u/no_regular_8542 shared photos of the Model 3 Highland on a highway outside of Menlo Park, California on Wednesday, shown without any coverings at all. The refreshed Model 3 was also spotted last month without a rear bumper covering, though this is the first time the vehicle has been seen in the U.S. without any privacy wraps.
Refresh Model 3 spotted today in the Bay Area. This time 100% uncovered! pic.twitter.com/B4GjgYZI0P
— Nic Cruz Patane (@niccruzpatane) October 11, 2023
The Model 3+ has Tesla’s ultra red paint, along with the redesigned headlights and other exterior changes that have been spotted with the vehicle’s launch in recent months. The news comes after several months of speculation ahead of the refreshed Model 3’s launch and after Tesla officially launched the new vehicle design in markets across much of Europe, Asia and elsewhere, though it’s still not yet available in North America.
The Model 3 Highland is currently being built at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai, China, and onlookers have recently seen huge batches of the vehicle outside the plant in preparation for being shipped. Over the weekend, one Model 3 Highland was unveiled in France during an Owners Day event at the Chateau de Savigny-les-Beaune.
It’s not entirely clear when Tesla plans to launch the Model 3+ in North America, though most point to early 2024 for initial U.S. deliveries. The vehicle is expected to begin initial deliveries in Europe this and next month and in China sometime during the fourth quarter, according to Tesla’s order configurators for various countries. Tesla also began discounting inventory Model 3 units in the U.S. last month, which many expect to precede the North American launch of the refreshed version.
The news also comes ahead of Tesla’s plans to launch the Cybertruck in the U.S., with initial deliveries set to begin in the coming months. Ahead of its release, many have spotted the highly anticipated electric pickup on public roads, and the vehicle recently surpassed two million reservations, according to one tracker.
Update: Corrected to include “headlights” in the third paragraph.
Tesla Model 3+ wasn’t supposed to be the first car with ambient interior lighting
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Elon Musk
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” Musk said.
Tesla is preparing to expand its all-electric Semi truck program to Europe, with CEO Elon Musk indicating that the Class 8 vehicle could arrive in the region 2027.
Musk shared his update during an interview about Giga Berlin with plant manager André Thierig, which was posted on X by the official Tesla Manufacturing account.
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” he said.
Tesla has already begun limited production and customer deployments of the Tesla Semi in the United States, with the company working to scale output through the Semi factory near Giga Nevada. Considering Musk’s comments, it appears that a European rollout would be the next phase of the vehicle’s expansion beyond North America.
Musk’s use of the word “hopefully” leaves room for flexibility, but the remark signals that Europe is next in Tesla’s commercial expansion plans.
Musk has consistently argued that electrification should extend beyond passenger vehicles. During the same interview, he reiterated his view that “all ground transport should be electric,” adding that ships, and eventually aircraft, would follow.
The Semi plays a central role in that strategy. Heavy-duty freight remains one of the most emissions-intensive segments of road transport, and European regulators have increasingly pushed for lower-emission commercial fleets.
Tesla recently refreshed the Semi lineup on its official website, listing two variants: Standard and Long Range. The Standard trim offers up to 325 miles of range with an energy consumption rating of 1.7 kWh per mile, while the Long Range version provides up to 500 miles, which should be more than ample for European routes.
Elon Musk
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said.
Tesla could add the Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot to the production lineup at Giga Berlin, as per recent comments from CEO Elon Musk.
During a recent interview with Giga Berlin plant manager André Thierig, Musk identified the Cybercab as the most likely next major product for the German factory, with Optimus potentially following after.
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said. He added that there are also “possibilities of Tesla Optimus” being produced in the facility.
Tesla has already begun production of the Cybercab in Giga Texas, with volume production expected to ramp this year. Based on Musk’s comments, it appears that if conditions align in Europe, Giga Berlin could eventually join that effort.
The CEO’s comments about Optimus coming to Gigafactory Berlin are quite unsurprising too considering that Musk has mentioned in the past that the humanoid robot will likely be Tesla’s highest volume product in the long run.
Giga Berlin will likely be able to produce mass volumes of Optimus, as the Model S and Model X lines being converted to an Optimus line in the Fremont Factory are already expected to produce 1 million units of the humanoid robot annually.
Apart from his comments about the Cybercab and Optimus, Elon Musk also confirmed that Giga Berlin has started ramping battery cell production and will continue expanding Model Y output, particularly as supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) gains regulatory approvals in Europe.
Taken together, the remarks suggest Berlin’s role could evolve beyond vehicle assembly into a broader multi-product manufacturing hub, not just a regional Model Y plant.
Energy
Tesla Powerwall distribution expands in Australia
Inventory is expected to arrive in late February and official sales are expected to start mid-March 2026.
Supply Partners Group has secured a distribution agreement for the Tesla Powerwall in Australia, with inventory expected to arrive in late February and official sales beginning in mid-March 2026.
Under the new agreement, Supply Partners will distribute Tesla Powerwall units and related accessories across its national footprint, as noted in an ecogeneration report. The company said the addition strengthens its position as a distributor focused on premium, established brands.
“We are proud to officially welcome Tesla Powerwall into the Supply Partners portfolio,” Lliam Ricketts, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at Supply Partners Group, stated.
“Tesla sets a high bar, and we’ve worked hard to earn the opportunity to represent a brand that customers actively ask for. This partnership reflects the strength of our logistics, technical services and customer experience, and it’s a win for installers who want premium options they can trust.”
Supply Partners noted that initial Tesla Powerwall stock will be warehoused locally before full commercial rollout in March. The distributor stated that the timing aligns with renewed growth momentum for the Powerwall, supported by competitive installer pricing, consumer rebates, and continued product and software updates.
“Powerwall is already a category-defining product, and what’s ahead makes it even more compelling,” Ricketts stated. “As pricing sharpens and capability expands, we see a clear runway for installers to confidently spec Powerwall for premium residential installs, backed by Supply Partners’ national distribution footprint and service model.”
Supply Partners noted that a joint go-to-market launch is planned, including Tesla-led training for its sales and technical teams to support installers during the home battery system’s domestic rollout.
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
