News
Tesla Model 3 earns rave review from one of Germany’s biggest magazines
Tesla’s much-celebrated Model 3 has earned another rave review, this time from one of Germany’s most accomplished magazines, Der Spiegel. Their conclusion? Tesla Model 3 is poised to strike fear into the hearts of more established automakers in the region.
A midnight gray Model 3 Performance served as the car of choice for Der Spiegel’s latest review of the all-electric sports sedan. Tesla’s trademark acceleration didn’t miss a beat, with the publication validating Model 3’s ability to perform a 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.5 seconds and register a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The results place Model 3 ahead some of the industry’s top high-performance sedans like the BMW M3.
Der Spiegel further lauded Tesla for maximizing the space in the Model 3’s cabin, which gave the vehicle more space than other cars in its class. Features that came through over-the-air updates such as Dog Mode, which protects pets that are left inside the vehicle, were lauded by the publication. Some of the Model 3’s more fun capabilities, including Easter Eggs like the now-infamous Emissions Testing Mode (also known as the Fart App) were positively received by Der Spiegel‘s reviewers as well.
Der Spiegel‘s ultimately argued that the Model 3 is not a perfect car by any means, as its interior workmanship is not yet on the level of more experienced manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, and the vehicle has a tendency to rely too much on its 15″ center touchscreen for basic actions like opening the glovebox. Despite these complaints, the reviewers concluded that the Model 3 is something that should strike fear in traditional auto. “Mercedes, BMW, and Audi are trembling in front of this car,” the magazine noted.
Der Spiegel is one of Germany’s most storied magazines. Founded by John British army officer Seymour Chaloner and former Wehrmacht radio operator Rudolf Augstein in 1947 (Chaloner would later be recognized as one of the fifty World Press Freedom Heroes by the International Press Institute in 2000), the publication would go on to establish a reputation for investigative reporting. The magazine currently has a circulation of 840,000 copies per week, making it one of the largest publications in Europe today.
Tesla is currently pushing the Model 3 to Europe, with the electric car maker starting its saturation of the region with the vehicle’s higher-tier variants such as the Long Range AWD and Model 3 Performance. A deeper push into Europe seems to be in order too, as a recent sighting in California indicated that Tesla is now testing a right-hand-drive (RHD) version of the electric sedan, a configuration that will be pushed to territories like the UK, Australia, and Hong Kong, to name a few.
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
