Last year, Tesla made headlines when it made a Mid-Range Model 3 RWD a target and prize at a Pwn2Own hacking competition. Two hackers participating at the event were able to find a vulnerability with the Model 3’s browser, allowing them to win the vehicle and over $350,000 in prize money. But Tesla is a company that never stays still, so this year, the electric car maker is returning to an upcoming Pwn2Own event this March, armed with a much more secure Model 3 and a bigger cash reward.
This time around, Tesla is offering three tiers of prizes for hackers who can find vulnerabilities in the Model 3. Hackers who wish to claim the highest “Tier 1” prize would need to pivot through multiple systems in the car to find vulnerabilities. But if they are successful, they will win the Model 3 and a $500,000 prize. But that’s not all. Contestants can also aim to acquire additional options to increase the cash prize to $700,000.
In a statement to Forbes, a spokesperson from Trend Micro ZDI explained that Tesla’s challenge this year is incredibly tough, but it also comes with a record-setting reward. “This represents the single largest target in Pwn2Own history. If someone can do this, it would also mean 70 total Master of Pwn points, which is nearly insurmountable,” the spokesperson said. “We wanted to include Tesla because they pioneered the concept of a connected car and over-the-air updates for their entire vehicle fleet nearly a decade ago, and have been leading the space ever since.”
Just like last year, Tesla will be joining other tech companies at the upcoming Pwn2Own event. While Tesla appears to be the only automaker that is willing to test its vehicles’ security against the best white hat hackers in the industry, other mainstream tech companies are also allowing their key products to be targets for the competition. Google’s Chrome, Microsoft’s Edge, Apple’s Safari, and Mozilla’s Firefox web browsers, for example, are all targets this time around for the Web Browser category. At the same time, Microsoft’s Office 365 Plus and Adobe Reader are the targets for the Enterprise Applications category.
Tesla’s participation in events such as Pwn2Own highlights the company’s Silicon Valley roots. The company’s electric vehicles usually dominate the news cycle, resulting in Tesla being commonly dubbed as a carmaker. But the company is far beyond that, as it is, at its core, a tech firm. This is one of the reasons why Teslas are so different from any other vehicle on the road. Its vehicles are equipped with proprietary software and hardware that provides something akin to an Apple-like experience for customers.
This distinction is something that Tesla had emphasized since 2014, when the company broke conventions by launching its Bug Bounty program. By doing so, Tesla practically invited white hat hackers to find security faults in its vehicles. Tesla’s efforts have largely borne fruit, with several security features today, such as PIN-to-Drive, being developed as a result of the company’s Bug Bounty program.
The upcoming Pwn2Own event will be held at the CanSecWest conference, which is scheduled to run from March 18-20, 2020.
News
Tesla ramps up Sweden price war with cheaper Model Y offer
The incentive effectively acts as a manufacturer-funded EV bonus and makes the entry-level Model Y more affordable.
Tesla has introduced a new 40,000 SEK incentive in Sweden, lowering the price of its most affordable Model Y to a record low. The incentive effectively acts as a manufacturer-funded EV bonus and makes the entry-level Model Y more affordable.
As per a report from Swedish auto outlet Allt om Elbil, Tesla Sweden is offering a 40,000 SEK electric car bonus on the entry-level Tesla Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive variant. The incentive lowers the purchase price of the base all-electric crossover to 459,900–459,990 SEK, depending on listing.
The bonus applies to orders and deliveries completed by March 31, 2026. Tesla Sweden is also offering zero-interest financing as part of the campaign.
Last fall, Tesla launched a new base version of the Model Y starting at 499,990 SEK. The variant features a refreshed design and simplified equipment compared to the Premium and Performance variants. The new 40,000 SEK incentive now pushes the entry model well below the 460,000 SEK mark.
So far this year, the Model Y remains the most registered electric vehicle in Sweden and the third most registered new car overall. However, most registrations have been for higher Premium-spec versions. The new incentive could then be Tesla’s way to push sales of its most affordable Model Y variant in the country.
Tesla is also promoting private leasing options for the entry-level Model Y at 4,995 SEK per month. Swedish automotive observers have noted that leasing may remain the more cost-effective option compared to purchasing outright, even after the new discount.
The base Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive offers a WLTP range of 534 kilometers, a top speed of 201 km/h, and a 0–100 km/h time of 7.2 seconds. Tesla lists energy consumption at 13.1 kWh per 100 kilometers, making it the most efficient version of the vehicle in the lineup and potentially lowering overall ownership costs.
News
Tesla China hires Autopilot Test Engineer amid continued FSD rollout preparations
The role is based in Lingang, the district that houses Gigafactory Shanghai.
Tesla is hiring an Autopilot Test Engineer in Shanghai, a move that signals continued groundwork for the validation of Full Self-Driving (FSD) in China. The role is based in Lingang, the district that houses Gigafactory Shanghai and has become a key testing zone for advanced autonomous features.
As observed by Tesla watchers, local authorities in Shanghai’s Nanhui New City within Lingang have previously authorized a fleet of Teslas to run advanced driving tests on public roads. This marked one of the first instances where foreign automakers were permitted to test autonomous driving systems under real traffic conditions in China.
Tesla’s hiring efforts come amid ongoing groundwork for a full FSD rollout in China. Earlier reporting noted that Tesla China has been actively preparing the regulatory and infrastructure foundation needed for full FSD deployment, even though the company has not yet announced a firm launch date for the feature in the market.
As per recent comments from Tesla China Vice President Grace Tao, the electric vehicle maker has been busy setting up the necessary facilities to support FSD’s full rollout in the country. In a comment to local media, Tao stated that FSD should demonstrate a level of performance that could surpass human drivers once it is fully rolled out.
“We have set up a local training center in China specifically to handle this adaptation,” Tao said. “Once officially released, it will demonstrate a level of performance that is no less than, and may even surpass, that of local drivers.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been quite bullish about a potential FSD rollout in China. During the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting, Musk emphasized that FSD had only received “partial approval” in China, though full authorization could potentially arrive around February or March 2026. This timeline was reiterated by the CEO during his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Elon Musk
Tesla Model Y outsells all EV rivals in Europe in 2025 despite headwinds
The result highlights the Model Y’s continued strength in the region.
The Tesla Model Y was Europe’s most popular electric car in 2025, leading all EV models by a wide margin despite a year marked by production transition, intensifying competition, and anti-Elon Musk sentiments.
The result highlights the Model Y’s continued strength in the region even as Volkswagen overtook Tesla as the top-selling EV brand overall.
As per data compiled by JATO Dynamics and reported by Swedish outlet Allt om Elbil, the Tesla Model Y recorded 149,805 registrations across Europe in 2025. That figure placed it comfortably at No. 1 among all electric car models in the region.
The Model Y’s performance in Europe is particularly notable given that registrations declined 28% year-over-year. The dip coincided with Tesla’s Q1 2025 transition to the updated Model Y, a changeover that temporarily affected output and deliveries in several markets. Anti-Elon Musk sentiments also spread across several European countries amidst the CEO’s work with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Even with these disruptions, the Model Y outsold its nearest rival by more than 50,000 units. Second place went to the newly launched Skoda Elroq with 93,870 registrations, followed by the Tesla Model 3 at 85,393 units. The Model 3 also recorded a 24% year-over-year decline. Renault’s new electric Renault 5 placed fourth with 85,101 registrations.
Other top performers included the Volkswagen ID.4, ID.3, and ID.7, along with the BMW iX1 and Kia EV3, many of which posted triple-digit growth from partial-year launches in 2024.
While the Model Y dominated individual model rankings, Volkswagen overtook Tesla as Europe’s top EV brand in 2025. Volkswagen delivered 274,278 electric cars in the region, a 56% increase compared to 2024. Much of that growth was driven by the Volkswagen ID.7. Tesla, by contrast, sold 236,357 electric vehicles in Europe, representing a 27% year-over-year decline.
JATO Dynamics noted that “Tesla’s small and aging model range faces fierce competition in Europe, both from traditional European automakers and a growing number of Chinese competitors.”
Despite intensifying competition and brand-level shifts, however. the Model Y’s commanding lead demonstrates that Tesla’s bestselling crossover remains a dominant force in Europe’s fast-evolving EV landscape.
Tesla ramps up Sweden price war with cheaper Model Y offer
Tesla China hires Autopilot Test Engineer amid continued FSD rollout preparations
