The Tesla Model 3’s success in the European market shocked the region’s biggest automakers, including Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz. This was despite successful car manufacturers practically writing off Tesla because of its cash flow, production inexperience, and negative outlooks from several hedge funds.
As it turned out, the problem with dismissing Tesla as “the next big thing” is because the Silicon Valley-bred company, through its innovative and unique vehicles, has truly become the hottest company in the car industry. The Model 3 is a big part of that because of its affordability, dispelling the idea that electric cars with sufficient range and high performance are not mainstream cars.
The Model 3’s popularity in Europe was proven after a successful 2019. In December only the Volkswagen Golf and Renault Clio had higher sales figures. This is according to JATO Dynamics, a company that performs market research.
But the popularity of the Model 3 means something other than electric cars is becoming more appealing to consumers. It means automakers that have had success with petrol-powered models, like Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz, may be missing out on a huge opportunity to transition their offerings towards sustainability.
Europe’s biggest luxury carmakers waited long to begin developing cars that could compete with Tesla, and now the companies are lagging behind. The Model 3 already competes with best-selling petrol-powered premium sedans like the Mercedes C-Class or BMW 3 Series in price, despite being far more tech-focused.
Granted, European carmakers have started their own electric car programs. Both Volkswagen and Mercedes are beginning to build electric cars, but they only began developing EVs after Tesla proved that electric cars can be successful and popular among buyers. This leaves them several years behind Tesla, which holds a sizable lead over other carmakers in range, performance, and affordability.
Tesla’s vehicles are improving in performance and range through over-the-air software updates that allow owners to upgrade their cars through the internet, similar to a smartphone.
In addition to being years behind in terms of hardware and software, Volkswagen and Mercedes are making electric versions of cars that they have been building for years. This disqualifies the vehicles from being potential “game-changers,” according to JATO Dynamics analyst Felipe Munoz in a statement to The New York Times. Tesla’s vehicle designs, on the other hand, are fresh and unique, and Munoz believes this could be one of the reasons the company is doing so well.
The uniqueness Tesla is bringing to the table is precisely the way it will continue to disrupt the European auto market. Its cars offer a new and exciting way to travel, and Munoz says the way Tesla was going to beat traditional automakers was by being different than them. “It’s not only about the car itself. It’s also the way they are selling these cars,” Munoz states.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk confirms Tesla is already rolling out a new feature for in-car Grok
Tesla is already making in-car Grok more robust with a simple but effective feature that CEO Elon Musk says is “coming.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the company will roll out a new feature for in-car Grok as it is rolling out to vehicles for the first time.
Grok was just recently added as a feature to Tesla vehicles within the past week, but owners are already requesting some small changes to make it more convenient to use.
Tesla debuts hands-free Grok AI with update 2025.26: What you need to know
The first is already on the way, Musk confirmed, as WholeMarsBlog requested a simple, but useful feature for Grok as it is used within Tesla vehicles.
Whole Mars requested that “Hey Grok” be used as a wake word, automatically activating the AI assistant without having to touch any buttons. Musk confirmed it is already in development and on the way to vehicles:
Coming
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2025
This feature is incredibly similar to that of “Hey Siri” with iPhones and other iOS devices. The phone will recognize your voice and hear that prompt, automatically activating Siri. Apple’s assistant will then perform whatever task it is asked to perform. It’s a simple but effective performance feature.
Grok is already getting its first reviews from owners as it rolls out to owners for the first time. It is a long time coming, too. Tesla has been hinting that Grok would be enabled in the vehicles for a while now, and it just started its initial rollout last week.
After using @grok in my Tesla tonight, I’m insanely impressed.
I honestly went into it a bit skeptical on how useful it would actually be, but I asked it some real genuine questions and it nailed it every time.
Asked it if I take my Tesla to San Francisco next week, where… pic.twitter.com/R0QrK347vi
— Zack (@BLKMDL3) July 16, 2025
Hey @Tesla_Optimus … @grok wants to know if you’re free tonight pic.twitter.com/xXfSkg8M22
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 12, 2025
Grok is available in vehicles with the AMD chip and requires Premium Connectivity or a WiFi connection to use.
Elon Musk
Tesla reveals key detail of Supercharger Diner, but it’s bigger than you think
Tesla has finally released one key detail about the Supercharger Diner, and it is bigger than what it appears at face-value.
Tesla has revealed a key detail of its Supercharger Diner as its launch date appears to be nearing, based on what we are seeing at the site currently.
The Supercharger Diner is located on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles and was first proposed as an idea by CEO Elon Musk back in 2018. Musk envisioned a drive-in movie-style 1950s-inspired diner that would feature elements such as servers on roller skates, large movie screens, and a menu inspired by classic treats from several decades ago.
A project that first broke ground in 2023, the Supercharger Diner has been in development for over two years, as Tesla performed demolition work at the site back in February of that year.
It has slowly moved forward, and drone footage shot this week seems to show things are nearly up and running. Musk even mentioned that he had eaten at the Diner Supercharger this week.
There are still details that Tesla has yet to announce and confirm. The most important thing is regarding the menu that will be served at the diner.
Tesla has not hinted at what it will be making for patrons at the restaurant, but Musk commended the food and said the diner would be one of the coolest spots in LA.
🚨 Tesla has involved “almost every team at the company…in some form” in the development of the Supercharger Diner in Los Angeles https://t.co/wLC6t79vgu pic.twitter.com/o52SWWbYPd
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 16, 2025
However, we now have details on another important thing about the restaurant: the hours.
Images taken by Aaron Cash of ABetterTheater.com show the diner will be open 24/7, as it appears on the front doors of the diner:
🚨 Tesla Diner in Los Angeles will be open 24/7 https://t.co/SlccUUlLIb pic.twitter.com/9I78ZGBdnz
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) July 15, 2025
At first thought, it seems this will operate like any other diner, as many are open for 24 hours a day. Diners typically serve large menus with numerous options, catering to the tastes and moods of anyone who walks in.
People of all walks of life eat at diners, as the food is typically affordable, tasty, and available at any hour to serve those who are night owls or those who work non-typical schedules.
However, Tesla is a bit different, and it seems that this new venture into food service could eventually transition from human servers and cooks to robots, most notably the company’s in-house project of Optimus.
It is something straight out of a Star Wars movie. I can think of Obi-Wan Kenobi visiting Dex in his diner in Attack of the Clones to figure out where a poison dart was sourced from:
Eventually, Optimus will likely be working as an employee in the Tesla Diner, and 24/7 operation will be performed by the humanoid robot that aims to eliminate trivial tasks from humans.
News
First glimpse of Tesla Model Y with six seats and extended wheelbase
It’s longer and taller than the regular Model Y, and it has a cool new badge.
Tesla’s extended wheelbase Model Y has been announced by the electric vehicle maker on its official Weibo page in China. At the same time, details of the upcoming vehicle have been listed in the China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT) new regulatory catalog.
The extended wheelbase Model Y
Tesla announced the upcoming vehicle on its official Weibo page, with the company noting that the new car will be called the “Model Y L.” Images posted by the company showed that the Model Y L will feature a “Model Y” badge with a stylized “Y” graphic. A teaser image of the vehicle taken from its side also emphasizes the extra space that was gained from its extended wheelbase.
The MIIT listing for the Model Y L indicated that the vehicle would be 4,976 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, and 1,668 mm high. Its wheelbase was listed in the MIIT’s catalog as 3,040 mm. In comparison, the new Model Y is currently 4,797 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, and 1,624 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,890 mm.
Six seats and some power
Most notably, the extended wheelbase Model Y was listed in the MIIT regulatory catalog as a six-seat model. The vehicle is also listed with the product model number TSL6500BEVBA0, as noted in a CNEV Post report. And as hinted in Tesla China’s Weibo post, the vehicle will be released sometime in the fall.
The Model Y L is listed as a dual motor vehicle with peak power outputs of 142 kW and 198 kW for the front and rear motors. The vehicle is also listed with ternary batteries supplied by LG Energy Solution, and it reportedly weighs 2,088 kilograms (4603 pounds). In comparison, the new Model Y Dual Motor AWD weighs 4391 pounds.
Tesla China has not hinted at the price of the new Model Y L, though expectations are high that the vehicle will be priced at about RMB 400,000 ($55,764). It also remains to be seen if the Model Y L will also be produced in Tesla’s vehicle factories in the United States and Germany.
Elon Musk confirms Tesla is already rolling out a new feature for in-car Grok
Tesla reveals key detail of Supercharger Diner, but it’s bigger than you think
First glimpse of Tesla Model Y with six seats and extended wheelbase
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