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Tesla Model 3 gets scathing teardown review: “I can’t imagine how they released this”
Sandy Munro, CEO of Munro & Associates, an automotive benchmarking firm based in Detroit, believes that the Tesla Model 3’s build quality is incredibly lacking. In a video of his observations on the vehicle, the teardown specialist lamented on the Model 3’s apparent haphazard construction and flawed design, from its panel gaps and trunk to its non-mechanical interior rear door handles.
The automotive veteran’s comments and observations on Tesla’s vehicle were featured in a recently uploaded video from Autoline Network, where host John McElroy tackled the flaws of the Model 3 with the Detroit veteran. From a general standpoint, the Munro & Associates CEO had a lot of issues with the car’s fit and finish, with the automotive teardown expert stating that he could not imagine “how they (Tesla) released this (the Model 3).”
One particular pain point for Munro was the glaring panel gaps in the vehicle. On the rear trunk of the Model 3, the Detroit-based executive noted that some gaps were so huge, he could fit his thumb in. Using some classic hyperbole and seemingly jabbing at Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s long-term plans for SpaceX, Munro quipped that the gaps in the car could be seen all the way “from Mars.”
The Model 3’s door handles did not get any approval from the Detroit veteran, too. According to Munro, the mechanism of the front door handles on the mass market electric compact sedan is far too complicated to operate. Munro, who admitted that his wrists were previously injured in an accident, went so far as to state that the doors were “impossible” to open with one hand, and that it caused him great pain to use. The CEO summarized his comments by saying that he “hated” the car’s door handles.
Apart from the front door mechanism and the panel gaps on the Model 3, Munro also took issue with the lack of mechanical door handles for the car’s rear seats. According to Munro, the lack of mechanical door mechanisms on the rear would force passengers to crawl out of the car from the trunk in the event of an accident, which is incredibly difficult and risky. Coupled with the heavy trunk of the Model 3 and the car’s confusing cut zones for emergency personnel, the Detroit veteran noted that Tesla’s latest vehicle is a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Overall, Munro concluded that Tesla had done a really bad job with the Model 3. In the Detroit veteran’s opinion, however, the main flaw of the car was the fact that it was designed by a company that is not experienced in the auto industry at all.
“This thing is a miserable job, and we’ve come to the conclusion that these guys at Tesla are definitely electronics snobs.”
Many of the auto veteran’s statements in the recently uploaded video seem to be a deliberate attempt to damage the credibility of an otherwise critically-acclaimed car. Since Tesla has begun the deliveries of the Model 3, the mass market electric compact sedan has garnered rave reviews from multiple online publications and customers alike. While the car is not perfect in any way, the Model 3 is nonetheless hailed as a vehicle that can very well usher in a new era in transportation.
Quite interestingly, Munro’s bias does not seem to come from an anti-electric car standpoint. In the past, the auto veteran hailed the BMW i3 as a masterfully manufactured car, and he was pretty impressed with the Chevy Bolt EV, too. Perhaps the reason could be provided by Jalopnik, however, which reported that Munro & Associates’s most prolific clients are GM, Ford, and Chrysler, otherwise known as the Big Three of the legacy American auto industry.
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Tesla ships out update that brings massive change to two big features
“This change only updates the name of certain features and text in your vehicle,” the company wrote in Release Notes for the update, “and does not change the way your features behave.”
Tesla has shipped out an update for its vehicles that was caused specifically by a California lawsuit that threatened the company’s ability to sell cars because of how it named its driver assistance suite.
Tesla shipped out Software Update 2026.2.9 starting last week; we received it already, and it only brings a few minor changes, mostly related to how things are referenced.
“This change only updates the name of certain features and text in your vehicle,” the company wrote in Release Notes for the update, “and does not change the way your features behave.”
The following changes came to Tesla vehicles in the update:
- Navigate on Autopilot has now been renamed to Navigate on Autosteer
- FSD Computer has been renamed to AI Computer
Tesla faced a 30-day sales suspension in California after the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles stated the company had to come into compliance regarding the marketing of its automated driving features.
The agency confirmed on February 18 that it had taken a “corrective action” to resolve the issue. That corrective action was renaming certain parts of its ADAS.
Tesla discontinued its standalone Autopilot offering in January and ramped up the marketing of Full Self-Driving Supervised. Tesla had said on X that the issue with naming “was a ‘consumer protection’ order about the use of the term ‘Autopilot’ in a case where not one single customer came forward to say there’s a problem.”
This was a “consumer protection” order about the use of the term “Autopilot” in a case where not one single customer came forward to say there’s a problem.
Sales in California will continue uninterrupted.
— Tesla North America (@tesla_na) December 17, 2025
It is now compliant with the wishes of the California DMV, and we’re all dealing with it now.
This was the first primary dispute over the terminology of Full Self-Driving, but it has undergone some scrutiny at the federal level, as some government officials have claimed the suite has “deceptive” names. Previous Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was one of those federal-level employees who had an issue with the names “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving.”
Tesla sued the California DMV over the ruling last week.
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Tesla workers push back against Giga Berlin unionization
“IG Metall did not succeed in Giga Berlin‘s works council election earlier today. The union share was reduced from nearly 40% in 2024 to 31% in 2026! This is a clear message by the Giga Berlin team towards an independent co-determination! The list called Giga United, led by the current chairwoman, Michaela Schmitz, received the most votes with more than 40%! Good news for Giga Berlin!”
Tesla workers pushed back against unionization efforts at Gigafactory Berlin, and over the past few years, there has been a dramatic decrease in interest to unionize at the German plant.
Gigafactory Berlin Plant Manager André Thierig announced on Wednesday that IG Metall, the European union group, saw its share reduce from 40 to 31 percent in 2026 as employees eligible to vote on the issue. Instead, the Giga Berlin team, known as Giga United, received the most votes with more than 40 percent.
BREAKING! 🚨
IG Metall did not succeed in Giga Berlin‘s works council election earlier today. The union share was reduced from nearly 40% in 2024 to 31% in 2026!
This is a clear message by theGiga Berlin team towards an independent co-determination!
The list called Giga…
— André Thierig (@AndrThie) March 4, 2026
Thierig gave specific details in a post on X:
“IG Metall did not succeed in Giga Berlin‘s works council election earlier today. The union share was reduced from nearly 40% in 2024 to 31% in 2026! This is a clear message by the Giga Berlin team towards an independent co-determination! The list called Giga United, led by the current chairwoman, Michaela Schmitz, received the most votes with more than 40%! Good news for Giga Berlin!”
There were over 10,700 total employees who were eligible to vote, with 87 percent of them turning out to cast what they wanted. There were three key outcomes: Giga United, IG Metall, and other notable groups, with the most popular being the Polish Initiative.
The 37-seat council remains dominated by non-unionized representatives, preserving Giga Berlin as Germany’s only major auto plant without a collective bargaining agreement.
Thierig and Tesla framed the outcome as employee support for an “independent, flexible, and unbureaucratic” future, enabling acceleration on projects like potential expansions or new models. IG Metall expressed disappointment, accusing management of intimidation tactics and an “unfair” campaign.
The first election of this nature happened back in 2022. In 2024, IG Metall emerged as the largest single faction with 39.4 percent, but non-union lists coalesced for a majority.
But this year was different. There was some extra tension at Giga Berlin this year, as just two weeks ago, an IG Metall rep was accused by Tesla of secretly recording a council meeting. The group countersued for defamation.
Tesla Giga Berlin plant manager faces defamation probe after IG Metall union complaint
This result from the 2026 vote reinforced Tesla’s model of direct employee-management alignment over traditional German union structures, amid ongoing debates about working conditions. IG Metall views it as a setback but continues advocacy. Tesla sees it as validation of its approach in a competitive EV market.
This outcome may influence future labor dynamics at Giga Berlin, including any revival of expansion plans or product lines, which Musk has talked about recently.
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SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell details xAI power pledge at White House event
The commitment was announced during an event with United States President Donald Trump.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell stated that xAI will develop 1.2 gigawatts of power at its Memphis-area AI supercomputer site as part of the White House’s new “Ratepayer Protection Pledge.”
The commitment was announced during an event with United States President Donald Trump.
During the White House event, Shotwell stated that xAI’s AI data center near Memphis would include a major energy installation designed to support the facility’s power needs.
“As you know, xAI builds huge supercomputers and data centers and we build them fast. Currently, we’re building one on the Tennessee-Mississippi state line. As part of today’s commitment, we will take extensive additional steps to continue to reduce the costs of electricity for our neighbors…
“xAI will therefore commit to develop 1.2 GW of power as our supercomputer’s primary power source. That will be for every additional data center as well. We will expand what is already the largest global Megapack power installation in the world,” Shotwell said.
She added that the system would provide significant backup power capacity.
“The installation will provide enough backup power to power the city of Memphis, and more than sufficient energy to power the town of Southaven, Mississippi where the data center resides. We will build new substations and invest in electrical infrastructure to provide stability to the area’s grid.”
Shotwell also noted that xAI will be supporting the area’s water supply as well.
“We haven’t talked about it yet, but this is actually quite important. We will build state-of-the-art water recycling plants that will protect approximately 4.7 billion gallons of water from the Memphis aquifer each year. And we will employ thousands of American workers from around the city of Memphis on both sides of the TN-MS border,” she noted.
The Ratepayer Protection Pledge was introduced as part of the federal government’s effort to address concerns about rising electricity costs tied to large AI data centers, as noted in an Insider report. Under the agreement, companies developing major AI infrastructure projects committed to covering their own power generation needs and avoiding additional costs for local ratepayers.
Tesla ships out update that brings massive change to two big features
Tesla workers push back against Giga Berlin unionization
