News
Tesla Model 3 test drives in Shenzhen paused after customer crashes first unit
Tesla set out to remove the perception that electric cars are slow, boring vehicles which are no more special than glorified golf carts. The company accomplished their goal with the original Tesla Roadster, the Model S, Model X, and now, the Model 3. While Tesla’s electric cars are proven to be quick on their feet, there is one particular fact that usually gets overlooked — it takes a responsible and proficient driver to handle the power provided by the company’s vehicles.
This point was highlighted recently in Shenzen, China. Tesla is expected to begin deliveries of the Model 3 in the Asian country, and to help prepare reservation holders and potential customers for the sedan’s arrival; the electric car maker has started a test drive program for the vehicle. Just as planned by Elon Musk for the United States, the test drive units that were initially sent to China were Model 3 Performance, the top tier variant of the electric sedan that is known for being very quick, whether in straight-line acceleration or around a track. Unfortunately, one test driver in Shenzen, China proved to be unprepared for the power of the Model 3 Performance.
As shared by Tesla owner-enthusiast JayinShanghai on Twitter, the Model 3 test driver ended up crashing the electric sedan. An image of the vehicle, as well as a short clip of the electric car after the accident, showed the extensive damage to the front of the car. While Tesla has not revealed the specifics of the incident, the damage incurred by the Model 3 Performance suggests that the vehicle might have crashed into a pole.
First Tesla Model 3 Performance Crash in China. Test Drive Car in Shenzhen, 3.5 second (0-100Km/h) isn’t for everyone. Photo credit to 新出行小编 via Weibo #Tesla #TeslaChina #Model3Performance #TeslaCrash #特斯拉 pic.twitter.com/K6NsT4QiIv
— Jay in Shanghai 电动 Jay 🇨🇳 (@JayinShanghai) February 7, 2019
Due to the crash, Model 3 test drives in Shenzen were promptly stopped, at least until another test unit could be shipped to the area. Fortunately, the wait for another Model 3 test drive car was short. As shared by Tesla enthusiast Kelvin Yang on Twitter, reports have emerged stating that another Model 3 Performance has been shipped to Shenzen as a replacement for the crashed test drive unit. Unlike the red sedan that was damaged from the incident, Shenzen’s new Model 3 Performance test drive car is painted black and equipped with 19″ Power Sports Wheels.
Seemingly without missing a beat, Tesla has reportedly started taking appointments for test drives in the new vehicle. In a later update, Yang noted that the new Model 3 test drive car is already fully booked, with interested customers being required to wait an average of more than two hours for their turn.
New test drive vehicle arrived pic.twitter.com/o3ajG7FXDh
— Kelvin Yang (@KelvinYang7) February 8, 2019
Tesla’s rapid response to its damaged Model 3 test drive unit in Shenzen is impressive. Considering that deliveries in the country are yet to begin, the company showed a considerable amount of proficiency with its logistics by shipping another test drive unit to the city immediately following the first vehicle’s crash. This, if any, bodes well for the upcoming Model 3 deliveries in the region.
Unlike the Tesla Model S P100D and the Model X P100D, the Model 3 Performance is not equipped with a dedicated feature that optimizes it for straight-line acceleration. Instead, the Model 3’s top variant utilizes the raw power of its dual electric motors, which produce a combined 450 hp and 471 lb-ft of torque. The Model 3 Performance lives up to its moniker, with its 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds, its top speed of 155 mph, and its range of 310 miles per charge. The car is also equipped with a Track Mode feature, which optimizes the vehicle for intensive driving around a racetrack.
Watch the aftermath of Shenzen’s Model 3 Performance test drive unit’s crash in the video below.
Model 3 test car crashed and all test drive in Shenzhen got cancelled /facepalm. Video from local WeChat group pic.twitter.com/n3ifTpkVpV
— Kelvin Yang (@KelvinYang7) February 7, 2019
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares updated Starship V3 maiden launch target date
The comment was posted on Musk’s official account on social media platform X.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shared a brief Starship V3 update in a post on social media platform X, stating the next launch attempt of the spacecraft could take place in about four weeks.
The comment was posted on Musk’s official account on social media platform X.
Musk’s update suggests that Starship Flight 12 could target a launch around early April, though the schedule will depend on several remaining milestones at SpaceX’s Starbase launch facility in Texas.
Among the key steps is testing and certification of the site’s new launch tower, launch mount, and tank farm systems. These upgrades will support the next generation of Starship vehicles.
Booster 19 is expected to roll to the launch site and be placed on the launch mount before returning to the production facility to receive its 33 Raptor engines. The booster would then return for a static fire test, which could mark the first time a Super Heavy booster equipped with Raptor V3 engines is fired on the pad.
Ship 39 is expected to undergo a similar preparation process. The vehicle will likely return to the production site to receive its six engines before heading to Massey’s test site for static fire testing.
Once both stages are prepared, the booster and ship will roll out to the launch site for the first full stack of a V3 Super Heavy and V3 Starship. A full wet dress rehearsal is expected to follow before any launch attempt.
Elon Musk has previously shared how SpaceX plans to eventually recover Starship’s upper stage using the launch tower’s robotic arms. Musk noted that the company will only attempt to catch the Starship spacecraft after two successful soft landings in the ocean. The approach is intended to reduce risk before attempting a recovery over land.
“Should note that SpaceX will only try to catch the ship with the tower after two perfect soft landings in the ocean. The risk of the ship breaking up over land needs to be very low,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
Such a milestone would represent a major step toward the full reuse of the Starship system, which remains a central goal for SpaceX’s long-term launch strategy.
News
Tesla opens first public Tesla Semi Megacharger site in Los Angeles
The development was highlighted in a post on social media platform X by the official Tesla Semi account.
Tesla has opened its first public Tesla Semi Megacharger site in Los Angeles. The station reportedly offers up to 750 kW charging speeds and is open to Tesla Semi customers.
The development was highlighted in a post on social media platform X by the official Tesla Semi account.
Tesla Semi Megachargers
The Los Angeles site seems to be the first public Tesla Semi Megacharger that is not located at a Tesla factory. It is also the third Megacharger site currently visible on Tesla’s map.
The Megacharger system is designed specifically for the Tesla Semi and is capable of delivering extremely high charging speeds to support long-haul trucking operations. Infrastructure such as this will likely play a key role in making the Semi competitive with diesel-powered transport trucks.
Tesla’s progress with the Semi has also drawn attention in recent days after Elon Musk biographer Ashlee Vance shared photos from inside the Tesla Semi factory near Giga Nevada. The images suggested that preparations for higher production volumes may be underway, hinting that a broader ramp of the Tesla Semi’s production indeed be approaching.
New deployment strategies
Tesla has continued expanding its broader charging network through several new strategies aimed at accelerating infrastructure deployment. One of these initiatives is the Supercharger for Business program, which allows third parties to purchase Tesla Supercharger equipment and deploy charging stations while still integrating with Tesla’s network.
The program recently marked a milestone in Alpharetta, Georgia, where the city deployed four 325 kW city-branded Superchargers near the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety on Old Milton Parkway. The chargers support the city’s Tesla Model Y police vehicles while also remaining accessible to the public.
As per a report from EVwire, the project was designed not only to support fleet charging but also to generate economic returns that could offset the city’s investment. Tesla’s Supercharger for Business program has already attracted several participants, including businesses and charging providers such as Suncoast Charging, Pie Safe bakery in Idaho, Francis Energy in Oklahoma, and Wawa convenience stores.
Elon Musk
The Boring Company’s Vegas Loop moves 82k riders during CONEXPO
The Loop’s feat was highlighted by The Boring Company in a post on its official account on social media platform X.
The Boring Company said its Vegas Loop system transported roughly 82,000 passengers during the recent CONEXPO-CON/AGG construction trade show in Las Vegas. The event was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) from March 3-7, 2026.
The Loop’s feat was highlighted by The Boring Company in a post on its official account on social media platform X.
CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026
CONEXPO-CON/AGG is one of the largest construction trade shows in North America. This year’s event was quite impressive, attracting more than 140,000 construction professionals from 128 countries across the world.
Considering the number of this year’s attendees, the LVCC Loop seemed to have proven itself to be a very useful transportation solution. A video posted by The Boring Company on its official X account featured attendees expressing their enthusiasm for the underground transport system, with some stating that they would like to see similar tunnels across Las Vegas.
The LVCC Loop is only part of the greater Vegas Loop network, which is actively under construction.
New Vegas Loop extensions
One of the newest additions is a station at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas resort on the Strip. The station is located on level V-1 of the resort’s south valet area, according to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. From the Fontainebleau, passengers can travel free of charge to stations serving the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as to Loop stations at Encore and Westgate.
The system is also expanding beyond the Strip corridor. In December, The Boring Company began offering Vegas Loop rides to and from Harry Reid International Airport. These trips include a limited above-ground segment after receiving approval from the Nevada Transportation Authority to allow surface street travel tied to Loop operations.
The Boring Company President Steve Davis previously told the Review-Journal that the University Center Loop segment, which is currently under construction, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2026. The extension would allow Loop vehicles to travel beneath Paradise Road between the convention center and the airport, with a planned station just north of Tropicana Avenue.