News
Tesla Model 3 dubbed best electric car by noted auto reviewer in 3-way evaluation
Noted auto reviewer Matthew DeBord has a lot of experience driving Tesla’s electric cars, lauding the Model 3 Performance as his personal favorite among the company’s vehicles in a review last month. His conclusions were appreciated by Elon Musk, who shared the veteran reviewer’s article on Twitter. Recently, DeBord raised the stakes for the Model 3, comparing it against two other premium electric cars he has driven in the past — the Jaguar I-PACE and Tesla’s own Model X — to see which EV is the best in the market today.
For purposes of his recent review, DeBord opted to use the Model 3’s Long Range RWD version, which cost $57,500 when it was acquired last year. The electric sedan was compared against the Jaguar I-PACE EV400 HSE, which costs a total of $86,720 with options and fees. The final vehicle in the triple threat evaluation — a fully-loaded Tesla Model X P100D — came at a premium price of $150,000.
In his analysis, DeBord noted that the Jaguar I-PACE is poised, powerful, and sleek, and it has a killer interior accented with premium materials such as brushed metal, carbon fiber, and wood. That said, the Jaguar does fall short in some areas such as its frunk, which is too small for any practical use. Its charging system, which relies on ChargePoint’s stations, also left much to be desired. Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pr infotainment system is “too complex” and “not attractively designed” as well.
On the other hand, DeBord admits that the Tesla Model X P100D is a showstopper with its tech and features like its Falcon Wing Doors. Being the largest of the three vehicles, the Model X is a champion of storage with almost 90 cubic feet of available cargo space. Coupled with the Supercharger Network and its Ludicrous Mode, the Model X is an excellent vehicle. That said, the premium SUV also carries a very premium price.
Ultimately, DeBord opted to give the crown to the Tesla Model 3 as the best electric car among the three vehicles he evaluated. The Model 3 strikes a great balance for price and features, with its 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds and its access to the Supercharger Network. The auto reviewer also lauds the vehicle for its intuitive touchscreen and steering wheel trackball-based controls, which “provides a serene driving experience” after a small learning curve. Reiterating his observations in his initial review of the electric sedan, DeBord noted that there is simply nothing better among electric cars available in the market today, especially considering its price.
“There is no better vehicle of this type at this price that I believe I could currently buy. What’s really so hypnotically and addictively compelling about the Model 3 is how many great ideas have been crammed into one automobile. This is a car that’s absolutely bursting with thought, about the present and the future — and the distant future. Those ideas are overwhelmingly optimistic.”
What’s impressive is that the Tesla Model 3 which DeBord based his recent conclusion from is a rather early version of the electric sedan. Since the initial production of the electric car, Tesla has achieved a notable reduction on Model 3 costs, as evidenced by the $49,900 starting price of the Dual Motor AWD Model 3 today. Other improvements have also been rolled out by Tesla since DeBord’s initial review of the vehicle, such as Navigate on Autopilot.
Matthew DeBord is not alone in his conclusions with regards to the Model 3. Auto veteran and longtime gearhead Henry Payne of The Detroit News, for one, even dubbed the Tesla Model 3 as the publication’s 2018 Car of the Year. The vehicle has also been a commercial success for Tesla, selling more than 145,000 units over 2018, allowing it to become the year’s best-selling luxury car.
News
Tesla China exports 50,644 vehicles in January, up sharply YoY
The figure also places Tesla China second among new energy vehicle exporters for the month, behind BYD.
Tesla China exported 50,644 vehicles in January, as per data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
This marks a notable increase both year-on-year and month-on-month for the American EV maker’s Giga Shanghai-built Model 3 and Model Y. The figure also places Tesla China second among new energy vehicle exporters for the month, behind BYD.
The CPCA’s national passenger car market analysis report indicated that total New Energy Vehicle exports reached 286,000 units in January, up 103.6% from a year earlier. Battery electric vehicles accounted for 65% of those exports.
Within that total, Tesla China shipped 50,644 vehicles overseas. By comparison, exports of Giga Shanghai-built Model 3 and Model Y units totaled 29,535 units in January last year and just 3,328 units in December.
This suggests that Tesla China’s January 2026 exports were roughly 1.7 times higher than the same month a year ago and more than 15 times higher than December’s level, as noted in a TechWeb report.
BYD still led the January 2026 export rankings with 96,859 new energy passenger vehicles shipped overseas, though it should be noted that the automaker operates at least nine major production facilities in China, far outnumering Tesla. Overall, BYD’s factories in China have a domestic production capacity for up to 5.82 million units annually as of 2024.
Tesla China followed in second place, ahead of Geely, Chery, Leapmotor, SAIC Motor, and SAIC-GM-Wuling, each of which exported significant volumes during the month. Overall, new energy vehicles accounted for nearly half of China’s total passenger vehicle exports in January, hinting at strong overseas demand for electric cars produced in the country.
China remains one of Tesla China’s most important markets. Despite mostly competing with just two vehicles, both of which are premium priced, Tesla China is still proving quite competitive in the domestic electric vehicle market.
News
Tesla adds a new feature to Navigation in preparation for a new vehicle
After CEO Elon Musk announced earlier this week that the Semi’s mass production processes were scheduled for later this year, the company has been making various preparations as it nears manufacturing.
Tesla has added a new feature to its Navigation and Supercharger Map in preparation for a new vehicle to hit the road: the Semi.
After CEO Elon Musk announced earlier this week that the Semi’s mass production processes were scheduled for later this year, the company has been making various preparations as it nears manufacturing.
Elon Musk confirms Tesla Semi will enter high-volume production this year
One of those changes has been the newly-released information regarding trim levels, as well as reports that Tesla has started to reach out to customers regarding pricing information for those trims.
Now, Tesla has made an additional bit of information available to the public in the form of locations of Megachargers, the infrastructure that will be responsible for charging the Semi and other all-electric Class 8 vehicles that hit the road.
Tesla made the announcement on the social media platform X:
We put Semi Megachargers on the map
→ https://t.co/Jb6p7OPXMi pic.twitter.com/stwYwtDVSB
— Tesla Semi (@tesla_semi) February 10, 2026
Although it is a minor development, it is a major indication that Tesla is preparing for the Semi to head toward mass production, something the company has been hinting at for several years.
Nevertheless, this, along with the other information that was released this week, points toward a significant stride in Tesla’s progress in the Semi project.
Now that the company has also worked toward completion of the dedicated manufacturing plant in Sparks, Nevada, there are more signs than ever that the vehicle is finally ready to be built and delivered to customers outside of the pilot program that has been in operation for several years.
For now, the Megachargers are going to be situated on the West Coast, with a heavy emphasis on routes like I-5 and I-10. This strategy prioritizes major highways and logistics hubs where freight traffic is heaviest, ensuring coverage for both cross-country and regional hauls.
California and Texas are slated to have the most initially, with 17 and 19 sites, respectively. As the program continues to grow, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Washington, New York, and Nevada will have Megacharger locations as well.
For now, the Megachargers are available in Lathrop, California, and Sparks, Nevada, both of which have ties to Tesla. The former is the location of the Megafactory, and Sparks is where both the Tesla Gigafactory and Semifactory are located.
Elon Musk
Tesla stock gets latest synopsis from Jim Cramer: ‘It’s actually a robotics company’
“Turns out it’s actually a robotics and Cybercab company, and I want to buy, buy, buy. Yes, Tesla’s the paper that turned into scissors in one session,” Cramer said.
Tesla stock (NASDAQ: TSLA) got its latest synopsis from Wall Street analyst Jim Cramer, who finally realized something that many fans of the company have known all along: it’s not a car company. Instead, it’s a robotics company.
In a recent note that was released after Tesla reported Earnings in late January, Cramer seemed to recognize that the underwhelming financials and overall performance of the automotive division were not representative of the current state of affairs.
Instead, we’re seeing a company transition itself away from its early identity, essentially evolving like a caterpillar into a butterfly.
The narrative of the Earnings Call was simple: We’re not a car company, at least not from a birds-eye view. We’re an AI and Robotics company, and we are transitioning to this quicker than most people realize.
Tesla stock gets another analysis from Jim Cramer, and investors will like it
Tesla’s Q4 Earnings Call featured plenty of analysis from CEO Elon Musk and others, and some of the more minor details of the call were even indicative of a company that is moving toward AI instead of its cars. For example, the Model S and Model X will be no more after Q2, as Musk said that they serve relatively no purpose for the future.
Instead, Tesla is shifting its focus to the vehicles catered for autonomy and its Robotaxi and self-driving efforts.
Cramer recognizes this:
“…we got results from Tesla, which actually beat numbers, but nobody cares about the numbers here, as electric vehicles are the past. And according to CEO Elon Musk, the future of this company comes down to Cybercabs and humanoid robots. Stock fell more than 3% the next day. That may be because their capital expenditures budget was higher than expected, or maybe people wanted more details from the new businesses. At this point, I think Musk acolytes might be more excited about SpaceX, which is planning to come public later this year.”
He continued, highlighting the company’s true transition away from vehicles to its Cybercab, Optimus, and AI ambitions:
“I know it’s hard to believe how quickly this market can change its attitude. Last night, I heard a disastrous car company speak. Turns out it’s actually a robotics and Cybercab company, and I want to buy, buy, buy. Yes, Tesla’s the paper that turned into scissors in one session. I didn’t like it as a car company. Boy, I love it as a Cybercab and humanoid robot juggernaut. Call me a buyer and give me five robots while I’m at it.”
Cramer’s narrative seems to fit that of the most bullish Tesla investors. Anyone who is labeled a “permabull” has been echoing a similar sentiment over the past several years: Tesla is not a car company any longer.
Instead, the true focus is on the future and the potential that AI and Robotics bring to the company. It is truly difficult to put Tesla shares in the same group as companies like Ford, General Motors, and others.
Tesla shares are down less than half a percent at the time of publishing, trading at $423.69.
Tesla China exports 50,644 vehicles in January, up sharply YoY
Tesla adds a new feature to Navigation in preparation for a new vehicle
