Connect with us

News

Tesla owner uses Model 3 as weapon to thwart abduction attempt in broad daylight

Credit: UDN.com

Published

on

How far would a person go to rescue a friend? As shown by a Tesla Model 3 owner from Taiwan, the lengths that a person would go to is immense, especially if a friend is in danger of being abducted in broad daylight. Fortunately for the would-be rescuer, his Model 3 proved tough enough to stop the abductors’ vehicle, damaging it to the point where it could not run anymore. 

Local news reports have noted that the harrowing incident happened this past Friday at the Linkou District near Taipei, Taiwan. Apparently, a driver of a black Tesla Model 3 called Lin ended up being involved in a fender bender with a Toyota Yaris sedan, which was rented by a man named Huang and his three companions. Tempers flared, and as per police reports, the four men in the Toyota proceeded to beat up the Tesla owner. But that was not all. 

After assaulting the Tesla owner, Huang and his companions in the Toyota started forcing Lin into the Yaris. This was a frightening sight, especially as the events were unfolding in broad daylight. Fortunately for the driver of the black Model 3, Chen, a friend and fellow Tesla owner, was in the area witnessing the incident unfold. And when Huang and his group started forcing Lin into the Toyota, Chen knew he had to act. 

Using his Tesla as a weapon, Chen drove the Model 3 right into the rented Toyota Yaris. Huang and his companions initially attempted to flee, but the Model 3 owner caught up quickly and blocked the Toyota’s path. The driver of the Yaris then attempted to run away from the Tesla by reversing quickly, but that was not enough. Taking advantage of the Model 3’s hefty weight and quick acceleration, Chen rammed his Tesla into the Toyota with some speed, preventing the Yaris from moving any further. 

Advertisement

Images taken after the incident revealed that the Yaris suffered extensive damage from the Tesla Model 3. Its front end was smashed, and parts were strewn on the street. The Model 3 was damaged too as the vehicle sustained significant damages at the front. But more importantly, the attempted abduction of the black Model 3 owner proved unsuccessful. Authorities who rushed to the scene of the incident were able to apprehend Huang, though his three companions were able to escape. 

Fortunately, the Toyota Yaris was a rented vehicle, and the company that issued the car was able to help point the police to the identity of Huang’s companions. As for Lin, he has his friend Chen to thank. After such an experience, after all, Chen’s Model 3 was extensively damaged, and the EV community knows how challenging it could be to get body damage repaired on Teslas. That being said, saving a friend’s life is likely well worth the potential headaches that a long repair process may cause. 

Watch the remarkable footage of a Model 3 owner stopping an abduction attempt in the video below. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to tips@teslarati.com to give us a heads up. 

Advertisement

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

Advertisement
Comments

News

Tesla Model S and X customization options begin to thin as their closure nears

Tesla’s Online Design Studio for both vehicles now shows the first color option to be listed as “Sold Out,” as Lunar Silver is officially no longer available for the Model S or Model X. This color is exclusive to these cars and not available on the Model S or Model X.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla

Tesla Model S and Model X customization options are beginning to thin for the first time as the closure of the two “sentimental” vehicles nears.

We are officially seeing the first options disappear as Tesla begins to work toward ending production of the two cars and the options that are available to those vehicles specifically.

Tesla’s Online Design Studio for both vehicles now shows the first color option to be listed as “Sold Out,” as Lunar Silver is officially no longer available for the Model S or Model X. This color is exclusive to these cars and not available on the Model S or Model X.

Tesla is making way for the Optimus humanoid robot project at the Fremont Factory, where the Model S and Model X are produced. The two cars are low-volume models and do not contribute more than a few percent to Tesla’s yearly delivery figures.

With CEO Elon Musk confirming that the Model S and Model X would officially be phased out at the end of the quarter, some of the options are being thinned out.

This is an expected move considering Tesla’s plans for the two vehicles, as it will make for an easier process of transitioning that portion of the Fremont plant to cater to Optimus manufacturing. Additionally, this is likely one of the least popular colors, and Tesla is choosing to only keep around what it is seeing routine demand for.

During the Q4 Earnings Call in January, Musk confirmed the end of the Model S and Model X:

“It is time to bring the Model S and Model X programs to an end with an honorable discharge. It is time to bring the S/X programs to an end. It’s part of our overall shift to an autonomous future.”

Fremont will now build one million Optimus units per year as production is ramped.

Continue Reading

News

Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD estimated delivery slips to early fall 2026

Tesla has also added a note on the Cybertruck design page stating that the vehicle’s price will increase after February 28.

Published

on

Credit: Grok Imagine

Tesla’s estimated delivery window for new Cybertruck Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive (AWD) orders in the United States has shifted to September–October 2026. This suggests that the vehicle’s sub-$60,000 variant is now effectively sold out until then.

The updated timeline was highlighted in a post on X by Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt, who noted that the estimated delivery window had moved from June 2026 to September-October 2026, “presumably due to strong demand.”

The Dual Motor AWD currently starts at $59,990 before incentives. Tesla has also added a note on the Cybertruck design page stating that the vehicle’s price will increase after February 28.

If demand remains steady, the combination of a later delivery window and a pending price increase suggests Tesla is seeing sustained interest in the newly-introduced Cybertruck configuration. This was highlighted by Elon Musk on X, when he noted that the Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD’s introductory price will only be available for a limited time.

Advertisement

When the Cybertruck was first unveiled in November 2019, Tesla listed the Dual Motor AWD variant at $49,990. Adjusted for inflation, that figure equates to roughly $63,000 in 2026 dollars, based on cumulative U.S. inflation since 2019.

That context makes a potential post-February price in the $64,000 to $65,000 range less surprising, especially as material, labor, and manufacturing costs have shifted significantly over the past several years.

While Tesla has not announced a specific new MSRP, the updated delivery timeline and pricing note together suggest that the Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD could very well be the variant that takes the all-electric full-sized pickup truck to more widespread adoption.

Continue Reading

Elon Musk

SpaceX targets 150Mbps per user for upgraded Starlink Direct-to-Cell

If achieved, the 150Mbps goal would represent a significant jump from the current performance of Starlink Direct-to-Cell.

Published

on

Credit: SpaceX/X

SpaceX is targeting peak download speeds of 150Mbps per user for its next-generation Direct-to-Cell Starlink service. The update was shared by SpaceX Spectrum & Regulatory Affairs Lead Udrivolf Pica during the International Telecommunication Union’s Space Connect conference.

“We are aiming at peak speeds of 150Mbps per user,” Pica said during the conference. “So something incredible if you think about the link budgets from space to the mobile phone.”

If achieved, the 150Mbps goal would represent a significant jump from the current performance of Starlink Direct-to-Cell.

Today, SpaceX’s cellular Starlink service, offered in partnership with T-Mobile under the T-Satellite brand, provides speeds of roughly 4Mbps per user. The service is designed primarily for texts, low-resolution video calls, and select apps in locations that traditionally have no cellular service.

Advertisement

By comparison, Ookla data shows median 5G download speeds of approximately 309Mbps for T-Mobile and 172Mbps for AT&T in the United States, as noted in a PCMag report. While 150Mbps would still trail the fastest terrestrial 5G networks, it would place satellite-to-phone broadband much closer to conventional carrier performance, even in remote areas. 

Pica indicated that the upgraded system would support “video, voice, and data services, clearly,” moving beyond emergency connectivity and basic messaging use cases.

To reach that target, SpaceX plans to upgrade its existing Starlink Direct-to-Cell satellites and add significant new capacity. The company recently acquired access to radio spectrum from EchoStar, which Pica described as key to expanding throughput. 

“More spectrum means a bigger pipeline, and this means that we can expand what we can do with partners. We can expand the quality of service. And again, we can do cellular broadband basically, cellular broadband use cases, like AI or daily connectivity needs,” he stated.

Advertisement

SpaceX has also requested regulatory approval to deploy 15,000 additional Direct-to-Cell satellites, beyond the roughly 650 currently supporting the system. The upgraded architecture is expected to begin rolling out in late 2027.

Continue Reading