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Finnish Tesla Model S taxi driver crosses 400,000 km, 93% of battery life remains

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Ari Nyyssönen, a Finnish taxi driver, has racked up an impressive 400,000 kilometers (250,000 miles) in his Tesla Model S and is confident that the car could last until 1 million kilometers or over 621,000 miles.

Nyyssönen’s experience sings a different tune from the consistent upkeep and maintenance required by internal combustion engine vehicles. ICE vehicles can sometimes rack up thousands of dollars in repair costs over the course of a 100,000 mile life cycle due to the complexity of the countless number of moving parts. By contrast, Tesla’s minimalistic design approach – siding with software-based features over hardware – combined with the simplified nature of electric cars makes their true cost of ownership far cheaper than that of an ICE car.

Juha Pyrhonen, a professor of electrical power and engineering at Lappeenranta University of Technology, said that Tesla has been successful in creating a long-lasting, reliable electric motor.

Having logged over 400,000 kilometers of taxi service in his 2014 Model S with 85 kWh battery pack, Nyyssönen had the vehicle’s motor replaced and battery pack serviced under warranty. “They are the biggest worries,” Nyyssönen said, “but they are not very bad because the most important defects have been repaired according to the guarantee.”

Arguably the most important component in a Tesla is its battery pack. After 400k km (250k mi), Nyyssönen notes that the battery was still able to maintain roughly 93% of its original driving range and showed little signs of degradation. Nyyssönen’s story can be considered a testament to the reliability and durability of Tesla’s lithium ion battery cells, but also the maintenance and service plans the company offers.

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Last month, Tesla pledged to add 350 new service vans to its maintenance fleet, and committed to opening 100 new Tesla Service Centers with 1,400 new service technicians. That will bring the total number of centers up to 250 worldwide.

Nyyssönen’s Model S is also not the first to pass the 200,000 mile mark.

Tesloop, a city-to-city Tesla shuttle service available in Southern California, passed the 200,000 mile mark on one of its vehicles almost a year ago. In Tesloop’s case, CEO Rahul Sonnad said at the time that the battery had degraded only 6 percent after 200,000 miles.

For Nyyssönen, Tesla warranty took care of some of the repairs the vehicle needed. All Teslas come with an 8 year or unlimited miles Battery and Drive Unit Limited Warranty.

An online translator was used by the writer of this article to clarify facts and translate direct quotes.

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I'm an East Coast reporter for Teslarati. Contact me at matt@teslarati.com

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Tesla Unveils Model Y RWD 110 customized for Singapore

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tesla-model-y-rwd-110-custom-singapore
(Credit: Tesla Singapore)

Tesla unveiled the Model Y RWD 110 for Singapore’s Category A certificate of entitlement (COE) rules. This custom SUV tweaks the updated Model Y, which was launched in Singapore in January.

Tesla tuned the Model 3 RWD 110 for Singapore before, and that customized version’s success spurred this Model Y adaptation. The Model Y RWD 110 runs at 110kW, down from 255kW in the standard RWD. It qualifies for Singapore’s Category A COE, unlike the Model Y 255kW version, which sits in Category B.

Category A COEs are for mass-market cars. They score lower premiums than Category B COEs. BMW and Mercedes-Benz register vehicles as Category A COEs in Singapore as well.

In Singapore, buyers need to pay the COE to register a car. The latest tender showed an SGD 22,388 gap between Category A and B premiums.

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The Model Y RWD 110’s road tax is significantly reduced from SGD 3,478 to SGD 1,562 yearly. The Strait Times calculated that the cheaper Model Y in Singapore would save SGD 19,160 over a 10-year COE.

The Model Y RWD 110 matches the 255kW version otherwise. The more affordable Model Y’s battery size holds steady. Its energy use, equipment, and design stay the same.

Tesla prices the Model Y RWD 110 at SGD 103,476 before COE. The Model Y RWD 110 costs SGD 3,026 less than the 255kW version, excluding COE costs. It uses a 62.5kWh lithium iron phosphate battery.

Tesla has released cheaper versions of its cars before. For instance, it rolled out a more affordable Model 3 in Mexico last year. The cheaper Tesla Model 3 in Mexico did not use the same materials and had different features to reduce costs.

Tesla might consider releasing custom, cheaper versions of its vehicles in other countries. Industry sources in China hint at a “lower-priced Model Y” for the Chinese auto market, which keeps the Juniper’s battery and chassis

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Tesla US Gigafactories shields from Trump’s 25% Tariffs

Tesla US Gigafactories Shielded from Trump’s 25% Tariffs

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Credit: Elon Musk/X

Tesla stocks climbed after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on imported cars and auto parts, standing out in the United States auto industry.

Automaker stocks tanked after President Trump slapped 25% tariffs on foreign autos and parts. Tesla slightly dodged the tariff blow thanks to local production. Its gigafactories in China and Germany don’t supply Tesla vehicles to the United States market. The company builds all U.S.-sold EVs in Fremont, California, or at Giga Austin in Texas.

TD Cowen analyst Itay Michaeli sees the American EV automaker as a winner in Trump’s tariffs games.

“Tesla [is] a relative beneficiary given [its] 100% U.S. production footprint, substantial U.S. sourcing, and with Model Y competing in a midsize crossover segment where close to ~50% of vehicles could be subject to tariffs,” Michaeli wrote on Thursday.

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Rivian and Lucid also make all vehicles sold in the United States domestically. Ford hits 77% U.S. production, while Stellantis sits at 57%. Nissan and GM each clock in at 52%.

Trump’s 25% tariff on non-U.S.-made vehicles kicks in next week, on April 2, 2025. Elon Musk confirmed that Trump’s tariff will still affect Tesla, despite its plants in America.

Musk posted on X about tariff impacts. He said foreign-sourced parts will drive up costs. It’s not a small hit. Tesla warned of this in a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative. “Certain parts and components are difficult or impossible to source within the United States,” the letter stated, even with “aggressive localization.”

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Nikola Motor founder Trevor Milton given full pardon by President Trump

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Credit: Nikola Motor

Nikola Motor founder Trevor Milton has been given a full pardon by U.S. President Donald Trump in an unprecedented turn of events.

Trevor Milton Media announced late Thursday that the formerly jailed founder of the all-electric automaker that President Trump had “pledged to end the political weaponization of the Justice Department. This pardon marks a step toward fulfilling that commitment.”

Milton was sentenced to four years in prison in December 2023 after being found guilty of multiple counts of fraud.

Nikola founder Trevor Milton sentenced to four years in prison

“I was not a very seasoned CEO,” Milton said after his sentencing. Questions about the legitimacy of some Nikola product demonstrations and several statements that were found to be misleading regarding the company’s progress on its vehicles brought Milton to U.S. Federal Court to face two counts of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud.

Now, he is free.

Milton said in a statement:

“This pardon is not just about me—it’s about every American who has been railroaded by the government, and unfortunately, that’s a lot of people. It is no wonder why trust and confidence in the Justice Department has eroded to nothing. I wish judges would stop believing whatever the prosecutors feed them so Americans could trust the justice system again. Until that happens, our justice system will continue to erode until there is nothing left. The 90+% conviction rate in New York is appalling and is a result of prosecutors getting whatever they want and putting innocent people in prison. I saw firsthand the tactics they use to achieve those guaranteed convictions. I am incredibly grateful to President Trump for his courage in standing up for what is right and for granting me this sacred pardon of innocence.”

Milton will now launch a documentary that is available for preview here.

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