

News
Tesla Model S and Model Y proudly take their place among Euro NCAP’s “Best-in-Class” cars
It’s been over ten years since the Tesla Model S was released, but the all-electric vehicle is still setting the benchmark for safety among its peers. This was recently highlighted in the Euro NCAP’s list of “Best in Class” cars for 2022, which included the Model S sedan and the Model Y crossover.
As noted by the Euro NCAP, star ratings cannot really be compared directly between different categories of vehicles. With this in mind, a “Best in Class” list is published to show which vehicles truly shine within their respective segments. The Euro NCAP’s “Best in Class” comparison is made within each calendar year and it allows vehicles to be evaluated against the same standards. This is quite useful as the requirements for the Euro NCAP’s star ratings are tougher each year.
Euro NCAP announces the best-in-class results for 2022: including two cars @Tesla and two Chinese cars showing the importance of the Euro NCAP 5-star rating as a flag bearer for safety and quality. @hyundai_global @GWM_ORA_Europe #WEY #WEYCoffee01#ForSaferCars #bestinclass pic.twitter.com/U8val6qYr9
— Euro NCAP (@EuroNCAP) January 11, 2023
To determine which vehicle is “Best in Class,” the Euro NCAP calculates the weighted sum of the scores in several areas of safety assessments: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian, and Safety Assist. This sum would then be used as the basis for the comparison of vehicles within their segments. It should be noted that cars qualify for “Best in Class” based only on their ratings with standard safety features and equipment. Additional safety features and functions that are offered as options are not considered for the Euro NCAP’s “Best in Class” rankings.
Euro NCAP announces that the Tesla Model S wins the best-in-class award for 2022 in the Executive Car category and in the Pure Electric category 👏👏👏
Cars of 2022 👉https://t.co/I0fuOZZnqM#ForSaferCars #bestinclass #Tesla #TeslaModelS @Tesla #executivecar #electriccar pic.twitter.com/1gkefpSjFW
— Euro NCAP (@EuroNCAP) January 11, 2023
This is likely one of the reasons why the Tesla Model S and Model Y truly performed excellently in their classes. Tesla tends to keep its safety systems standard on its vehicles, with only advanced features such as Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving being additional options for customers. It was then no surprise that the Tesla Model S was deemed “Best in Class” for 2022 for both the Euro NCAP’s “Executive Car” and “Pure Electric” categories. Considering the increasing number of competitors in the market, this is a remarkable feat for the Model S.
Euro NCAP announces that the Tesla Model Y wins the best-in-class award for 2022 in the Small Off-Roader category 👏👏👏
Press Release 👉https://t.co/yRBS34ROJd
Cars of 2022 👉https://t.co/I0fuOZYPBe#ForSaferCars #bestinclass #Tesla #TeslaModelY @Tesla #smalloffroader pic.twitter.com/TT5a4fwasd— Euro NCAP (@EuroNCAP) January 11, 2023
The Model Y, on the other hand, was deemed “Best in Class” in the Euro NCAP’s “Small Off-Road” segment. This is quite interesting, considering that the Model Y is hardly an “off-road” vehicle. But compared to other crossover SUVs in its class, the Model Y’s safety is arguably a notch above. This was exhibited recently in a shocking incident that involved a Model Y falling 250 feet off a cliff at Devil’s Slide in California. The vehicle was carrying a family of four, including two children, during the incident — which police later noted seemed intentional. Rescuers who responded to the crash were shocked to find the two children with only minor to moderate injuries. Both adults survived as well, and the father, who was driving, is expected to be arrested when he leaves the hospital.
Model S & Model Y received the highest overall safety scores among every vehicle tested by EuroNCAP in 2022 pic.twitter.com/3RgxHFXYvq
— Tesla (@Tesla) January 11, 2023
The Euro NCAP’s press release discussed Tesla’s stellar performance in safety.
“Tesla has made a huge impact on the European car market due to its design and ethos. The company has also been determined to make a name for its brand in safety performance. Tesla Model S and Tesla Model Y are both high achievers in Adult Occupant Protection and both vehicles achieved the highest score of 98% in Safety Assist of all the vehicles in this list. Tesla Model S is also the best in class achiever in the Pure Electric category,” the agency wrote.
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Elon Musk
Elon Musk is now a remote DOGE worker: White House Chief of Staff
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is no longer working from the West Wing.

In a conversation with the New York Post, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles stated that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is no longer working from the West Wing.
As per the Chief of Staff, Musk is still working for DOGE—as a remote worker, at least.
Remote Musk
In her conversation with the publication, Wiles stated that she still talks with Musk. And while the CEO is now working remotely, his contributions still have the same net effect.
“Instead of meeting with him in person, I’m talking to him on the phone, but it’s the same net effect,” Wiles stated, adding that “it really doesn’t matter much” that the CEO “hasn’t been here physically.” She also noted that Musk’s team will not be leaving.
“He’s not out of it altogether. He’s just not physically present as much as he was. The people that are doing this work are here doing good things and paying attention to the details. He’ll be stepping back a little, but he’s certainly not abandoning it. And his people are definitely not,” Wiles stated.
Back to Tesla
Musk has been a frequent presence in the White House during the Trump administration’s first 100 days in office. But during the Q1 2025 Tesla earnings call, Musk stated that he would be spending substantially less time with DOGE and substantially more time with Tesla. Musk did emphasize, however, that DOGE’s work is extremely valuable and critical.
“I think I’ll continue to spend a day or two per week on government matters for as long as the President would like me to do so and as long as it is useful. But starting next month, I’ll be allocating probably more of my time to Tesla and now that the major work of establishing the Department of Government Efficiency is done,” Musk stated.
Elon Musk
Tariff reprieve might be ‘Tesla-friendly,’ but it’s also an encouragement to others
Tesla stands to benefit from the tariff reprieve, but it has some work cut out for it as well.

After Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick made adjustments to the automotive tariff program that was initially announced, many quickly pointed to the reprieve as “Tesla-friendly.”
While that may be the case right now, it was also a nudge of encouragement to other companies, Tesla included, to source parts from the U.S. in an effort to strengthen domestic manufacturing. Many companies are close, and it will only take a handful of improvements to save themselves from tariffs on their cars as well.
Yesterday, Sec. Lutnick confirmed that cars manufactured with at least 85 percent of domestic content will face zero tariffs. Additionally, U.S. automakers would receive credit up to 15 percent of the value of vehicles to offset the cost of imported parts.
Big Tesla win? Sec Lutnick says cars with 85% domestic content will face zero tariffs
“This is ‘finish your cars in America and you win’,” Lutnick said.
Many were quick to point out that only three vehicles currently qualify for this zero-tariff threshold: all three are Teslas.
However, according to Kelley Blue Book’s most recent study that revealed who makes the most American cars, there are a lot of vehicles that are extremely close to also qualifying for these tariff reductions.
Tesla has three vehicles that are within five percent, while Ford, Honda, Jeep, Chevrolet, GMC, and Volkswagen have many within just ten percent of the threshold.
Tesla completely dominates Kogod School’s 2024 Made in America Auto Index
It is within reach for many.
Right now, it is easy to see why some people might think this is a benefit for Tesla and Tesla only.
But it’s not, because Tesla has its Cybertruck, Model S, and Model X just a few percentage points outside of that 85 percent cutoff. They, too, will feel the effects of the broader strategy that the Trump administration is using to prioritize domestic manufacturing and employment. More building in America means more jobs for Americans.

Credit: Tesla
However, other companies that are very close to the 85 percent cutoff are only a few components away from also saving themselves the hassle of the tariffs.
Ford has the following vehicles within just five percent of the 85 percent threshold:
- Ford Mustang GT automatic (80%)
- Ford Mustang GT 5.0 (80%)
- Ford Mustang GT Coupe Premium (80%)
Honda has several within ten percent:
- Honda Passport All-Wheel-Drive (76.5%)
- Honda Passport Trailsport (76.5)
Jeep has two cars:
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (76%)
- Jeep Wrangler Sahara (76%)
Volkswagen has one with the ID.4 AWD 82-kWh (75.5%). GMC has two at 75.5% with the Canyon AT4 Crew Cab 4WD and the Canyon Denali Crew Cab 4WD.
Chevrolet has several:
- Chevrolet Colorado 2.7-liter (75.5%)
- Chevrolet Colorado LT Crew Cab 2WD 2.7-liter (75.5%)
- Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Crew Cab 4WD 2.7-liter (75.5%)
These companies are close to reaching the 85% threshold, but adjustments need to be made to work toward that number.
Anything from seats to fabric to glass can be swapped out for American-made products, making these cars more domestically sourced and thus qualifying them for the zero-tariff boundary.
Frank DuBois of American University said that manufacturers like to see stability in their relationships with suppliers and major trade partners. He said that Trump’s tariff plan could cause “a period of real instability,” but it will only be temporary.
Now is the time to push American manufacturing forward, solidifying a future with more U.S.-made vehicles and creating more domestic jobs. Tesla will also need to scramble to make adjustments to its vehicles that are below 85%.
News
Tesla Cybertruck RWD production in full swing at Giga Texas
Videos of several freshly produced Cybertruck LR RWD units were shared on social media platform X.

It appears that Tesla is indeed ramping the production of the Cybertruck Long Range Rear Wheel Drive (LR RWD), the most affordable variant of the brutalist all-electric pickup truck.
Videos of several freshly produced Cybertruck LR RWD units were shared on social media platform X.
Giga Texas Footage
As per longtime Tesla watcher Joe Tegtmeyer, Giga, Texas, was a hotbed of activity when he conducted his recent drone flyover. Apart from what seemed to be Cybercab castings being gathered in the complex, a good number of Cybertruck LR RWD units could also be seen in the facility’s staging area. The Cybertruck LR RWD units are quite easy to spot since they are not equipped with the motorized tonneau cover that is standard on the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast.
The presence of the Cybertruck LR RWD units in Giga Texas’ staging area suggests that Tesla is ramping the production of the base all-electric pickup truck. This bodes well for the vehicle, which is still premium priced despite missing a good number of features that are standard in the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast.
Cybertruck Long Range RWD Specs
The Cybertruck LR RWD is priced at $69,990 before incentives, making it $10,000 more affordable than the Cybertruck AWD. For its price, the Cybertruck Long Range RWD offers a range of 350 miles per charge if equipped with its 18” standard Wheels. It can also add up to 147 miles of range in 15 minutes using a Tesla Supercharger.
Much of the cost-cutting measures taken by Tesla are evident in the cabin of the Cybertruck LR RWD. This could be seen in its textile seats, standard console, seven-speaker audio system with no active noise cancellation, and lack of a 9.4” second-row display. It is also missing the motorized tonneau cover, the 2x 120V and 1x 240V power outlets on the bed, and the 2x 120V power outlets in the cabin. It is also equipped with an adaptive coil spring suspension instead of the adaptive air suspension in the Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast.
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