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Tesla reportedly resumes Model S Plaid and Long Range deliveries

Credit: Tesla

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Tesla has reportedly resumed deliveries of the Model S Plaid and Long Range variants just days after reports of a hold were rumored to be delaying customer deliveries of the automaker’s flagship sedan. Several days ago, numerous Model S reservation holders were told Tesla would deliver their vehicles at a later time.

After initial reports of the Model S being held at Tesla’s Fremont production facility in Northern California circulated, many customers wondered why. A video flyover of Tesla’s lot at Fremont revealed hundreds of Model S builds were sitting and simply collecting dust. Curious onlookers were questioning why these vehicles were not being delivered to customers. This question also stumped the community several months ago, when Tesla had not yet held the Model S Plaid delivery event at Fremont on June 10th.

Credit: Tesla

Citing “one more week of tweaks,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the vehicle just was not quite where it should have been. The additional week proved to be monumental in Tesla’s case, as customers were finally able to accept delivery of their fastest and arguably most-anticipated car to date.

However, after the Model S deliveries began, there was another holdup in deliveries just several weeks later. One owner told his story on the r/TeslaMotors subreddit and claimed that, despite his Model S being in a nearby delivery center, he could not pick up the vehicle. Another owner received a text message from a Tesla representative in Austin, Texas. This outlined the “updated inspection process” that Tesla had recently adopted, which had ended up delaying customer deliveries. It was unknown why Tesla adopted the additional inspection process for the Model S Plaid, but it was undoubtedly a non-negotiable process that would not be optional for owners.

Several sources indicate that Tesla has lifted the ban in Fremont, with reports of firmware issues being the culprit for the delayed deliveries. Teslarati contacted Tesla showrooms, and employees were unable to confirm nor deny whether the company did lift the hold, but did indicate there was a hold on the deliveries. The employees just didn’t indicate whether the hold was still active or not.

An updated post from u/MrExitStrategy, who initially talked about the nationwide delivery hold on Model S builds, said that several reservation holders reported that the hold has been lifted and that customers are being told they can pick their vehicles up.

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The Redditor wrote:

“Looks like several people have now reported that the hold has been LIFTED! And that we all should get our cars in the next couple of days!!! Someone mentioned it was a firmware update and that they needed to validate the cars. This Model S buying experience has been surreal, after 4+ months of constant delays and almost no communication from Tesla. I hope it will be worth it. On a positive note, I’m glad Tesla is taking the time to validate and make sure it is safe, even knowing they might get some bad press in the process; I just wish the communication was a bit better.”

Additionally, several members of the TeslaMotorsClub forum said that the Model S hold had been lifted. One said that the manager of the Washington D.C. showroom said a nationwide memo was sent out stating that the hold was over, but no additional details were given.

It appears that questions regarding the Model S hold still remain, but deliveries are resuming without much incident. Tesla may still have some minor changes to make to the Model S in the future, but these will likely be performed through routine software updates that can fix a wide multitude of issues.

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Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on X @KlenderJoey. If you're looking for great Tesla accessories, check out shop.teslarati.com

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Tesla reiterates FSD’s biggest advantage, even if it’s still Supervised

Even in its current Supervised state, FSD is already pretty life-changing.

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Tesla FSD Unsupervised Giga Texas
Credit: Tesla AI/X

Tesla Full Self Driving (FSD) has a ton of potential. Once it is rolled out as an Unsupervised system, it could change the transportation sector. But even in its current Supervised state, FSD is already pretty life-changing.

This was highlighted recently by the electric vehicle maker through its official Tesla account on social media platform X.

Tesla FSD Unsupervised

Tesla’s self-driving aspirations are expected to come to fruition with the release of FSD Unsupervised, which is currently already being used in the Fremont Factory and Giga Texas. With FSD Unsupervised, Teslas are able to navigate from the end of their production lines to the facilities’ outbound lots without a human driver.

Tesla has previously noted that FSD Unsupervised should see its initial release in Texas and California this year. As noted by Tesla in a post on X, autonomy, when deployed at scale, does not just make cities more livable. It also gives back time to people. This is what makes autonomous driving systems potentially world-changing. 

Still Supervised, But Already Useful

FSD today, however, is still Supervised, which means that it still requires constant attention from the driver. This is one of the main points of criticism from Tesla skeptics, as FSD’s current Supervised nature is typically used to argue that it is no better than other adaptive cruise control systems that other carmakers offer. As per Tesla in a follow-up post, however, FSD Supervised already makes life easier. 

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This is because FSD Supervised works on inner city roads, and while the driver is still observing the car to ensure that it operates well, trips could easily become a lot less tiring. This is especially true for long trips, which could take a toll on the driver if vehicles are driven manually.

“You can get a glimpse of that today: although FSD Supervised currently does require your supervision, you will still notice that your commute or long drives are suddenly so much less taxing. No constant micro-adjustments in rush hour traffic. No frustration. Car does it all for you,” Tesla wrote in its post on X.

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Hyundai protects buyers from Trump’s tariffs with assurance program

Hyundai’s new Assurance Program will absorb Trump’s auto tariff costs, keeping prices flat for U.S. buyers. 

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(Credit: Hyundai USA)

Hyundai is protecting buyers from U.S. President Trump’s auto tariffs through its new Assurance Program.

The South Korean automaker’s U.S. COO Claudia Marquez launched the Assurance Program at the 2025 New York International Auto Show. The initiative addresses the impact of President Trump’s 25% tariffs on the auto sector, a dominant topic at the event.

Marquez emphasized Hyundai’s commitment to price stability during his announcement. The Assurance Program absorbs tariff-related costs, leveraging Hyundai’s robust U.S. production to mitigate impacts.

“When it comes to the customers, which again is tough and even for us just for planning purposes, what we wanted to make sure is that we have a plan, so we launched our Hyundai Assurance Program, which is confirming and assuring to customers that [prices] are not going to go up, at least this next couple of months,” she told Yahoo Finance.

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Hyundai of America produces 40% of its vehicles in the U.S. through its Alabama factory and the newly opened Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Savannah, Georgia. The Georgia plant began Ioniq 5 production in October 2024 and plans to start Ioniq 9 output by Q1 2025.

“We have a strong representation in the US. We have a factory in Alabama, and just recently, two weeks ago, we opened our new Metaplant in Savannah, Georgia, where we produce our EVs Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9,” Marquez said.

As President and CEO Jose Muñoz noted, Hyundai’s localization strategy strengthens its tariff resilience. Initially focused on EVs, HMGMA will also produce hybrids following a 2024 dip in EV sales.

“We are looking forward to officially opening Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia. Our localization strategy in the important U.S. market will help mitigate the impact of any potential policy change,” Muñoz said at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting.

While Hyundai’s U.S. plants provide a buffer, building such facilities is costly and time-intensive, with potential policy shifts looming by 2028. For now, the Assurance Program and localized production help Hyundai navigate Trump’s tariff, ensuring customer affordability amid trade uncertainties.

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Starlink executives meet with India’s Commerce Minister

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(Credit: Starlink)

Starlink is advancing its India entry plans, with senior executives meeting Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

Starlink senior executives and Minister Goyal discussed investments and partnerships in India. The talks are pivotal for Starlink’s entry into the Indian market. Starlink’s delegation, including Vice President Chad Gibbs and Senior Director Ryan Goodnight, met Goyal on Wednesday.

“Discussions covered Starlink’s cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships & future investment plans in India,” Goyal posted on X.

The meeting with Starlink executives marked the first official engagement with an Indian Minister and underscores SpaceX’s commitment to the region, reported ET. As of this writing, Starlink has not announced future meetings with Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

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SpaceX has already started preparing to bring its satellite internet service to the Indian market. The aerospace company has secured deals with India’s top wireless carriers, Bharti Airtel and Jio Platforms, to distribute Starlink equipment and services through their outlets.

Bharti Airtel announced its partnership with Starlink first, followed by Jio Platforms. Both wireless carriers aim to leverage Starlink’s technology to expand internet access in India and their customer base. SpaceX is also in discussions with Vodafone Idea Ltd.

“We are in exploratory talks with various Satcom providers, including Starlink,” commented Vodafone.  

These partnerships position Starlink to tap India’s vast telecom market, with potential for further collaboration. Despite these strides, Starlink still awaits regulatory approval to operate in India.

As of November 2024, the company must fully comply with the government’s security regulations, particularly on data storage, to secure its license. The pending approval highlights the complexities of entering India’s tightly regulated telecom sector, where compliance is critical.

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Starlink’s push into India aligns with its global expansion strategy, leveraging its satellite constellation to deliver high-speed internet to underserved regions. The partnerships with Bharti Airtel and Jio Platforms, combined with ongoing talks with Vodafone Idea, signal strong local support for SpaceX’s technology.

However, regulatory hurdles remain a key challenge. As Starlink navigates India’s security requirements, its investments and carrier tie-ups could reshape the nation’s internet landscape, offering a new era of connectivity if approval is granted.

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