News
Tesla Model X Sightings and Spy Shots Gallery
Elon Musk has confirmed that first deliveries of the Model X to early reservation holders will take place by September. However with the Tesla Model X design studio not yet available, and with no official announcement that the Model X has even reached the final design phase, we thought it would be fun to create an ongoing list of recent sightings and spy shots of the Model X.
Join in on the fun and share your photos of the Model X (and any news from the rumor mill) through the comments section below. Or email us at 
tips@teslarati.com.
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Date: August 29, 2015
- Description: A very first close up look at the Tesla Model X as caught on cell phone. A brave pedestrian courageously approaches the, previously covered in white transport wrap, blue Model X, and attempts to film around the vehicle, nearly catching a glimpse of the interior before it takes off from the traffic light.
- Source: YouTuber Missy P
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Date: August 27, 2015
- Description: A black Tesla Model X with falcon wing door, partially ajar, is seen driving down Hwy 85 in San Jose, CA. Illuminated rear brake lights seen on the retractable rear spoiler.
- Source: Submitted by Sameet via tips@teslarati.com
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Date: August 17, 2015
- Description: The first sighting of a blue colored Tesla Model X with protective plastic wrap. See the video.
- Source: Submitted by Instagram user SiliconValleyTeslas
![[Source: SiliconValleyTeslas via Instagram]](http://www.teslarati.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Tesla-Model-X-Covered-5-08172015.jpg)
[Source: SiliconValleyTeslas via Instagram]
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Date: July 31, 2015
- Description: A rare sighting of the Model X next to a Model S is spied on Page Mill Rd. near Tesla headquarters.
- Source: Submitted by Instagram user SiliconValleyTeslas
- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Date: July 31, 2015
- Description: Model X Falcon Wing doors begin to take shape as delivery nears. See spy photos of the Model X leaving Tesla Headquarters.
- Source: Submitted by Lee
-->- Location: Gilroy, CA
- Date: July 22, 2015
- Description: Tesla Model X hauling a dump trailer with unidentified freight down Hwy 101 Northbound in Gilroy, CA. Read more
- Source: Submitted by Darin
- Location: Chandler, AZ
- Date: July 20, 2015
- Description: Video of a dirt covered Model X sparks rumors that Tesla is performing off-road testing of the electric crossover. Read more
- Source: YouTube
- Location: Berkeley, CA
- Date: July 21, 2015
- Description: New images (and video) surfaces of the Model X being tested with an active rear spoiler. Active spoilers and active aerodynamics have been used by performance carmakers for decades as a way to reduce drag coefficient by way of smoothing out airflow across the contours of the vehicle, but also as a way to increase downforce for added performance. The Model X is said to have range equivalent to the Model S and in order to achieve that goal, especially on a heavier and larger vehicle, Tesla will be outfitting the X with the new 90kWh battery pack and presumably the best possible aerodynamics in its class through the use of the active spoiler. Lower drag equates to less energy needed to propel the car forward at a given speed, and ultimately ensures maximum battery range.>>>> [VIDEO] Digital Wind Tunnel Technology Behind Tesla Model S Aerodynamics
- Source: Reddit
Fair warning: The owner of the cell phone video shot it while rotating the device making the video a little difficult to watch.
- Location: San Jose, CA
- Date: July 15, 2015 @7:15 pm
- Description: Randy Frei was driving down 280 South in San Jose, CA, near the Stevens Creek exit, when he came across the Tesla Model X. This is the first sighting of the Model X, submitted exclusively to TESLARATI, which shows testing equipment attached to the front contours of the vehicle. Other points worth noting are the taped gaps between the front body panels and the sharper nose design.
- Source: Randy Frei
-->
- Location: Petaluma, CA
- Date: June 18, 2015
- Description: A side by side size comparison of the Model S and pre-production Model X posted by a member of Stocktwits.
- Source: User TslaUp via Stocktwits, Facebook
- Location: ???
- Date: June 13, 2015
- Description: The Model X falcon wing door is seen opened on the same test mule car that’s been spotted testing across Tesla headquarters. According to a reddit user (account has since been deleted by the user), presumably a contracted engineer working on the Model X, the user writes “Spent some time behind the wheel of a Tesla Model X today!”
- Source: Reddit
Updated June 26, 2015: The picture has been removed at the request of the user who originally posted the image.
- Location: Hwy 280N, Los Altos, CA
- Date: June 5, 2015
- Description: According to YouTube user kenken830, “Spotted on Hwy 280N in Los Altos Hills, California on June 5th, 2015 6:39 PM PD. No camouflage.”
- Source: kenken830
- Location: CA
- Date: May 27, 2015
- Description: A white Model X is seen testing on the streets with, what appears to be, new body panels. It’s questionable as to whether this will be the final version of the electric crossover, slated to go into production in a few months.
- Source: 60grayev
- Location: Foothill Expwy and Page Mill Rd. near Tesla Motors HQ in, Palo Alto, CA
- Date: May 8, 2015
- Description: A quick glimpse of the Model X interior shows that it’s largely the same design as the Model S. The large center touchscreen has been recessed under the protrusion of the center dashboard, identical to that of the Model S.
- Source: nbkagzw13
-->- Location: Rt 101 @ “near the University exit” by Palo Alto, CA
- Date: May 4, 2015
- Description: The contours of the Model X seen from the picture closely resembles that of the Model S. According to Ron’s comment from his Google+ page, the Model X “looks like a Model S with a pug nose. And the front had the classic black oval from the Model S.”
- Source: Ron Tailan
- Location: I-280 near Palo Alto, CA
- Date: Exact date unknown. Approx. Apr 21, 2015
- Description: Tesla Model X appears to be testing a lane departure system which automatically steers the car away from the shoulder and back into the lane.
- Source: Yann Kerhervé
- Location: I-280 near Palo Alto, CA
- Date: Exact date unknown. Approx. Apr 3, 2015
- Description: This appears to be the same test mule seen across much of Northern CA near Tesla Motors headquarters. Worth noting is the misaligned falcon wing doors, blacked out rear windows, fender flares and the trailer hitch.
- Source: Reported on imgur.
-->- Location: Palo Alto, CA
- Date: Mar 19, 2015
- Description:
- Source: YouTube user nbkagzw13 spotted the Tesla Model X testing on the streets near Tesla’s headquarters in Palo Alto, CA.
- Location: TBD
- Date: Mar 10, 2015
- Description:
- Source: Instagram user >@moriahdanielle
- Location: Arastradero Road leading to Tesla Motors HQ in Palo Alto, CA
- Date: Feb 26, 2015
- Description: “Tesla Suv out for a ride on 280, aka the test track.”
- Source: Twitter user @JKDmobile
Tesla Suv out for a ride on 280, aka the test track. pic.twitter.com/HFoN56FRis — John Donnelly (@JKDmobile) February 27, 2015
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- Location: CES 2015 Las Vegas, NV
- Date: Jan 5, 2015
- Description: Tesla Model X sighting at the Panasonic booth at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. [See the video]
- Source: YouTube TechVideo channel
Elon Musk said in late November that he’s “tried to warn” legacy automakers and “even offered to license Tesla Full Self-Driving, but they don’t want it,” expressing frustration with companies that refuse to adopt the company’s suite, which will eventually be autonomous.
Tesla has long established itself as the leader in self-driving technology, especially in the United States. Although there are formidable competitors, Tesla’s FSD suite is the most robust and is not limited to certain areas or roadways. It operates anywhere and everywhere.
The company’s current position as the leader in self-driving tech is being ignored by legacy automakers, a parallel to what Tesla’s position was with EV development over a decade ago, which was also ignored by competitors.
The reluctance mirrors how legacy automakers initially dismissed EVs, only to scramble in catch-up mode years later–a pattern that highlights their historical underestimation of disruptive innovations from Tesla.
Elon Musk’s Self-Driving Licensing Attempts
Musk and Tesla have tried to push Full Self-Driving to other car companies, with no true suitors, despite ongoing conversations for years. Tesla’s FSD is aiming to become more robust through comprehensive data collection and a larger fleet, something the company has tried to establish through a subscription program, free trials, and other strategies.
-->Tesla CEO Elon Musk sends rivals dire warning about Full Self-Driving
However, competing companies have not wanted to license FSD for a handful of speculative reasons: competitive pride, regulatory concerns, high costs, or preference for in-house development.
Déjà vu All Over Again
Tesla tried to portray the importance of EVs long ago, as in the 2010s, executives from companies like Ford and GM downplayed the importance of sustainable powertrains as niche or unprofitable.
Musk once said in a 2014 interview that rivals woke up to electric powertrains when the Model S started to disrupt things and gained some market share. Things got really serious upon the launch of the Model 3 in 2017, as a mass-market vehicle was what Tesla was missing from its lineup.
This caused legacy companies to truly wake up; they were losing market share to Tesla’s new and exciting tech that offered less maintenance, a fresh take on passenger auto, and other advantages. They were late to the party, and although they have all launched vehicles of their own, they still lag in two major areas: sales and infrastructure, leaning on Tesla for the latter.
-->I’ve tried to warn them and even offered to license Tesla FSD, but they don’t want it! Crazy …
When legacy auto does occasionally reach out, they tepidly discuss implementing FSD for a tiny program in 5 years with unworkable requirements for Tesla, so pointless. 🤷♂️
🦕 🦕
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2025
Musk’s past warnings have been plentiful. In 2017, he responded to critics who stated Tesla was chasing subsidies. He responded, “Few people know that we started Tesla when GM forcibly recalled all electric cars from customers in 2003 and then crushed them in a junkyard,” adding that “they would be doing nothing” on EVs without Tesla’s efforts.
-->Companies laughed off Tesla’s prowess with EVs, only to realize they had made a grave mistake later on.
It looks to be happening once again.
A Pattern of Underestimation
Both EVs and self-driving tech represent major paradigm shifts that legacy players view as threats to their established business models; it’s hard to change. However, these early push-aways from new tech only result in reactive strategies later on, usually resulting in what pains they are facing now.
Ford is scaling back its EV efforts, and GM’s projects are hurting. Although they both have in-house self-driving projects, they are falling well behind the progress of Tesla and even other competitors.
It is getting to a point where short-term risk will become a long-term setback, and they may have to rely on a company to pull them out of a tough situation later on, just as it did with Tesla and EV charging infrastructure.
-->Tesla has continued to innovate, while legacy automakers have lagged behind, and it has cost them dearly.
Implications and Future Outlook
Moving forward, Tesla’s progress will continue to accelerate, while a dismissive attitude by other companies will continue to penalize them, especially as time goes on. Falling further behind in self-driving could eventually lead to market share erosion, as autonomy could be a crucial part of vehicle marketing within the next few years.
Eventually, companies could be forced into joint partnerships as economic pressures mount. Some companies did this with EVs, but it has not resulted in very much.
Self-driving efforts are not only a strength for companies themselves, but they also contribute to other things, like affordability and safety.
Tesla has exhibited data that specifically shows its self-driving tech is safer than human drivers, most recently by a considerable margin. This would help with eliminating accidents and making roads safer.
-->Tesla’s new Safety Report shows Autopilot is nine times safer than humans
Additionally, competition in the market is a good thing, as it drives costs down and helps innovation continue on an upward trend.
Conclusion
The parallels are unmistakable: a decade ago, legacy automakers laughed off electric vehicles as toys for tree-huggers, crushed their own EV programs, and bet everything on the internal-combustion status quo–only to watch Tesla redefine the industry while they scrambled for billions in catch-up capital.
Today, the same companies are turning down repeated offers to license Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology, insisting they can build better autonomy in-house, even as their own programs stumble through recalls, layoffs, and missed milestones. History is not merely rhyming; it is repeating almost note-for-note.
Elon Musk has spent twenty years warning that the auto industry’s bureaucratic inertia and short-term thinking will leave it stranded on the wrong side of technological revolutions. The question is no longer whether Tesla is ahead–it is whether the giants of Detroit, Stuttgart, and Toyota will finally listen before the next wave leaves them watching another leader pull away in the rear-view mirror.
-->This time, the stakes are not just market share; they are the very definition of what a car will be in the decades ahead.
News
Waymo driverless taxi drives directly into active LAPD standoff
No injuries occurred, and the passengers inside the vehicle were safely transported to their destination, as per a Waymo representative.
A video posted on social media has shown an occupied Waymo driverless taxi driving directly into the middle of an active LAPD standoff in downtown Los Angeles.
As could be seen in the short video, which was initially posted on Instagram by user Alex Choi, a Waymo driverless taxi drove directly into the middle of an active LAPD standoff in downtown Los Angeles.
The driverless taxi made an unprotected left turn despite what appeared to be a red light, briefly entering a police perimeter. At the time, officers seemed to be giving commands to a prone suspect on the ground, who looked quite surprised at the sudden presence of the driverless vehicle.
People on the sidewalk, including the person who was filming the video, could be heard chuckling at the Waymo’s strange behavior.
The Waymo reportedly cleared the area within seconds. No injuries occurred, and the passengers inside the vehicle were safely transported to their destination, as per a Waymo representative. Still, the video spread across social media, with numerous netizens poking fun at the gaffe.
-->Others also pointed out that such a gaffe would have resulted in widespread controversy had the vehicle involved been a Tesla on FSD. Tesla is constantly under scrutiny, with TSLA shorts and similar groups actively trying to put down the company’s FSD program.
A Tesla on FSD or Robotaxi accidentally driving into an active police standoff would likely cause lawsuits, nonstop media coverage, and calls for a worldwide ban, at the least.
This was one of the reasons why even minor traffic infractions committed by the company’s Robotaxis during their initial rollout in Austin received nationwide media attention. This particular Waymo incident, however, will likely not receive as much coverage.
Tesla Model Y demand in China is through the roof, and new delivery dates show the company has already sold out its allocation of the all-electric crossover for 2025.
The Model Y has been the most popular vehicle in the world in both of the last two years, outpacing incredibly popular vehicles like the Toyota RAV 4. In China, the EV market is substantially more saturated, with more competitors than in any other market.
However, Tesla has been kind to the Chinese market, as it has launched trim levels for the Model Y in the country that are not available anywhere else. Demand has been strong for the Model Y in China; it ranks in the top 5 of all EVs in the country, trailing the BYD Seagull, Wuling Hongguang Mini EV, and the Geely Galaxy Xingyuan.
The other three models ahead of the Model Y are priced substantially lower.
Tesla is still dealing with strong demand for the Model Y, and the company is now pushing delivery dates to early 2026, meaning the vehicle is sold out for the year:
NEWS: New orders for all four Tesla Model Y trims in China are now officially sold out for 2025, as the factory’s remaining production capacity for the year has been fully allocated.
Estimated delivery dates for new orders now show January-February 2026. pic.twitter.com/Dfnu7yY58N
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) December 1, 2025
Tesla experienced a 9.9 percent year-over-year rise in its China-made EV sales for November, meaning there is some serious potential for the automaker moving into next year despite increased competition.
There have been a lot of questions surrounding how Tesla would perform globally with more competition, but it seems to have a good grasp of various markets because of its vehicles, its charging infrastructure, and its Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite, which has been expanding to more countries as of late.
Tesla Model Y is still China’s best-selling premium EV through October
Tesla holds a dominating lead in the United States with EV registrations, and performs incredibly well in several European countries.
With demand in China looking strong, it will be interesting to see how the company ends the year in terms of global deliveries.
Elon Musk and Tesla try to save legacy automakers from Déjà vu
Waymo driverless taxi drives directly into active LAPD standoff
