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
- 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
Investor's Corner
Tesla gets price target boost, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows
Tesla received a price target boost from Morgan Stanley, according to a new note on Monday morning, but there is some considerable caution also being communicated over the next year or so.
Morgan Stanley analyst Andrew Percoco took over Tesla coverage for the firm from longtime bull Adam Jonas, who appears to be focusing on embodied AI stocks and no longer automotive.
Percoco took over and immediately adjusted the price target for Tesla from $410 to $425, and changed its rating on shares from ‘Overweight’ to ‘Equal Weight.’
Percoco said he believes Tesla is the leading company in terms of electric vehicles, manufacturing, renewable energy, and real-world AI, so it deserves a premium valuation. However, he admits the high expectations for the company could provide for a “choppy trading environment” for the next year.
He wrote:
“However, high expectations on the latter have brought the stock closer to fair valuation. While it is well understood that Tesla is more than an auto manufacturer, we expect a choppy trading environment for the TSLA shares over the next 12 months, as we see downside to estimates, while the catalysts for its non-auto businesses appear priced at current levels.”
Percoco also added that if market cap hurdles are achieved, Morgan Stanley would reduce its price target by 7 percent.
Perhaps the biggest change with Percoco taking over the analysis for Jonas is how he will determine the value of each individual project. For example, he believes Optimus is worth about $60 per share of equity value.
He went on to describe the potential value of Full Self-Driving, highlighting its importance to the Tesla valuation:
“Full Self Driving (FSD) is the crown jewel of Tesla’s auto business; we believe that its leading-edge personal autonomous driving offering is a real game changer, and will remain a significant competitive advantage over its EV and non-EV peers. As Tesla continues to improve its platform with increased levels of autonomy (i.e., hands-off, eyes-off), it will revolutionize the personal driving experience. It remains to be seen if others will be able to keep pace.”
Additionally, Percoco outlined both bear and bull cases for the stock. He believes $860 per share, “which could be in play in the next 12 months if Tesla manages through the EV-downturn,” while also scaling Robotaxi, executing on unsupervised FSD, and scaling Optimus, is in play for the bull case.
Will Tesla thrive without the EV tax credit? Five reasons why they might
Meanwhile, the bear case is placed at $145 per share, and “assumes greater competition and margin pressure across all business lines, embedding zero value for humanoids, slowing the growth curve for Tesla’s robotaxi fleet to reflect regulatory challenges in scaling a vision-only perception stack, and lowering market share and margin profile for the autos and energy businesses.”
Currently, Tesla shares are trading at around $441.
News
Tesla Optimus dramatically collapses after teleoperator mishap
It seemed blatantly obvious that whoever was controlling the Optimus robot from behind the scenes did not disconnect their ability to manipulate its movements
Tesla Optimus dramatically collapsed after a teleoperator mishap at the company’s “Future of Autonomy Visualized” event in Miami this past weekend.
It seemed blatantly obvious that whoever was controlling the Optimus robot from behind the scenes did not disconnect their ability to manipulate its movements, then left the controls, causing Optimus to collapse.
A video captured at the event shows Optimus doing a movement similar to taking a headset off, likely what the teleoperator uses to hear guest requests and communicate with other staff:
🚨 Tesla Optimus mishap at the Miami event
To be fair, don’t we all want to do this around the Holidays? pic.twitter.com/EJ5QKenqQd
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) December 8, 2025
After the headset removal motion was completed, Optimus simply collapsed backward, making for an interesting bit of conversation. While it was a mishap, it was actually pretty funny to watch because of the drama displayed by the robot in the situation.
This was obviously a mistake made by the teleoperator, and does not appear to be a spot where we can put any sort of blame on Optimus. It would have likely just stood there and waited for controls to resume if the teleoperator had disconnected from the robot correctly.
However, details are pretty slim, and Tesla has not announced anything explaining the situation, likely because it seems to be a pretty face-value event.
Tesla Optimus shows off its newest capability as progress accelerates
The Tesla Optimus program has been among the most hyped projects that the company has been working on, as CEO Elon Musk has extremely high hopes for what it could do for people on Earth. He has said on several occasions that Optimus should be the most popular product of all time, considering its capabilities.
Obviously, the project is still a work in progress, and growing pains are going to be part of the development of Optimus.
In its development of Optimus Gen 3, Tesla has been working on refining the forearm, hand, and fingers of Optimus, something that Musk said is extremely difficult. However, it’s a necessary step, especially if its capabilities will not be limited by hardware.
All in all, Optimus has still been a very successful project for Tesla, especially in the early stages. The company has done an excellent job of keeping Optimus busy, as it helps with serving customers at events and the Tesla Diner, and is also performing tasks across the company’s manufacturing plants.
News
Tesla 2025 Holiday Update: Here’s what it includes, and what it’s missing
Tesla has finally announced the features for the 2025 Holiday Update, which includes a wide variety of new inclusions that are both functional and just for fun.
The new features are plentiful, but there were a handful of things we were expecting to see based on what we know. We don’t want to sound ungrateful, because there are a lot of great new things on the way with this update.
Here’s what was included:
Grok with Navigation Commands (Beta)
Grok will now have the ability to add and edit navigation destinations, which is a drastic improvement considering Tesla owners had to use their standard voice commands for this in the past.
The utilization of Grok will likely improve the navigation experience by offering some insight into your destination, including reviews and other points of interest nearby.
It will be enabled by using Grok’s “Assistant” personality.
Tesla Photobooth
“Turn your car into a photobooth! Take selfies from inside your Tesla & give yourself a makeover with fun filters, stickers, and emojis. Share with others right from the Tesla app.”
This feature will be available within the Toybox.
Dog Mode Live Activity
When using Dog Mode to keep your four-legged friend comfortable in the car, you’ll now be able to check in on them as it will share periodic snapshots of the cabin, along with live updates on temperature, battery, and climate conditions.
Dashcam Viewer Update
Dashcam clips are awesome, but they’re void of a lot of information, which could be useful in some instances, especially if there is an accident.
Now, there will be additional details included on each Dashcam clip, like speed, steering wheel angle, and Self-Driving state.
Santa Mode
New graphics, trees, and a lock chime are now available.
Light Show Update
A new Light Show, called Jingle Rush, will be available.
Custom Wraps and License Plates in Colorizer
Colorizer will now be known as “Paint Shop” in the Toybox. You will now be able to personalize your Tesla Avatar with window tints, custom wraps, and license plates. Preloaded designs will be available, but owners will be able to use their USB Flash Drives to create one that suits their style.
Navigation Improvements
Changing the order of your destinations will be easier through a new “Favorites” tab, and Home and Work can now be set by dropping a pin.
There will also be “Suggested Destinations,” which will be determined through recent trips and habits while parked.
Supercharger Site Map
Perhaps the most significant feature of the Holiday Update, Tesla is adding a 3D view of select Tesla Superchargers by tapping “View Site Map.”
When navigating to a location with this capability, the site layout, live occupancy, and nearby amenities will be available. Drivers will also be able to choose which stall to Supercharge.
This is only available at a handful of locations currently, but it will expand to more Superchargers as it becomes more robust.
Automatic Carpool Lane Routing
Navigation will include an option to utilize carpool lanes. Your route will automatically choose the carpool lane when eligible.
Phone Left Behind Chime
If the in-car occupant detection system does not see anyone in the car and there is a phone key, or if a phone is left inside the cabin, your Tesla will chime a few seconds after the doors close.
Charge Limit Per Location
You can now save a charge limit for the current location while parked and it will be applied automatically the next time you charge there.
ISS Docking Simulator
In a SpaceX collaboration, Tesla has added this game to its in-car Arcade:
“Become an astronaut and prove your skills by docking with the International Space Station. Control & guide the rocket in this 3D docking simulator game using a set of controls based on actual interfaces used by NASA astronauts.”
Additional Improvements
-
Enable or disable wireless phone charging pads in Controls > Charging (S3XY) or Controls > Outlets & Mods (Cybertruck)
-
Add Spotify tracks to your queue right from the search screen & scroll through large Spotify playlists, albums, podcasts, audiobooks & your library seamlessly, without paging
-
Take the vibes up another level with rainbow colors during Rave Cave. Accent lights color will change along with the beats of your music. App Launcher > Toybox > Light Sync
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Lock Sound now includes Light Cycle from Tron Mode. Toybox > Boombox > Lock Sound
What’s Missing
There are a handful of features we expected to see with the Holiday Update, but were not included.
Banish Feature
Tesla has been teasing the Banish functionality for quite a few years, but evidently, it is not quite there yet.
Banish will allow owners to get out of their vehicle at the entrance of their destination, and the car will go find a spot and park itself. Some refer to it as “Reverse Summon.”
Apple CarPlay
With all of the rumors regarding Apple CarPlay and then the evidence that Tesla was working to bring CarPlay to vehicles, we really expected it to come with the Holiday Update.
We’re not upset it’s not here, though. Tesla’s in-car UI is significantly better, at least in our opinion.
Parking Spot Selection
One of the biggest gripes about the new Arrival Features with Full Self-Driving v14 is that choosing a set parking spot is not available. This is especially frustrating for Tesla owners who rent or live in townhouse neighborhoods or apartment complexes with assigned parking.
Tesla seems to be working on this based on the release notes for v14.2, where it said future capabilities would include Parking Spot Selection.
![[Source: SiliconValleyTeslas via Instagram]](http://www.teslarati.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Tesla-Model-X-Covered-5-08172015-1024x628.jpg)

























