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New batch of Tesla Model Y bodies spotted at Giga Berlin complex
Tesla Model Y bodies were spotted at Giga Berlin over the weekend, hinting at the beginning of pre-production operations at the plant.
Tesla Giga Berlin drone operator @Gf4Tesla spotted nine Model Y bodies at the plant’s site. He also spotted two unopened boxes that might have contained more Tesla Model Y bodies. According to the Tesla enthusiast and others observing Giga Berlin, the Model Y bodies will help calibrate the machines in the factory for pre-production.
About a day after the Model Y bodies were spotted, they disappeared from sight. Presumably, they were brought into the building for pre-production operations. This should allow Tesla to test the assembly line and paint shop in Giga Berlin’s Phase 1 facility.
The Model Y bodies hint that Giga Berlin is not too far behind Gigafactory Texas, which plans to start Model Y pre-production tests this month. Giga Berlin seems to have installed most of the machines necessary for test production. The next step would be calibrating the machines and training the employees who will closely work on the local Model Y production line.
Giga Berlin’s main stopgap seems to be its final permit, which has not been approved by Brandenburg’s State Office for the Environment (LfU) yet. However, Tesla remains hopeful that Model Y production in Giga Berlin can still start by year-end.
At the last Tesla earnings call, Elon Musk teased that the Model Ys in Giga Berlin and Giga Texas would be slightly different from the cars made at the Fremont Factory. Tesla aims to produce Model Ys featuring its structural battery pack with 4680 cells and a front-body cast at the new gigafactories.
“We’re also aiming to do a structural pack with 4680 cells, which is a mass reduction and a cost reduction, but we’re not counting on that as the only way to make things work. We have some backup plan with a non-structural pack and 2170s essentially,” Musk explained.
“But at a scale production, we obviously want to be using 4680s and structural pack. From a physics standpoint, this is the best architecture, and from an economic standpoint, it is the lowest-cost way to go, so the lightest, lowest cost,” he said.
Originally, Giga Berlin was supposed to start Model Y production in July, just in time to kick off local Q3 deliveries. Tesla still moved forward with Model Y deliveries this quarter, despite delays in Giga Berlin’s operations. Recently, news broke that some Tesla Model Y crossovers have already arrived in Europe.
Watch the video below to see Giga Berlin’s progress!
The Teslarati team would appreciate hearing from you. If you have any tips, reach out to me at maria@teslarati.com or via Twitter @Writer_01001101.
Elon Musk
Tesla offers new discounts on Cybertruck inventory
Tesla is knocking up to $10,550 off of Cybertruck units in inventory

Tesla is offering new discounts on Cybertruck units in inventory, giving customers a chance to snag a unit of the all-electric pickup for a slight reduction in price. Some are even coming with additional perks to make the offer even sweeter.
Tesla is now offering up to $10,550 off of Cybertruck inventory units across the United States. This is up from previous discounts of $6,000 on inventory Cybertrucks, and it will apply to 2024 model year vehicles.
Non-Foundation Series Cybertrucks are getting up to $10,550 off of their original prices, while Foundation Series pickups are getting up to $10,000 off. These are great deals and should help clear out some inventory from last year’s models.
Additionally, Foundation Series Cybertrucks purchased will receive free lifetime Supercharging, another great addition to make the deal even better than the $10,000 off.
NEWS: Tesla is now offering new Cybertruck inventory discounts in the U.S. of up to $10,550 off, up from $6,000 before.
• Non-Foundation Series (2024 model year): Up to $10,550 off
• Foundation Series (2024 model year): Up to $10,000 offAnyone who purchases a new Cybertruck… pic.twitter.com/8oGT6R2DDp
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) April 17, 2025
The move comes as Tesla is still ramping Cybertruck production and is hoping to stimulate some additional demand for the vehicle, as it is holding on to these units. These are not Demo Drive units that have been driven by any number of people who were looking for a quick test drive.
Tesla launched a new configuration of the Cybertruck just last week with the Long Range Rear-Wheel-Drive, which undercuts the All-Wheel-Drive option by roughly $10,000.
Tesla released the Cybertruck RWD to make the AWD look like a deal
However, Tesla stripped the vehicle of several features, including Air Suspension, a tonneau cover, and interior features. For example, the Rear-Wheel-Drive trim of the Cybertruck has textile seats and no rear touchscreen, two things that come standard in the other trim levels.
The Cybertruck is the best-selling electric pickup in the United States, outperforming formidable competitors like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV. However, Tesla is still working to get the vehicle to a lower price point that makes it more accessible to consumers, as its current pricing is a far cry from what was intended.
News
Rivian grapples with challenges from Trump’s auto tariffs
Rivian CEO warns Trump’s auto tariffs will squeeze the EV industry. Scaringe says auto tariffs threaten rising costs & slower production.

Rivian is grappling with challenges arising from President Trump’s auto tariff. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe recently enumerated the difficulties automakers face and elaborated on the impact of Trump’s auto tariffs on the electric vehicle (EV) industry.
President Trump’s auto tariffs were announced last month, imposing 25% tariffs on imported vehicles effective April 3, 2025, and levies on auto parts starting in May.
Scaringe talked a bit about the complexity of the automotive supply chain with Fox Business. Rivian’s R1T pickup, R1S SUV, and commercial electric van are manufactured at its Normal, Illinois plant. Scaringe boasted that Rivian has a “very U.S.-centric supply chain.
Yet, the complex global supply chain poses hurdles for U.S. automakers who want to comply with Trump’s auto tariffs.
“One of the things with automotive is the supply chain is so complex, where we have hundreds of suppliers providing parts from, say, a headlight or a tow hook or tires or the structure under the skin here that are coming from not only a set of suppliers that supply to us, but those suppliers have suppliers, and then in turn, those suppliers have suppliers, so there’s tier two, tier three,” Scaringe explained.
China’s restrictions on rare-earth material exports–in response to Trump’s 145% tariff on Chinese imports–further complicate matters. Rare-earth materials are critical for EV motor magnets and batteries. Nearly all rare-earth materials are processed exclusively in China.
“The trade restrictions and what we’re seeing in terms of rare earth metals out of China, that’s a real challenge for electric vehicles,” Scaringe noted.
Batteries comprise up to 40% of an EV’s cost. Goldman Sachs noted that battery costs have been falling in recent years. The investment bank estimated EV battery costs would drop by 50% between 2023 and 2026. However, China’s decision to restrict rare-earth materials may increase battery costs.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives called the tariffs a source of “pure chaos” for the auto industry, stating, “A U.S. car made entirely with U.S. parts is a fictional tale.”
Ives warned automakers could increase car prices between $5,000 to $10,000. Wedbush predicts a potential change in Trump’s auto parts tariffs could ease disruptions.
For Rivian, starting prices near $70,000 limit room for cost increases without impacting sales. As trade tensions escalate, Rivian faces rising costs and potential production slowdowns, threatening its growth in a shifting EV landscape.
News
New Starlink router gets FCC approval, hints at dish upgrades
The new Starlink router hints at upcoming dish upgrades & faster service. SpaceX is setting the stage for 2 Gbps internet

SpaceX’s new Starlink router, model UTR-251, has secured FCC approval for U.S. sales. The new Starlink router hints at upcoming dish upgrades and improvements to SpaceX’s satellite internet service.
Starlink’s new router design and specs suggest ties to an updated high-performance dish or a new Starlink product. The UTR-251 succeeds the Gen 3 router (UTR-231 and UTR-232), launched in 2023.
Unlike its predecessor’s dual Ethernet ports, Starlink’s new router features a single port designed for “Indoor Use only,” with a vertical form resembling the Gen 2 router. FCC filings reveal WiFi 6 support and a higher “watt output” for expanded frequencies, including the 5.9GHz UNII-4 band, enhancing spectrum access.
Tim Belfall, a director at UK-based Starlink installer Westend WiFi, noted the router’s lower power needs. The new Starlink router needs a 9 Volt by 1.6 Amp, 14.4-watt input, compared to the Gen 3’s higher demands. The new router has significantly lower power requirements than the current Gen 3 router, suggesting compatibility with a smaller Starlink dish.
SpaceX is developing three new dish models, including a refreshed flat high-performance dish for enterprise users. Ukrainian engineer Oleg Kutkov noticed recent code changes in Starlink dishes, which he believes means SpaceX is ready to produce its high-performance dish.
In a webinar last month, SpaceX teased a new Starlink dish promising gigabit internet speeds, far surpassing the current average. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell highlighted the upgrade in 2024, stating, “Next generation, we’ll have smaller beams, more capacity per beam, lower latency.” She projected speeds up to 2 gigabits with the next-gen dish, positioning Starlink as a leader in high-speed satellite internet.
The UTR-251’s approval marks a step toward SpaceX’s vision of enhanced connectivity, though its exact role remains unclear. As SpaceX refines its hardware, the router’s advanced specs and efficiency underscore its push for faster, more reliable internet.
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