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Tesla Model Y delivery date confirmed by California buyer, first deliveries earlier than expected

Tesla Model Y (Credit: Tesla)

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A Tesla Model Y buyer has reportedly received confirmation that their vehicle will be ready for delivery on Wednesday, March 11, a timeframe four days earlier than the widely anticipated March 15 first delivery date.

Updated March 11: Tesla Model Y first deliveries are scheduled for Friday, March 13

Updated March 7: The source that reported a March 11 delivery date has retracted their original statement. Teslarati is in contact with additional sources whom indicate Tesla employees are being offered first access to Model Y. An update will be provided as we learn more about the first Model Y delivery dates.

According to redditor and alleged soon-to-be Model Y owner u/HIP2013, a Tesla representative called them to schedule a pick up of their Model Y on Wednesday, 4 p.m. at the Rocklin showroom in California, about a 30-minute drive north from Sacramento and 2 hours from Tesla’ Fremont factory.

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“Well I’m giving my Model 3 to my wife who is selling her Civic and I’m putting that money toward the Model Y,” u/HIP2013 wrote on the Tesla Motors channel on Reddit. “I should mention, when I first got the first email last week I got back to them in less than one hour with everything they asked for (insurance, payment info, etc).”

According to u/HIP2013, he reserved the Model Y even before the unveiling event livestream in March 2019. “I have reason to believe I may have been the first to reserve one,” they wrote. “…it seems like yesterday that I was making my order. I was in the first 5,000 to get my Model 3, so I’ve been part of the tribe for a while.”

The strong push of Tesla to make deliveries of the Model Y bode well for the finances of the company. Tesla aims to deliver 500,000 vehicles in 2020, a big jump from last year’s approximately 368,000 units. The Q1 end of quarter push would help cushion whatever effect the coronavirus outbreak has had on its sales.

On Thursday, Tesla started releasing the first batch of Tesla Model Y VINs ahead of the expected deliveries. Buyers in California, New York, Florida, Georgia and other parts of the United States started finding references to their vehicle’s identification number on their online purchase agreement.

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Tesla Model Y images were also discovered in the latest version of the Android mobile app of the electric carmaker, a sign that Tesla is gearing up for the deliveries and suggesting that Model Y owners will enjoy the same functionality of the mobile app just as how owners of Model 3, Model X, and Model S do.

Tesla Model Y buyers first reported of receiving delivery confirmation emails two weeks ago where the carmaker asked customers to confirm their availability and complete any remaining steps of the purchase.

Tesla early delivery of the Model Y says a lot how the carmaker has matured through the years. While the Model Y might share about 75% of the Model 3’s DNA, Elon Musk has earlier said that its manufacturing process involves advanced techniques. The Tesla CEO also bets big time on the Model Y and believes the more affordable SUV will be a big hit and may become more popular than other vehicles on its line-up combined.

Are you a Tesla Model Y buyer or soon-to-be buyer? Join the poll below!

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A curious soul who keeps wondering how Elon Musk, Tesla, electric cars, and clean energy technologies will shape the future, or do we really need to escape to Mars.

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Cybertruck

Tesla Cybertruck’s newest trim will undergo massive change in ten days, Musk says

It appears as if the new All-Wheel-Drive trim of Cybertruck won’t be around for too long, however. Elon Musk revealed this morning that it will be around “only for the next 10 days.”

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla’s new Cybertruck trim has already gotten the axe from CEO Elon Musk, who said the All-Wheel-Drive configuration of the all-electric pickup will only be available “for the next ten days.”

Musk could mean the price, which is $59,990, or the availability of the trim altogether.

Last night, Tesla launched the All-Wheel-Drive configuration of the Cybertruck, a pickup that comes in at less than $60,000 and features a competitive range and features that are not far off from the offerings of the premium trim.

Tesla launches new Cybertruck trim with more features than ever for a low price

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It was a nice surprise from Tesla, considering that last year, it offered a Rear-Wheel-Drive trim of the Cybertruck that only lasted a few months. It had extremely underwhelming demand because it was only $10,000 cheaper than the next trim level up, and it was missing a significant number of premium features.

Simply put, it was not worth the money. Tesla killed the RWD Cybertruck just a few months after offering it.

With the news that Tesla was offering this All-Wheel-Drive configuration of the Cybertruck, many fans and consumers were encouraged. The Cybertruck has been an underwhelming seller, and this seemed to be a lot of truck for the price when looking at its features:

  • Dual Motor AWD w/ est. 325 mi of range
  • Powered tonneau cover
  • Bed outlets (2x 120V + 1x 240V) & Powershare capability
  • Coil springs w/ adaptive damping
  • Heated first-row seats w/ textile material that is easy to clean
  • Steer-by-wire & Four Wheel Steering
  • 6’ x 4’ composite bed
  • Towing capacity of up to 7,500 lbs
  • Powered frunk

It appears as if this trim of Cybertruck won’t be around for too long, however. Musk revealed this morning that it will be around “only for the next 10 days.”

Musk could mean the price of the truck and not necessarily the ability to order it. However, most are taking it as a cancellation.

If it is, in fact, a short-term availability decision, it is baffling, especially as Tesla fans and analysts claim that metrics like quarterly deliveries are no longer important. This seems like a way to boost sales short-term, and if so many people are encouraged about this offering, why would it be kept around for such a short period of time?

Some are even considering the potential that Tesla axes the Cybertruck program as a whole. Although Musk said during the recent Q4 Earnings Call that Cybertruck would still be produced, the end of the Model S and Model X programs indicates Tesla might be prepared to do away with any low-volume vehicles that do not contribute to the company’s future visions of autonomy.

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The decision to axe the car just ten days after making it available seems like a true head-scratcher.

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Elon Musk

Elon Musk’s Neuralink sparks BCI race in China

One of the most prominent is NeuroXess, which launched in 2021 and is already testing implants in patients.

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Credit: Neuralink

Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, is helping spark a surge of brain-computer interface (BCI) development in China, where startups are moving quickly into human trials with strong state backing. 

One of the most prominent is NeuroXess, which launched in 2021 and is already testing implants in patients.

Neuralink’s clinical work and public demonstrations have drawn worldwide attention to invasive brain implants that allow patients to control digital devices using their minds. The company is currently running a global clinical trial and is also busy preparing for its next product, Blindsight, which would restore vision to people with visual impairments.

Neuralink’s visibility has helped accelerate similar efforts in China. Beijing last year classified brain-computer interfaces as a strategic sector and issued a roadmap calling for two or three globally competitive companies by 2030, as per the Financial Times. Since February last year, at least 10 clinical trials for invasive brain chips have launched in the country.

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NeuroXess recently reported that a paralyzed patient was able to control a computer cursor within five days of implantation. Founder Tiger Tao credited government support for helping shorten the path from research to trials.

Investment activity has followed the policy push. Industry data show dozens of financing rounds for Chinese BCI startups over the past year, reflecting rising capital interest in the field. Ultimately, while Neuralink remains one of the most closely watched players globally, its momentum has clearly energized competitors abroad.

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Tesla Supercharger vandalized with frozen cables and anti-Musk imagery amid Sweden union dispute

The incident comes amid Tesla’s ongoing labor dispute with IF Metall.

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Credit: Tesla Charging/X

Tesla’s Supercharger site in Vansbro, Sweden, was vandalized during peak winter travel weeks. Images shared to local media showed frozen charging cables and a banner reading “Go home Elon,” which was complete with a graphic of Musk’s controversial gesture. 

The incident comes amid Tesla’s ongoing labor dispute with IF Metall, which has been striking against the company for more than two years over collective bargaining agreements, as noted in a report from Expressen.

Local resident Stefan Jakobsson said he arrived at the Vansbro charging station to find a board criticizing Elon Musk and accusing Tesla of strikebreaking. He also found the charging cables frozen after someone seemingly poured water over them.

“I laughed a little and it was pretty nicely drawn. But it was a bit unnecessary,” Jakobsson said. “They don’t have to do vandalism because they’re angry at Elon Musk.”

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The site has seen heavy traffic during Sweden’s winter sports holidays, with travelers heading toward Sälen and other mountain destinations. Jakobsson said long lines formed last weekend, with roughly 50 Teslas and other EVs waiting to charge.

Tesla Superchargers in Sweden are typically open to other electric vehicle brands, making them a reliable option for all EV owners. 

Tesla installed a generator at the location after sympathy strikes from other unions disrupted power supply to some stations. The generator itself was reportedly not working on the morning of the incident, though it is unclear whether that was connected to the protest.

The dispute between Tesla and IF Metall centers on the company’s refusal to sign a collective agreement covering Swedish workers. The strike has drawn support from other unions, including Seko, which has taken steps affecting electricity supply to certain Tesla facilities. Tesla Sweden, for its part, has insisted that its workers are already fairly compensated and it does not need a collective agreement,

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Jesper Pettersson, press spokesperson for IF Metall, criticized Tesla’s use of generators to keep charging stations running. Still, IF Metall emphasized that it strongly distances itself from the vandalism incident at the Vansbro Supercharger.

“We think it is remarkable that instead of taking the easy route and signing a collective agreement for our members, they are choosing to use every possible means to get around the strike,” Pettersson said.

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