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Even Tesla underestimates the Model Y’s real potential demand in Europe

The Tesla Model Y crossover. (Credit: Edmunds/Twitter)

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5 years ago

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The Tesla Model Y may be the electric car maker’s most understated vehicle in terms of exterior design, but it is also the one that is most ambitious in terms of its target market. This is because the Model Y is competing in the crossover segment, a market that is incredibly popular in regions such as the United States, Europe, and China. 

But if a recent report from Germany is any indication, it appears that Tesla may actually be underestimating the real potential of the Model Y in Europe, especially when Gigafactory Berlin comes into the picture. 

German publication Spiegel Online, one of the country’s most widely-read news websites, recently managed to test and review the new all-electric crossover. The publication’s findings on the Model Y were similar to other insights that have been published about the vehicle: the Model Y is no Model X in terms of fanciness, but it’s a solid vehicle that can be appreciated by mainstream consumers. 

Being a crossover, the Model Y must excel in both performance and utility, and it must be a compelling vehicle for families that are fond of the ultra-popular SUVs on the market today. Tesla’s newest vehicle does this, thanks to its clever design that gives it a cavernous interior and luggage space, as well as its bleeding edge tech that’s represented by its over-the-air software updates and novel features like Autopilot. 

But, as Spiegel Online noted, the Model Y today is still somewhat weighed down by the vehicle’s build quality. The vehicle is currently only being produced in Tesla’s Fremont factory, and while its quality is already far better than the early-production Model 3s, there is still ample areas for improvement. This is something that was highlighted by automotive teardown expert Sandy Munro, who analyzed every aspect of the all-electric crossover. 

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While the Model Y will most definitely be a strong contender in the premium crossover EV segment, the publication noted that the vehicle would only get more compelling if it has a “Made in Germany” seal of approval. Such will be possible when Gigafactory Berlin starts its operations and begins building Made-in-Germany Model Ys for the European market. 

German made cars are noted for their performance and quality. There is a reason, after all, why luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Audi call Germany their home. The automotive industry is practically embedded in the country’s culture, and this is something that Tesla can use to its own advantage with its Berlin electric vehicle factory. Simply put, there is a pretty significant chance that Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin-made Model Y will be built with the same standards and quality as other German automobiles. 

So far, Teslas are already performing well in Europe, with vehicles like the Model 3 ranking well in the overall EV sales of several countries in the region. With Tesla fully nailing even the vehicle’s more subtle factors such as panel alignment and paint quality, there is a very good chance that demand for the company’s EVs, most especially mainstream ones like the Model Y, will be pleasantly greater than expected. 

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla Robotaxi vs. New York Taxi: Why the Yellow Cab has a lot to lose

Tesla Robotaxi could spell the beginning of the end of the New York City yellow cab.

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8 hours ago

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August 13, 2025

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Tesla appears to be on its way into the Big Apple, and a traditional Yellow Cab in New York City might be a thing of the past in the near future.

As Tesla continues to put an immense focus on the rollout of its Robotaxi platform, it is evident that driverless ride-hailing modes of transportation could truly be the way that many choose to get around. This is especially prevalent in cities like New York, where many people do not own cars. Instead, they choose to walk to hail a cab.

Tesla Robotaxi is headed to New York City, but one thing is in its way

But the limited number of medallions available for taxi drivers in New York City, as well as several other points of emphasis, seem to show the future is here and yellow cabs might soon be a thing of the past.

Instead of working tirelessly to pay off the debt from medallions, entrepreneurs could soon just buy a Tesla and have it work autonomously in New York City. Tesla executives have mentioned figures as high as $50,000 per year in terms of passive income from Robotaxi operation.

That is just the tip of the iceberg, and Robotaxi presents not only one but at least five distinct advantages over the traditional cab platform. With Tesla starting to seek employees to operate Robotaxi rides in New York, according to recent job postings, New York City cabs should prepare for the disruption Tesla could potentially cause.

Lower Operational Costs and Cheaper Fares

Uber and Lyft have already undercut the costs of New York City taxis, but Robotaxi is starting to undercut even those ride-sharing programs in Austin, Texas.

In terms of how much cheaper Robotaxi will be than cabs, it is an exponential measurement over time. Robotaxi will not require salaries, benefits, or tips, and the cost of Robotaxi could end up being just a fraction of what the same ride would cost in a cab.

This feeds right back into medallion expenses and union wages: even buying a Tesla in the next few years that has the capability to operate as a Robotaxi will be a fraction of what medallions cost, which is sometimes $200,000.

Availability and Scalability

Cabs are available at all hours of the day, but at certain times, they are less available.

Robotaxis can technically operate without breaks, other than charging. Tesla has an immense focus on scaling its Robotaxi platform anyway, and once it is available for the public to use in their personal cars, Model Ys and Cybercabs could be roaming the streets of the five boroughs with more reliability and lower wait times than traditional cabs could ever offer.

This is an issue that is even more relevant in smaller cities or less congested portions of New York.

Safer and More Efficient Rides

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology has reported recent safety figures that are ten times less likely to be involved in an accident than a human. Tesla releases a Safety Report for each quarter that proves its safety against human drivers.

As Full Self-Driving continues to advance, it will get better. Riders who want a stable and safe ride could seek Robotaxi instead of going with a human driver. This is something that we’ll likely see more of in the future as sentiment on autonomous driving grows.

Trust in autonomous vehicles has increased substantially over the past ten years. In 2015, surveys showed that trust in autonomous vehicles was low, with only 23 percent of Americans showing that they’d ride in a driverless car.

In 2021, another study performed that asked the same question showed 57 percent of adults would try an autonomous car for their travel.

Seamless App Integration and User Experience

Taxis are not always the most entertaining to ride in, and sometimes they are even more difficult to get a ride in. Robotaxi has already shown to be an incredibly user-friendly experience, with riders being able to choose what temperature the cabin is and what music they want to listen to in the cabin.

The addition of a rear screen also allows riders to choose from a selection of games or YouTube videos in the car.

Hailing a vehicle was basically resolved with the use of Uber and Lyft. Robotaxi is just as good, if not better, from an app standpoint, especially as the in-car climate is able to be adjusted from the Robotaxi app.

Music from one Robotaxi will continue to play in your next one, too. It’s a small luxury, but it’s a feature that is an improvement over a traditional taxi.

The Push for Sustainability by New York City

New York is pushing for a city-owned fleet of all-electric vehicles by 2027.

Its green initiatives, including the Green Rides Initiative, have pushed the city’s rideshare trips to be conducted by either zero-emission or wheelchair accessible vehicles by 2030.

Tesla Model 3 taxis drive NY’s resolution for more all-electric yellow cabs

The focus by consumers to use green or zero-emission vehicles could also steer right into the direction of Tesla Robotaxi, as none of the vehicles in the Robotaxi fleet will be anything but all-electric Teslas.

Carbon neutrality is a goal of the City and its residents. Moving forward, we could see these programs start to put immense pressure on the yellow cab, which could eventually be a thing of the past.

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Tesla plans to use Unreal Engine for driver visualization with crazy upgrade

This could change the way Driver Visualization looks for Tesla owners.

Published

9 hours ago

on

August 13, 2025

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Credit: Tesla Newswire | X

Tesla looks to be planning a major upgrade to its driver visualization for Autopilot with a crazy upgrade from its current version.

Tesla’s driver visualization appears on the center screen and shows the vehicle, its surroundings, and, when it is operating on Autopilot or Full Self-Driving, shows the route of travel.

It has improved over the years, and even includes things like pedestrians, pets, and the shapes of other vehicles. It also helps with manual driving because it can be a good representation of your surroundings when trying to change lanes or merge in traffic.

However, it appears Tesla is planning a pretty substantial upgrade with the

Coding found in the 2025.20 firmware by Tesla hacker greentheonly showed the company is planning to utilize Unreal Engine for Autopilot visualization. He said the one Tesla currently uses is “godot-based.”

Unreal Engine is a 3D computer graphics game engine that was developed by Epic Games, the developer of the popular third-party shooter game Fortnite. It was first released back in 1998, and the most recent version is Unreal Engine 5. The sixth version is in development, and it could be out in 2027 or 2028.

However, Tesla could use it for a more realistic representation of vehicle surroundings. It would undoubtedly improve driver visualization, creating a smoother and freer-flowing depiction of what is outside of the car.

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SpaceX is rolling out a new feature to Starlink that could be a lifesaver

Starlink now has a new Standby Mode that will enable low-speed internet access in the event of an outage.

Published

11 hours ago

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August 13, 2025

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(Credit: Starlink | X)

SpaceX is rolling out a new feature to Starlink that could be a lifesaver in some instances, but more of a luxury for others.

Starlink is the satellite internet service that Elon Musk’s company SpaceX launched several years ago. It has been adopted by many people at their homes, many airlines on their planes, and many maritime companies on their ships.

SpaceX produces its 10 millionth Starlink kit

It has been a great way for customers to relieve themselves of the contracts and hidden fees of traditional internet service providers.

Now, Starlink is rolling out a new service feature on its units called “Standby Mode,” which is part of Pause Mode. The company notified customers of the change in an email:

“We’re reaching out to you to let you know the Pause feature on your plan has been updated. Pause now includes Standby Mode, which comes with unlimited low-speed data for $5.00 per month, perfect for backup connectivity and emergency use. These updates will take effect in 30 days. All of your other plan features remain the same. You are able to cancel your service at any time for no charge.”

SpaceX did not define how fast these “low speeds” will be. However, there are people who have tested the Standby Mode, and they reported speeds of about 500 kilobytes per second.

The mode is ideal for people who might deal with internet or power outages, but still need to have some sort of internet access.

It could also be used as a backup for people who want to stay with their ISP, but would like to have some sort of alternative in case of an outage for any reason.

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