News
Tesla Model Y’s front impact structure opens doors to a stellar safety rating
Sandy Munro’s newest video of his Model Y teardown series included a breakdown of the electric crossover’s revised front impact structure. Most notably, Munro’s analysis of the improved impact structure on the Model Y could make Tesla’s reputation for producing some of the safest cars on the market even more solidified, as the thicker and sturdier elements in the all-electric crossover could pave the way for another stellar safety rating.
When Elon Musk unveiled the Model Y in March 2019, he stated that “We expect it will be the safest midsize SUV in the world by far,” he said. The numerous safety improvements that have been recognized by Munro are vital indicators that Musk may be right, and the Model Y could prove itself to be one of, if not the safest car in its class in the market.
As the Model Y’s performance features have already been broken down by many, the safety features are among the more elusive details of the vehicle. Munro notes the Model Y contains several improved features compared to the Model 3, which already holds a five-star safety rating. The first described addition to the Model Y’s safety “system” is the increased thickness of the sheet metal at the front of the rail, as seen in the image below.
This addition will improve the front-end collision system of the vehicle, which was already impressive on the Model 3. However, Tesla is dealing with a more massive vehicle that maintains a different body structure, and beefing up the parts in the front end of the car was one of the ways the company could make the Model Y safer.
Next, Munro points out Tesla’s revisions to the front cradle. The cradle is a subframe structural component that is separate from the larger and “primary” chassis on a vehicle. It is usually used to carry engines, drivetrains, suspension systems, or in the case of the Model Y, its front end impact structure.
The Model Y’s front cradle holds the front impact structure as the two are “tied” together, Munro states. This cradle mounting points to the vehicle’s mainframe extend well into the vehicle’s Small Overlap Rigid Barrier, or SORB zone. The more rigid, dense, sturdy, and durable cradle and front rail increase the safety of the vehicle if it collides with a pole, tree, or another car. These are among some of the most dangerous types of accidents, according to the IIHS.
Tesla also added what Munro refers to as a “tusk” just behind the front quarter panels of the Model Y. The tusk is designed to collapse into the vehicle’s longitudinals. This energy will then be transferred to the now-thicker front end rail in the event of a front side collision, diverting energy from a violent accident away from the passenger cabin. “The tusk will fold in, and it’s going to smash into the longitudinals, and probably other things. That’s going to start to put the energy from the event into the structure here (referring to the front rail), that is uber-strong,” Munro says.
Munro says the structure is entirely different than what Tesla used on the Model 3, citing the new build seems to be exceptionally safe and improved. Interestingly enough, the Model 3 was already recognized as one of the safest vehicles on the road and has received top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Euro NCAP, among others. Despite the impressive and proven safety of the Model 3, it appears that Tesla wanted to do even better. The Model Y is a tangible representation of it.
Watch Sandy Munro breakdown Tesla Model Y’s front end impact system in the video below.
Energy
Tesla Powerwall distribution expands in Australia
Inventory is expected to arrive in late February and official sales are expected to start mid-March 2026.
Supply Partners Group has secured a distribution agreement for the Tesla Powerwall in Australia, with inventory expected to arrive in late February and official sales beginning in mid-March 2026.
Under the new agreement, Supply Partners will distribute Tesla Powerwall units and related accessories across its national footprint, as noted in an ecogeneration report. The company said the addition strengthens its position as a distributor focused on premium, established brands.
“We are proud to officially welcome Tesla Powerwall into the Supply Partners portfolio,” Lliam Ricketts, Co-Founder and Director of Innovation at Supply Partners Group, stated.
“Tesla sets a high bar, and we’ve worked hard to earn the opportunity to represent a brand that customers actively ask for. This partnership reflects the strength of our logistics, technical services and customer experience, and it’s a win for installers who want premium options they can trust.”
Supply Partners noted that initial Tesla Powerwall stock will be warehoused locally before full commercial rollout in March. The distributor stated that the timing aligns with renewed growth momentum for the Powerwall, supported by competitive installer pricing, consumer rebates, and continued product and software updates.
“Powerwall is already a category-defining product, and what’s ahead makes it even more compelling,” Ricketts stated. “As pricing sharpens and capability expands, we see a clear runway for installers to confidently spec Powerwall for premium residential installs, backed by Supply Partners’ national distribution footprint and service model.”
Supply Partners noted that a joint go-to-market launch is planned, including Tesla-led training for its sales and technical teams to support installers during the home battery system’s domestic rollout.
Elon Musk
Tesla Giga Berlin growth could stall if not “free from external influences”: Elon Musk
The comments were delivered in a pre-recorded video discussion.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reportedly warned that future expansion of Gigafactory Berlin could be jeopardized if the site does not remain “free from external influences.”
Musk’s comments were delivered in a pre-recorded video discussion with employees and came at a sensitive moment for the facility, where union representation has been a recurring issue.
According to reports from Handelsblatt and Der Spiegel, citing participants at the event, Musk suggested that if Giga Berlin is no longer “free from external influences,” further expansion would become unlikely. He did not, however, hint that the plant would shut down.
While Musk did not name IG Metall directly, his remarks were widely interpreted as referencing the union, which is currently the largest faction on the works council but does not hold a majority, as noted in an electrive report.
The video conversation was conducted between Musk in Austin and Grünheide plant manager André Thierig, then played back to the workforce in Germany. Works council elections are scheduled for early March, heightening the tension between management and organized labor.
The CEO has previously voiced concerns that stronger union influence could limit Tesla’s operational flexibility and long-term strategy in Germany.
Despite the warning on expansion, Musk praised the Giga Berlin site during the same address, describing it as one of the most advanced factories worldwide and highlighting its cleanliness and team culture.
The discussion also reportedly touched on battery cell production. According to attendees cited in German media, Musk indicated that Tesla has begun ramping cell production at the site. That would mark a notable shift from earlier expectations that large-scale cell manufacturing in Brandenburg would not begin until 2027.
Elon Musk
Tesla Full Self-Driving’s newest behavior is the perfect answer to aggressive cars
According to a recent video, it now appears the suite will automatically pull over if there is a tailgater on your bumper, the most ideal solution for when a driver is riding your bumper.
Tesla Full Self-Driving appears to have a new behavior that is the perfect answer to aggressive drivers.
According to a recent video, it now appears the suite will automatically pull over if there is a tailgater on your bumper, the most ideal solution for when a driver is riding your bumper.
With FSD’s constantly-changing Speed Profiles, it seems as if this solution could help eliminate the need to tinker with driving modes from the person in the driver’s seat. This tends to be one of my biggest complaints from FSD at times.
A video posted on X shows a Tesla on Full Self-Driving pulling over to the shoulder on windy, wet roads after another car seemed to be following it quite aggressively. The car looks to have automatically sensed that the vehicle behind it was in a bit of a hurry, so FSD determined that pulling over and letting it by was the best idea:
Tesla appears to be implementing some sort of feature that will now pull over if someone is tailgating you to let the car by
Really cool feature, definitely get a lot of this from those who think they drive race cars
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 26, 2026
We can see from the clip that there was no human intervention to pull over to the side, as the driver’s hands are stationary and never interfere with the turn signal stalk.
This can be used to override some of the decisions FSD makes, and is a great way to get things back on track if the semi-autonomous functionality tries to do something that is either unneeded or not included in the routing on the in-car Nav.
FSD tends to move over for faster traffic on the interstate when there are multiple lanes. On two-lane highways, it will pass slower cars using the left lane. When faster traffic is behind a Tesla on FSD, the vehicle will move back over to the right lane, the correct behavior in a scenario like this.
Perhaps one of my biggest complaints at times with Full Self-Driving, especially from version to version, is how much tinkering Tesla does with Speed Profiles. One minute, they’re suitable for driving on local roads, the next, they’re either too fast or too slow.
When they are too slow, most of us just shift up into a faster setting, but at times, even that’s not enough, see below:
What has happened to Mad Max?
At one point it was going 32 in a 35. Traffic ahead had pulled away considerably https://t.co/bjKvaMVTNX pic.twitter.com/aaZSWmLu5v
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 24, 2026
There are times when it feels like it would be suitable for the car to just pull over and let the vehicle that is traveling behind pass. This, at least up until this point, it appears, was something that required human intervention.
Now, it looks like Tesla is trying to get FSD to a point where it just knows that it should probably get out of the way.
Tesla Powerwall distribution expands in Australia
Tesla Giga Berlin growth could stall if not “free from external influences”: Elon Musk
