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US’ base Tesla Model Y has an edge vs Shanghai and Berlin’s entry-level Model Ys

The new Model Y Long Range Rear Wheel Drive sounds like a bang-for-the-buck option–literally.

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla recently released the new Model Y Long Range Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) variant in the United States. While the vehicle serves as the base variant of the revamped all-electric crossover in the U.S., it has some notable differences compared to the entry-level Model Ys produced in Giga Shanghai and Giga Berlin.

New Model Y Long Range RWD

A look at the new Model Y Long Range Rear Wheel Drive’s specs shows that the base vehicle is equipped with 15 speakers and 1 subwoofer, the same as the Model Y Long Range All Wheel Drive (AWD), which costs $4,000 more before incentives. That’s not bad at all for a vehicle that effectively costs $37,490 with the $7,500 federal tax credit. 

In comparison, the entry-level Model Y produced in Gigafactory Shanghai and Giga Berlin is equipped with just nine speakers. This doesn’t mean that the entry-level variants from Giga Shanghai and Berlin are fitted with a subpar sound system, of course. It just means that the sound system in the Model Y Long Range AWD is quite a bit better.

Speaker Differences

Tesla has not provided an explanation why the Model Y LR RWD produced in the Fremont Factory and Giga Texas is fitted with a better sound system than comparable models from China and Germany.  It should be noted, however, that the entry-level Model Y from Giga Shanghai and Berlin are not listed as “Long Range” vehicles. 

The entry-level Model Y from Giga Berlin, for example is, listed with a WLTP range of just 500 km per charge, which roughly translates to an EPA-estimated 266 miles per charge. The entry-level Model Y from Giga Shanghai, on the other hand, is listed with a CLTC range of 593 km, which roughly translates to an EPA-estimated range of 258 miles per charge. Considering that the base variants from Shanghai and Berlin are not long range vehicles, their fewer speakers make sense.

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That being said, Tesla is also offering a Model Y Maximum Range Rear Wheel Drive variant from Gigafactory Berlin. This variant, which is priced at €49,990 ($56,830), features a WLTP range of 533 km, which roughly translates to 331 EPA-estimated miles. Despite its long range designation, however, it is equipped with just nine speakers, similar to its standard range sibling.

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 analyst’s firm has sold its entire TSLA position: Here’s why

Tesla analyst Gary Black revealed his firm, The Future Fund, has sold their entire $TSLA holding.

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla analyst Gary Black of The Future Fund revealed today that his firm has sold its entire $TSLA holding, marking the first time since 2021 that it has not had a position in the company’s stock.

Black has been a skeptic of the company and relatively pessimistic regarding some things many investors would consider catalysts, outlining his concerns and reasoning for selling the shares.

Much of Black’s reasoning concerns Tesla’s price-to-earnings ratio, delivery results and potential delivery figures for the future, and other near-term projects that he does not believe will yield as much value as others perceive.

We will break down each concern of Black’s below:

‘Disconnected from Underlying Fundamentals’

Black says that The Future Fund sold its holdings at $358 per share. The firm’s current price target is at $310, and he says it will remain there based on “our forecast of 2030 Tesla volumes of 5.4m and 2030 Adj EPS of $12.

Main Concern is P/E Ratio

The main concern Black and The Future Fund have is that TSLA “now sells at a 2025 P/E of 188x as earnings estimates continue to fall (-5% in the past week, -40% YTD) driven by weak YTD deliveries, including weak April results.”

Black says he believes quarterly deliveries will decline by 12 percent, and full-year by 10 percent.

This compares to Wall Street’s estimates of a 7 percent decrease for Q2 and a 5 percent year-over-year.

Robotaxi Skepticism

“We believe the risk/reward associated with the Austin robotaxi test remain asymmetrical to the downside,” Black writes in his post on X.

Tesla Robotaxi deemed a total failure by media — even though it hasn’t been released

Many believe the Robotaxi platform could be Tesla’s biggest catalyst moving forward, especially as other automakers do not seem to have even close to as robust a solution to self-driving as Tesla.

Tesla’s Affordable Models

Black says there are concerns the affordable model will be “a stripped-down Model Y priced lower and funded by lower costs rather than a new form factory that expands TAM.”

This is confusing, especially considering the cheaper price tag would expand the total addressable market (TAM) to begin with. The Model Y has been the best-selling vehicle in the world for the past two years.

Tesla still on track to release more affordable models in 1H25

Introducing an even lower-cost model with some missing features would still likely be a significantly more attractive option than a base model ICE vehicle, especially because the value Full Self-Driving provides would make the car more beneficial.

“This increases odds that FY’25 estimates decline further, risking a repeat of 2023-2024, when TSLA reduced EV prices supported by lower costs, and TSLA saw little or no incremental volume growth,” he finishes with.

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Tesla gets major upgrade that Apple users will absolutely love

Tesla is unloading a new feature for iPhone users that they will absolutely love.

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Credit: Tesla Inc.

Tesla is giving its owners who use iPhones and the iOS platform a major upgrade that will make the vehicles more compatible with the current capabilities of Apple devices.

Much to the chagrin of Android users, Apple iPhone users who own Teslas are usually the first to get new features.

However, Tesla is rolling out a new feature to iPhone users that will only be available to them, as Live Update compatibility is now rolling out.

Live Updates on the iPhone allow users to track the progress of tasks while using other apps. For example, uploading a post on X can be tracked while using an internet browser, as the Dynamic Island, the small display near the speaker on an iPhone, will show progress.

Tesla will now do this for Supercharging, a new update shows. The Dynamic Island is not the only thing that will monitor the progress of Supercharging, though. Updates will also be visible on the lock screen and as a drop-down notification:

You will need iOS 17.2 or newer to use this feature.

The Supercharging updates will show the current State of Charge (SoC), time remaining, and price of the current session. These notifications will make the charging process easier when you’re not inside your Tesla, as many Superchargers are located in retail settings.

You’ll be able to monitor the price and time remaining with a quick glance at your phone.

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Tesla rolls out new crucial safety feature aimed at saving children

Tesla has been working on this child detection feature for several years.

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(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla is finally rolling out a new, crucial safety feature that is aimed at saving children from being left in the car.

Over the past few months, we have reported on a feature Tesla was planning to roll out in its vehicles that would help keep children out of hot cars unattended.

Tesla set to roll out new child safety and navigation features, coding shows

The company has been working on a solution to this problem for several years, as it has been working on an ultrawave sensor that would detect heartbeats instead of movement, as cameras would.

Now, Tesla is implementing the feature in its vehicles with Software Update 2025.14.12, calling it “Child Left Alone Detection.”

The release notes, via Not a Tesla App, show that the vehicle and the Tesla app will both make various attempts to alert the driver of a child in the car:

“If an unattended child is detected, the vehicle will flash the exterior indicator lights, play an alert tone, and send a notification to your Tesla app. This will repeat at regular intervals until you return to your vehicle. Cabin data is processed locally and is not transmitted to Tesla.

This feature is enabled by default. To disable, go to Controls > Safety > Child Left Alone Detection.”

Tesla later said that the feature is currently rolling out to mid-2023 and later Model 3 vehicles in Europe initially, while other models and regions will receive the update in the coming months.

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