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Tesla Model Y at the Barstow, CA Supercharger Tesla Model Y at the Barstow, CA Supercharger

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Tesla Model Y with matte black and chrome trim spotted at LA-Vegas Supercharger

Tesla Model Y at the Barstow, CA Supercharger (Credit: u/ChooChooSparky)

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A Tesla Model Y with a combination of matte black window trim and Tesla’s signature chrome trim was spotted at the Barstow, CA Supercharger station over the US Thanksgiving weekend.

Tesla owner and Redditor ChooChooSparky recounts pulling up next to the all-electric crossover while charging, but without initially realizing it was a Model Y.  “When I pulled up I thought ‘Wow, they’re serious about blacking it out to take a nap.’ Then when he pulled off the cover and I saw the black model 3 style door handles, ‘That’s no regular Tesla SUV!!,’” noted the Tesla owner.

Another Redditor was in the scene and confirmed the sighting.

“My wife and I were there when it was charging. They had the car completely covered and the guy driving it stayed in the car. I would have never noticed it was a model Y if they hadn’t started putting the cover on,” user Uofaer wrote.

In a video posted to r/teslamotors, the Midnight Silver Metallic Model Y can be seen leaving the Barstow Supercharger station,  a common stopping point between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and one of Tesla’s first fast-charging stations in Southern California. Noticeable is the Model 3-style door handles and “chrome deleted” matte black trim which made its first debut at the Tesla Model Y unveiling in early 2019. However, chrome trim was also present on the vehicle, a standard finish for the Model S, Model 3, and Model X.

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“It actually looked like the chrome trim had tape wrapped all around it. A little part on the front door looked lifted up,” Redditor ChooChooSparky added.

Another Model Y spotted in the wild from r/teslamotors


This marks, at least, the fifth Tesla Model Y sighting in recent months and a strong indicator that pre-production could be taking place in early 2020. Just last month, a Model Y was spotted cruising along California Route 17 with several measurement apparatus most likely used to calibrate driver-assist features. Other Model Y sightings revealed the elusive “Wind Turbine” wheels, which were first showcased on a Model 3 prototype at the vehicle’s unveiling event.

As more and more sightings of the Model Y testing on public roads are reported, we can only assume that Elon Musk and his team are gearing up to produce what is anticipated to become the company’s best-selling car. Originally slated for the Fall of 2020, the new customer delivery date of Model Y has been moved up to Summer 2020.

There are also reports that Tesla has instructed parts suppliers BizLink and HOTA to begin production of Model Y parts earlier than scheduled. This indicates that mass production may soon start, possibly even before 2019 ends.

Tesla Model Y has a starting price of $48,000, seating for 5 to 7 people, and available in a Long Range, Dual Motor, and Performance configuration.

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Tesla launches ultra-fast V4 Superchargers in China for the first time

Tesla has V4 Superchargers rolling out in China for the first time.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla already has nearly 12,000 Supercharger piles across mainland China. However, the company just initiated the rollout of the ultra-fast V4 Superchargers in China for the first time, bringing its quick-charging piles to the country for the first time since their launch last year.

The first batch of V4 Superchargers is now officially up and running in China, the company announced in a post on Chinese social media outlet Weibo today.

Tesla China teases arrival of V4 Superchargers in 2025

The company said in the post:

“The first batch of Tesla V4 Superchargers are online. Covering more service areas, high-speed charging is more convenient, and six-layer powerful protection such as rain and waterproof makes charging very safe. Simultaneously open to non-Tesla vehicles, and other brands of vehicles can also be charged. There are more than 70,000 Tesla Superchargers worldwide. The charging network layout covers 100% of the provincial capitals and municipalities in mainland China. More V4 Superchargers will be put into use across the country. Optimize the charging experience and improve energy replenishment efficiency. Tesla will accompany you to the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas with pure electricity!”

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The first V4 Superchargers Tesla installed in China are available in four cities across the country: Shanghai, Zhejiang, Gansu, and Chongqing.

Credit: Tesla China

Tesla has over 70,000 Superchargers worldwide. It is the most expansive and robust EV charging network in the world. It’s the main reason why so many companies have chosen to adopt Tesla’s charging connector in North America and Europe.

In China, some EVs can use Tesla Superchargers as well.

The V4 Supercharger is capable of charging vehicles at speeds of up to 325kW for vehicles in North America. This equates to over 1,000 miles per hour of charging.

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Elon Musk hints at when Tesla could reduce Safety Monitors from Robotaxi

Tesla could be reducing Safety Monitors from Robotaxi within ‘a month or two,’ CEO Elon Musk says.

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Credit: Joe Tegtmeyer | X

Elon Musk hinted at when Tesla could begin reducing Safety Monitors from its Robotaxis. Safety Monitors are Tesla employees who sit in the front passenger seat during the driverless rides, and are there to ensure safety for occupants during the earliest rides.

Tesla launched its Robotaxi fleet in Austin last Sunday, and after eight days, videos and reviews from those who have ridden in the driverless vehicles have shown that the suite is safe, accurate, and well coordinated. However, there have been a few hiccups, but nothing that has put anyone’s safety in danger.

A vast majority — close to all of the rides — at least according to those who have ridden in the Robotaxi, have been performed without any real need for human intervention. We reported on what was the first intervention last week, as a Safety Monitor had to step in and stop the vehicle in a strange interaction with a UPS truck.

Watch the first true Tesla Robotaxi intervention by safety monitor

The Tesla and UPS delivery truck were going for the same street parking space, and the Tesla began to turn into it. The UPS driver parallel parked into the spot, which was much smaller than his truck. It seemed to be more of an instance of human error instead of the Robotaxi making the wrong move. This is something that the driverless cars will have to deal with because humans are aggressive and sometimes make moves they should not.

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The Safety Monitors have not been too active in the vehicles. After all, we’ve only seen that single instance of an intervention. There was also an issue with the sun, when the Tesla braked abnormally due to the glare, but this was an instance where the car handled the scenario and proceeded normally.

With the Robotaxi fleet operating impressively, some are wondering when Tesla will begin scaling back both the Safety Monitors and Teleoperators that it is using to ensure safety with these early rides.

CEO Elon Musk answered the inquiry by stating, “As soon as we feel it is safe to do so. Probably within a month or two.”

Musk’s response seems to confirm that there will be fewer Teleoperators and Safety Monitors in the coming months, but there will still be some within the fleet to ensure safety. Eventually, that number will get to zero.

Reaching a point where Tesla’s Robotaxi is driverless will be another significant milestone for the company and its path to fully autonomous ride-sharing.

Eventually, Tesla will roll out these capabilities to consumer-owned vehicles, offering them a path to generate revenue as their car operates autonomously and completes rides.

For now, Tesla is focusing on perfecting the area of Austin where it is currently offering driverless rides for just $4.20 to a small group of people.

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Tesla sees explosive sales growth in UK, Spain, and Netherlands in June

In countries like the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands, Tesla’s June sales surged significantly compared to May.

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Credit: Tesla Europe & Middle East/X

After months of declining deliveries and market pressure, Tesla appears to be regaining its footing in Europe. Tesla saw a significant spike in electric vehicle registrations across several key markets in June, signaling renewed momentum for the EV maker.

In countries like the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands, Tesla’s June sales surged significantly compared to May.

Explosive growth in the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands

Tesla’s most notable performance came in the United Kingdom, where June registrations jumped 224% month-over-month, and Spain, where registrations more than tripled. This made Tesla the top-selling electric car brand for the month in both countries, as per a CarUp report.

The Netherlands saw Tesla become the best-selling car brand in June across all vehicle segments. Tesla’s continued success in Norway also appears to be holding steady, though full figures for the market have not yet been finalized.

These numbers suggest Tesla’s European sales slump may have been temporary, with strong demand returning amid the ramp of the new Model Y, which was largely unavailable in the first quarter. 

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Mixed results in Sweden but signs of progress

In Sweden, Tesla’s performance remained mixed in June. While year-over-year registrations dropped over 70% in June, the company’s market share jumped 72% compared to May. Tesla now holds an 8.6% market share in the Swedish EV market, which means that one in every twelve new electric vehicles registered in the country last month was a Tesla, as per data compiled by eu-evs.com.

So far in 2025, Tesla ranks as the fourth-largest EV brand in Sweden, with 3,461 vehicles registered, trailing Volkswagen, Volvo, and Kia. The Tesla Model Y has remained a strong seller, ranking as the third most registered electric vehicle this year, behind the Volkswagen ID.7 and Volvo XC40, despite being largely absent in Q1 2025.

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