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Tesla Model Y wiring efficiencies questioned in latest Munro teardown
Sandy Munro took the opportunity to show the Tesla Model Y’s new wiring structure, however, the Detroit automotive veteran noted to be “kind of disappointed” in some of its design.
“What I see here is a nice application of the wire troughs and candy striping…But unfortunately, there’s just as many wires; the wires are just as long,” Munro said.
In July 2019, Tesla published a patent that aimed to improve the wiring, power, and communications systems for its vehicles by reducing the amount of wires found within a car. The idea for a new wiring architecture was needed as many miles of cables can be located within a vehicle, all of which need to be installed by humans and not by machines. The installation of these power lines can take a significant amount of time when needed in excessive lengths. Thus, Tesla maintained it would be decreased from 1.5 kilometers of wire in the Model 3 to just 100 meters in the Model Y.
A Tesla vehicle’s wiring system is responsible for powering everything from turn signals and interior lights to the vehicle’s charging system. It consists of both 12-volt and 400-volt wiring, and the length of wiring needed varies from vehicle to vehicle. However, one thing remains consistent: efficient wiring is crucial for faster production speeds. However, a reduction of wiring also can contribute to reducing the vehicle’s weight as miles of power cords can be present within a car’s power infrastructure.
Reducing the wiring is something Tesla worked on when developing the Model 3, as the Model S contained around three miles of wiring to power its various systems. Tesla halved this amount of wiring with the Model 3 but aimed to decrease it even further when the Model Y was announced. Munro claimed he did not see less wiring, only a more organized wiring architecture. The new design is still an improvement from the Model 3.
Munro then suggests other strategies that Tesla could have used to increase the effectiveness of its wiring systems without using excessive amounts of wires. One of these strategies is called “communications over power,” or, more commonly, Power Line Communication (PLC). Munro explains this system reduces the number of wires by allowing for the implementation into a single power line, instead of many separate lines that all have different functions.
One of the most significant differences between the design of the Model 3 and Model Y was supposed to be its wiring system. In a video from Tesla owner-enthusiast TeslaRaj, the Model Y owner’s manual shows a single track wiring system, where the Model 3 had two tracks. The new single-track system could hint toward the overall design improvements in the Model Y wiring architecture.
Tesla’s wiring design was improved through a more organized harness setting within the Model Y. While the amount and length of the wiring system appeared to be the same according to Munro, these initial changes could end up being a catalyst to a more efficient and less puzzling architecture. Of course, fewer wires would be a dramatic step toward manufacturing efficiency, but this should come with time as Munro’s suggestions just might be accounted for in future Tesla vehicles.
Watch Munro Live’s breakdown of the Model Y wiring architecture below.
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Even Tesla China is feeling the Optimus V3 fever
As per Tesla China, Optimus V3 is “about to be unveiled.”
Even Tesla China seems to have caught the Optimus V3 fever, with the electric vehicle maker teasing the impending arrival of the humanoid robot on its official Weibo account.
As per Tesla China, Optimus V3 is “about to be unveiled.”
Tesla China hypes up Optimus V3
Tesla China noted on its Weibo post that Optimus V3 is redesigned from first principles and is capable of learning new tasks by observing human behavior. The company has stated that it is targeting annual production capacity of up to one million humanoid robots once manufacturing scales.
During the Q4 and FY 2025 earnings call, CEO Elon Musk stated that Tesla will wind down Model S and Model X production to free up factory space for the pilot production line of Optimus V3.
Musk later noted that Giga Texas should have a significantly larger Optimus line, though that will produce Optimus V4. He also made it a point to set expectations with Optimus’ production ramp, stating that the “normal S curve of manufacturing ramp will be longer for Optimus.”
Tesla China’s potential role
Tesla’s decision to announce the Optimus update on Weibo highlights the importance of the humanoid robot in the company’s global operations. Giga Shanghai is already Tesla’s largest manufacturing hub by volume, and Musk has repeatedly described China’s manufacturers as Tesla’s most legitimate competitors.
While Tesla has not confirmed where Optimus V3 will be produced or deployed first, the scale and efficiency of Gigafactory Shanghai make it a plausible candidate for future humanoid robot manufacturing or in-factory deployment. Musk has also suggested that Optimus could become available for public purchase as early as 2027, as noted in a CNEV Post report.
“It’s going to be a very capable robot. I think long-term Optimus will have a very significant impact on the US GDP. It will actually move the needle on US GDP significantly. In conclusion, there are still many who doubt our ambitions for creating amazing abundance. We are confident it can be done, and we are making the right moves technologically to ensure that it does,” Musk said during the earnings call.
Elon Musk
Tesla director pay lawsuit sees lawyer fees slashed by $100 million
The ruling leaves the case’s underlying settlement intact while significantly reducing what the plaintiffs’ attorneys will receive.
The Delaware Supreme Court has cut more than $100 million from a legal fee award tied to a shareholder lawsuit challenging compensation paid to Tesla directors between 2017 and 2020.
The ruling leaves the case’s underlying settlement intact while significantly reducing what the plaintiffs’ attorneys will receive.
Delaware Supreme Court trims legal fees
As noted in a Bloomberg Law report, the case targeted pay granted to Tesla directors, including CEO Elon Musk, Oracle founder Larry Ellison, Kimbal Musk, and Rupert Murdoch. The Delaware Chancery Court had awarded $176 million to the plaintiffs. Tesla’s board must also return stock options and forego years worth of pay.
As per Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz Jr. in an opinion for the Delaware Supreme Court’s full five-member panel, however, the decision of the Delaware Chancery Court to award $176 million to a pension fund’s law firm “erred by including in its financial benefit analysis the intrinsic value” of options being returned by Tesla’s board.
The justices then reduced the fee award from $176 million to $70.9 million. “As we measure it, $71 million reflects a reasonable fee for counsel’s efforts and does not result in a windfall,” Chief Justice Seitz wrote.
Other settlement terms still intact
The Supreme Court upheld the settlement itself, which requires Tesla’s board to return stock and options valued at up to $735 million and to forgo three years of additional compensation worth about $184 million.
Tesla argued during oral arguments that a fee award closer to $70 million would be appropriate. Interestingly enough, back in October, Justice Karen L. Valihura noted that the $176 award was $60 million more than the Delaware judiciary’s budget from the previous year. This was quite interesting as the case was “settled midstream.”
The lawsuit was brought by a pension fund on behalf of Tesla shareholders and focused exclusively on director pay during the 2017–2020 period. The case is separate from other high-profile compensation disputes involving Elon Musk.
Elon Musk
SpaceX-xAI merger discussions in advanced stage: report
The update was initially reported by Bloomberg News, which cited people reportedly familiar with the matter.
SpaceX is reportedly in advanced discussions to merge with artificial intelligence startup xAI. The talks could reportedly result in an agreement as soon as this week, though discussions remain ongoing.
The update was initially reported by Bloomberg News, which cited people reportedly familiar with the matter.
SpaceX and xAI advanced merger talks
SpaceX and xAI have reportedly informed some investors about plans to potentially combine the two privately held companies, Bloomberg’s sources claimed. Representatives for both companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A merger would unite two of the world’s largest private firms. xAI raised capital at a valuation of about $200 billion in September, while SpaceX was preparing a share sale late last year that valued the rocket company at roughly $800 billion.
If completed, the merger would bring together SpaceX’s launch and satellite infrastructure with xAI’s computing and model development. This could pave the way for Musk’s vision of deploying data centers in orbit to support large-scale AI workloads.
Musk’s broader consolidation efforts
Elon Musk has increasingly linked his companies around autonomy, AI, and space-based infrastructure. SpaceX is seeking regulatory approval to launch up to one million satellites as part of its long-term plans, as per a recent filing. Such a scale could support space-based computing concepts.
SpaceX has also discussed the feasibility of a potential tie-up with electric vehicle maker Tesla, Bloomberg previously reported. SpaceX has reportedly been preparing for a possible initial public offering (IPO) as well, which could value the company at up to $1.5 trillion. No timeline for SpaceX’s reported IPO plans have been announced yet, however.
Even Tesla China is feeling the Optimus V3 fever
Tesla director pay lawsuit sees lawyer fees slashed by $100 million
