A Tesla Model 3 owner proved fortunate enough to capture footage of a rare Model Y prototype in the wild. The sighting, which happened to be recorded thanks to the Model 3’s built-in dashcam feature, transpired near Tesla’s headquarters in Palo Alto, CA.
The sighting was initially reported yesterday on the Tesla Motors Club forum, with member Cstreet sharing a couple of screenshots taken from his Model 3’s dashcam footage. Video clips from the Model 3’s front and side cameras were later shared following requests from members of the popular online Tesla-themed forum.
While Tesla’s built-in dashcam has a distinctly yellowish hue, it appears that the Model Y prototype spotted by the Model 3 owner is not the same blue, chrome-deleted test mule that the electric car maker used for test rides during the crossover’s unveiling event last March. Instead, the unit spotted in the wild appears to be a black Model Y release candidate, which are vehicles that are used to test specific functions and capabilities.
The sighting of the Model Y in the wild bodes well for the vehicle and the electric car maker’s plans for its production. When the Model Y was unveiled, CEO Elon Musk gave a rather conservative timeframe for the crossover’s production, stating that manufacturing of the vehicle will start around Fall 2020. This is notably conservative, compared to Tesla’s trademark aggressive timetables.
The electric car maker stated in its Q2 2019 shareholder letter that preparations for the Model Y’s production began in the second quarter. Thanks to the overlap between the Model 3 and Model Y’s components, the company is expected to leverage existing manufacturing designs and its other innovations when setting up the Model Y’s production facilities. This should allow the company to optimize the Model Y’s lines in an efficient manner and possibly even avoiding the challenges it faced during the Model 3 ramp.
The Model Y has the potential to be Tesla’s most disruptive and lucrative vehicle yet. The vehicle is a crossover, a segment that is incredibly popular today in key regions such as the United States, Europe, and China. Couple this with the fact that the Model Y’s price is closer to the Model 3 than it is to the Model S and X, and the vehicle will likely see sales figures that exceed even that of its sedan sibling.
Ultimately, the Model Y could prove to be Tesla’s own Trojan Horse for the auto industry. The crossover was unveiled in an understated manner, in an event far more muted than that of the Semi or the Model 3. Yet, the vehicle carries Tesla’s latest innovations, both in terms of EV design and production. All things considered, the Model Y might very well give a pleasant surprise when it starts deliveries, perhaps sooner than expected.
Elon Musk
Starlink achieves major milestones in 2025 progress report
Starlink wrapped up 2025 with impressive growth, adding more than 4.6 million new active customers and expanding service to 35 additional countries, territories, and markets.
Starlink wrapped up 2025 with impressive growth, adding more than 4.6 million new active customers and expanding service to 35 additional countries, territories, and markets. The company also completed deployment of its first-generation Direct to Cell constellation, launching over 650 satellites in just 18 months to enable cellular connectivity.
SpaceX highlighted Starlink’s impressive 2025 progress in an extensive report.
Key achievements from Starlink’s 2025 Progress
Starlink connected over 4.6 million new customers with high-speed internet while bringing service to 35 more regions worldwide in 2025. Starlink is now connecting 9.2 million people worldwide. The service achieved this just weeks after hitting its 8 million customer milestone.
Starlink is now available in 155 markets, including areas that are unreachable by traditional ISPs. As per SpaceX, Starlink has also provided over 21 million airline passengers and 20 million cruise passengers with reliable high-speed internet connectivity during their travels.
Starlink Direct to Cell
Starlink’s Direct to Cell constellation, more than 650 satellites strong, has already connected over 12 million people at least once, marking a breakthrough in global mobile coverage.
Starlink Direct to Cell is currently rolled out to 22 countries and 6 continents, with over 6 million monthly customers. Starlink Direct to Cell also has 27 MNO partners to date.
“This year, SpaceX completed deployment of the first generation of the Starlink Direct to Cell constellation, with more than 650 satellites launched to low-Earth orbit in just 18 months. Starlink Direct to Cell has connected more than 12 million people, and counting, at least once, providing life-saving connectivity when people need it most,” SpaceX wrote.
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Tesla Giga Nevada celebrates production of 6 millionth drive unit
To celebrate the milestone, the Giga Nevada team gathered for a celebratory group photo.
Tesla’s Giga Nevada has reached an impressive milestone, producing its 6 millionth drive unit as 2925 came to a close.
To celebrate the milestone, the Giga Nevada team gathered for a celebratory group photo.
6 million drive units
The achievement was shared by the official Tesla Manufacturing account on social media platform X. “Congratulations to the Giga Nevada team for producing their 6 millionth Drive Unit!” Tesla wrote.
The photo showed numerous factory workers assembled on the production floor, proudly holding golden balloons that spelled out “6000000″ in front of drive unit assembly stations. Elon Musk gave credit to the Giga Nevada team, writing, “Congrats on 6M drive units!” in a post on X.
Giga Nevada’s essential role
Giga Nevada produces drive units, battery packs, and energy products. The facility has been a cornerstone of Tesla’s scaling since opening, and it was the crucial facility that ultimately enabled Tesla to ramp the Model 3 and Model Y. Even today, it serves as Tesla’s core hub for battery and drivetrain components for vehicles that are produced in the United States.
Giga Nevada is expected to support Tesla’s ambitious 2026 targets, including the launch of vehicles like the Tesla Semi and the Cybercab. Tesla will have a very busy 2026, and based on Giga Nevada’s activities so far, it appears that the facility will be equally busy as well.
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Tesla Supercharger network delivers record 6.7 TWh in 2025
The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets.
Tesla’s Supercharger Network had its biggest year ever in 2025, delivering a record 6.7 TWh of electricity to vehicles worldwide.
To celebrate its busy year, the official @TeslaCharging account shared an infographic showing the Supercharger Network’s growth from near-zero in 2012 to this year’s impressive milestone.
Record 6.7 TWh delivered in 2025
The bar chart shows steady Supercharger energy delivery increases since 2012. Based on the graphic, the Supercharger Network started small in the mid-2010s and accelerated sharply after 2019, when the Model 3 was going mainstream.
Each year from 2020 onward showed significantly more energy delivery, with 2025’s four quarters combining for the highest total yet at 6.7 TWh.
This energy powered millions of charging sessions across Tesla’s growing fleet of vehicles worldwide. The network now exceeds 75,000 stalls globally, and it supports even non-Tesla vehicles across several key markets. This makes the Supercharger Network loved not just by Tesla owners but EV drivers as a whole.
Resilience after Supercharger team changes
2025’s record energy delivery comes despite earlier 2024 layoffs on the Supercharger team, which sparked concerns about the system’s expansion pace. Max de Zegher, Tesla Director of Charging North America, also highlighted that “Outside China, Superchargers delivered more energy than all other fast chargers combined.”
Longtime Tesla owner and FSD tester Whole Mars Catalog noted the achievement as proof of continued momentum post-layoffs. At the time of the Supercharger team’s layoffs in 2024, numerous critics were claiming that Elon Musk was halting the network’s expansion altogether, and that the team only remained because the adults in the room convinced the juvenile CEO to relent.
Such a scenario, at least based on the graphic posted by the Tesla Charging team on X, seems highly implausible.
Starlink achieves major milestones in 2025 progress report
Tesla Giga Nevada celebrates production of 6 millionth drive unit
