A partially-covered vehicle featured in Tesla’s all-hands quarterly video has triggered speculations that the Elon Musk-led company just dropped a Model Y tease.
During the opening scenes of the recently-uploaded promo video, an image of a partially-covered, unidentified vehicle was featured. Based on what could be seen of the electric car, its design does not seem to match any of Tesla’s current offerings. With this, discussions in the Tesla community have pretty much erupted with speculations about what the vehicle could be.
Considering the angle of the mysterious vehicle, the car appears to be roughly the same length as a Model 3. The cloth covering of the electric car falls at a rather sharp angle in the rear as well, suggesting that the vehicle’s back might feature a rather angular, nearly vertical design. Interestingly, Tesla adopted a similar design in the past with the Model X SUV.
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- The first image in Tesla’s all-hands quarterly video. [Credit: Tesla/YouTube]
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- The mysterious, unidentified vehicle in Tesla’s promo video. [Credit: Tesla/YouTube]
The rear doors of the partially-covered vehicle do not match any of Tesla’s current offerings either. The rear Falcon Wing Doors of the Model X, for one, extend into the wheelbase, unlike the vehicle in Tesla’s promo video. The lines in the door profiles of the mysterious car’s body also curve upwards at the rear, unlike the Model S and Model 3. These factors, apart from a rather interesting post-it note in the clip’s opening moments, have fuelled speculations that the partially covered electric car was a Model Y prototype.
Not everyone is convinced that Tesla dropped a Model Y tease in the recently released video, however. In the r/TeslaMotors subreddit alone, several enthusiasts have noted that the partially covered electric car seems to have far too little ground clearance to be a crossover SUV. With this, some are speculating that the unidentified vehicle in the promo video features a redesigned Model S instead.
In a way, a Model S refresh makes sense for Tesla as well. The luxury all-electric sedan, after all, has been largely unchanged since it debuted back in 2012. A slight update in 2016 introduced a new front fascia and a couple of new interior options, but apart from these, the cars’ other design elements are still pretty much identical to the first vehicles that rolled off the production line. Considering the impending arrival of the Porsche Mission E — an electric car that appears to be tailor-fit to compete against the Model S — a full refresh of Tesla’s flagship sedan is just as likely.
These are, of course, just speculations and rumors for now, and hence, must be taken with a grain of salt. It should be noted, however, that Elon Musk loves the concept of Easter Eggs. Thus, the mysterious vehicle’s inclusion in the video definitely suggests that it is a pertinent project for Tesla in the near future.
During Tesla’s recently-held Q1 2018 earnings call, Elon Musk noted that an announcement about the Model Y’s factory would be released no later than the fourth quarter. Musk also stated that the next Gigafactory, which is set to be established in China, will incorporate facilities that would enable vehicle production. Musk also noted that the production of the Model Y would likely start around 2020.
The Model Y is a crossover SUV that is based on the Model 3 platform. According to Elon Musk, the Model Y would require only 100 meters of wiring — a significant reduction over the 1,500 meters required for the Model 3 and the 3,000 meters required for the Model S and X. Musk also expects the Model Y to be incredibly popular, with demand for the vehicle going as high as 1 million per year.
Watch Tesla’s all-hands quarterly promo video below.
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Tesla says its Texas lithium refinery is now operational and unlike anything in North America
Elon Musk separately described the site as both the most advanced and the largest lithium refinery in the United States.
Tesla has confirmed that its Texas lithium refinery is now operational, marking a major milestone for the company’s U.S. battery supply chain. In a newly released video, Tesla staff detailed how the facility converts raw spodumene ore directly into battery-grade lithium hydroxide, making it the first refinery of its kind in North America.
Elon Musk separately described the site as both the most advanced and the largest lithium refinery in the United States.
A first-of-its-kind lithium refining process
In the video, Tesla staff at the Texas lithium refinery near Corpus Christi explained that the facility processes spodumene, a lithium-rich hard-rock ore, directly into battery-grade lithium hydroxide on site. The approach bypasses intermediate refining steps commonly used elsewhere in the industry.
According to the staff, spodumene is processed through kilns and cooling systems before undergoing alkaline leaching, purification, and crystallization. The resulting lithium hydroxide is suitable for use in batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles. Tesla employees noted that the process is simpler and less expensive than traditional refining methods.
Staff at the facility added that the process eliminates hazardous byproducts typically associated with lithium refining. “Our process is more sustainable than traditional methods and eliminates hazardous byproducts, and instead produces a co-product named anhydrite, used in concrete mixes,” an employee noted.
Musk calls the facility the largest lithium refinery in America
The refinery’s development timeline has been very impressive. The project moved from breaking ground in 2023 to integrated plant startup in 2025 by running feasibility studies, design, and construction in parallel. This compressed schedule enabled the fastest time-to-market for a refinery using this type of technology. This 2026, the facility has become operational.
Elon Musk echoed the significance of the project in posts on X, stating that “the largest Lithium refinery in America is now operational.” In a separate comment, Musk described the site as “the most advanced lithium refinery in the world” and emphasized that the facility is “very clean.”
By bringing large-scale lithium hydroxide production online in Texas, Tesla is positioning itself to reduce reliance on foreign refining capacity while supporting its growth in battery and vehicle production. The refinery also complements Tesla’s nascent domestic battery manufacturing efforts, which could very well be a difference maker in the market.
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Tesla Optimus V3 gets early third-party feedback, and it’s eye-opening
Jason Calacanis’ remarks, which were shared during a discussion at CES 2026, offered one of the first third-party impressions of the yet-to-be-unveiled robot
Angel investor and entrepreneur Jason Calacanis shared some insights after he got an early look at Tesla’s upcoming Optimus V3. His remarks, which were shared during a discussion at CES 2026, offered one of the first third-party impressions of the yet-to-be-unveiled robot.
Calacanis’ comments were shared publicly on X, and they were quite noteworthy.
The angel investor stated that he visited Tesla’s Optimus lab on a Sunday morning and observed that the place was buzzing with energy. The investor then shared a rare, shocking insight. As per Calacanis, Optimus V3 will be so revolutionary that people will probably not even remember that Tesla used to make cars in the future.
“I don’t want to name drop, but two Sundays ago, I went to Tesla with Elon and I went and visited the Optimus lab. There were a large number of people working on a Sunday at 10 a.m. and I saw Optimus 3. I can tell you now, nobody will remember that Tesla ever made a car,” he noted.
The angel investor also reiterated the primary advantage of Optimus, and how it could effectively change the world.
“They will only remember the Optimus and that he is going to make a billion of those, and it is going to be the most transformative technology product ever made in the history of humanity, because what LLMs are gonna enable those products to do is understand the world and then do things in the world that we don’t want to do. I believe there will be a 1:1 ratio of humans to Optimus, and I think he’s already won,” he said.
While Calacanis’ comments were clearly opinion-driven, they stood out as among the first from a non-Tesla employee about Optimus V3. Considering his reaction to the humanoid robot, perhaps Elon Musk’s predictions for Optimus V3 might not be too far-fetched at all.
Tesla has been careful with its public messaging around Optimus V3’s development stage. Musk has previously stated on X that Optimus V3 has not yet been revealed publicly, clarifying that images and videos of the robot online still show Optimus V2 and V2.5, not the next-generation unit. As for Calacanis’ recent comments, however, Musk responded with a simple “Probably true” in a post on X.
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Tesla taps Samsung for 5G modems amid plans of Robotaxi ramp: report
The move signals Tesla’s growing focus on supply-chain diversification and next-generation communications as it prepares to scale its autonomous driving and robotaxi operations.
A report from South Korea has suggested that Samsung Electronics is set to begin supplying 5G automotive modems to Tesla. If accurate, this would mark a major expansion of the two companies’ partnership beyond AI chips and into vehicle connectivity.
The move signals Tesla’s growing focus on supply-chain diversification and next-generation communications as it prepares to scale its autonomous driving and Robotaxi operations.
Samsung’s 5G modem
As per industry sources cited by TheElec, Samsung’s System LSI division has completed development of a dedicated automotive-grade 5G modem for Tesla. The 5G modem is reportedly in its testing phase. Initial supply is expected to begin in the first half of this year, with the first deployments planned for Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet in Texas. A wider rollout to consumer vehicles is expected to follow.
Development of the modem began in early 2024 and it required a separate engineering process from Samsung’s smartphone modems. Automotive modems must meet stricter durability standards, including resistance to extreme temperatures and vibration, along with reliability over a service life exceeding 10 years. Samsung will handle chip design internally, while a partner company would reportedly manage module integration.
The deal represents the first time Samsung has supplied Tesla with a 5G vehicle modem. Tesla has historically relied on Qualcomm for automotive connectivity, but the new agreement suggests that the electric vehicle maker may be putting in some serious effort into diversifying its suppliers as connectivity becomes more critical to autonomous driving.
Deepening Tesla–Samsung ties
The modem supply builds on a rapidly expanding relationship between the two companies. Tesla previously selected Samsung’s foundry business to manufacture its next-generation AI6 chips, a deal valued at more than 22.7 trillion won and announced in mid-2025. Together, the AI chip and 5G modem agreements position Samsung as a key semiconductor partner for Tesla’s future vehicle platforms.
Industry observers have stated that the collaboration aligns with Tesla’s broader effort to reduce reliance on Chinese and Taiwanese suppliers. Geopolitical risk and long-term supply stability are believed to be driving the shift in no small part, particularly as Tesla prepares for large-scale Robotaxi deployment.
Stable, high-speed connectivity is essential for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system, supporting real-time mapping, fleet management, and continuous software updates. By pairing in-vehicle AI computing with a new 5G modem supplier, Tesla appears to be tightening control over both its hardware stack and its global supply chain.
Tesla says its Texas lithium refinery is now operational and unlike anything in North America
Tesla Optimus V3 gets early third-party feedback, and it’s eye-opening
