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Tesla and Nissan get top reliability scores in Consumer Reports’ survey
Tesla and Nissan stand the test of time when it comes to reliability. Consumer Reports gathered data from numerous surveys to see which electric vehicles (EVs) were the most reliable–Tesla and Nissan stood out.
According to Consumers Reports data, the Tesla Model 3 and the second-generation Nissan Leaf were the second and third-most reliable electric vehicles. The 2022 Kia EV6 was the only vehicle to beat the Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf. However, the EV6 still has some aging to do before it can match the Tesla Model 3’s reliability track record.
EVs vs ICE Reliability
Consumer Reports noted that electric vehicles do not yield strong reliability scores compared to gasoline engines.
It stated that, in theory, EVs should be more reliable than gasoline engines. After all, electric vehicles have fewer parts because they don’t have transmissions, ignition and fuel systems, valvetrains, and other elements found in fossil-fuel cars. They also don’t require oil, spark plugs, or transmission fluid.
The difference in reliability comes down to over a century of work legacy automakers have put into refining and tuning the design of fossil-fuel vehicles. Whereas electric vehicles have reconceptualized the idea of a car.
EV automakers are still fine-tuning and refining the design and technology in electric vehicles. Legacy automakers, in particular, are struggling with adapting to the new car form since EVs use new platforms and technology. The cabin of electric vehicles alone is much more advanced than the ICE car cabins. EVs usually have advanced infotainment systems that control many more of the car’s functions while also acting as a source of entertainment.
Electric vehicle owners usually report issues with their cars’ batteries, electric motors, and charging. Some Teslarati readers, who own a variety of EVs from different brands, have shared complaints about infotainment systems, suspension, and service.
The Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf’s Advantage
Hard work, patience, and experience culminated in the strong reliability of the Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf. Unlike other electric vehicles on the market, users report fewer problems with the Tesla Model 3 and second-generation Nissan Leaf. They experience fewer issues with batteries, electric motors, and charging.
Even more interesting is that the Model 3’s reliability outshines that of Tesla’s other vehicles. Tesla has improved the Model 3 quite a bit since sales began. It plans to revamp the Model 3 again soon.
Consumer Reports stated that the Tesla Model S, Model X, and Model Y are still below average regarding reliability. Although Tesla has made significant improvements to the Model Y in recent years that may improve its reliability score in the future.
Model Y owners still report suspension issues and body hardware problems related to the hatch. They also pointed out issues with the Model Y’s paint and trim. Meanwhile, Tesla customers who own Model S and Model X units often bring up air suspension problems.
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News
Tesla gathers Cybercab fleet in Gigafactory Texas
Images and video of the Cybercab fleet were shared by longtime Giga Texas observer Joe Tegtmeyer in posts on social media platform X.
Tesla appears to be assembling a growing number of Cybercabs at Gigafactory Texas as preparations continue for the vehicle’s mass production. Recent footage shared online has shown over 30 Cybercabs being transported by trucks or staged near testing areas at the facility.
The images and video were shared by longtime Giga Texas observer and drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer in posts on social media platform X.
Interestingly enough, Tegtmeyer noted that many of the Cybercabs being loaded onto transport trucks were still equipped with steering wheels. This suggests that the vehicles are likely testing units rather than the final driverless configuration expected for the company’s Robotaxi service.
The vehicles could potentially be headed to testing sites across the United States as Tesla prepares to expand its Robotaxi fleet.
Additional footage captured at Gigafactory Texas also showed the Cybercab’s side and rear camera washer system operating as vehicles were being loaded onto transport trucks.
The growing number of Cybercabs at Giga Texas comes amidst the company’s announcement that the first production Cybercab has been produced at the facility. Full Cybercab production is expected to begin in April.
The vehicle is expected to play a central role in Tesla’s Robotaxi ambitions as the company looks to expand autonomous ride-hailing operations beyond its early deployments using Model Y vehicles.
Tesla has also linked Cybercab production to its proposed Unboxed manufacturing process, which assembles large vehicle modules separately before integrating them. The approach is intended to reduce production costs and accelerate output.
Musk has also noted that the Cybercab’s ramp will likely begin slowly due to the number of new components and manufacturing steps involved. However, he stated that once the process matures, Cybercab production could scale quickly.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s xAI, creator of Grok and Grokipedia, celebrates its third birthday
xAI Memphis highlighted several of its milestones over the years in its celebratory post.
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI has marked its third anniversary. The update was shared in a post from the xAI Memphis account on social media platform X.
xAI Memphis highlighted several of its milestones over the years in its celebratory post.
As per xAI, it has built three massive data centers in the city, launched a coherent cluster of 330,000 GBs, created over 3,000 jobs, and paid over $30 million in taxes to local communities.
xAI’s Memphis operation has become a key part of the company’s infrastructure as the company works to train and deploy its Grok artificial intelligence models. Elon Musk has been quite optimistic about Grok’s potential, noting in the past that the large language model might have a shot at achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI).
xAI’s Memphis’ crown jewel is its Colossus supercomputer cluster. The project was announced in 2024 and has since become the home of one of the world’s largest AI compute facilities. The first phase of Colossus reached its initial 100,000 GPU operational milestone in just 122 days, or just about four months.
Industry figures such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang have praised the facility, noting that projects of similar scale typically take two to four years to complete.
xAI has cited Memphis’ central location, skilled workforce, and industrial infrastructure as key reasons for selecting the city as the home of its AI training operations. The company has also emphasized plans to expand the site further as it scales compute capacity for Grok and future AI models.
News
Tesla Sweden’s Megapack Supercharger near Arlanda continues to aggravate IF Metall union
The charging site, located in Arlandastad outside Stockholm, appears to be operating despite ongoing union blockade measures tied to Tesla’s labor dispute in the country.
Tesla Sweden’s Megapack-powered Supercharger station near Arlanda Airport has continued to aggravate Swedish labor union IF Metall. The charging site, located in Arlandastad outside Stockholm, appears to be operating despite ongoing union blockade measures tied to Tesla’s labor dispute in the country.
Comments about the site were shared by IF Metall representatives in remarks to Swedish publication CarUp.
The Arlandastad location includes eight Tesla Superchargers powered by a Megapack battery system. Unlike traditional charging stations that rely on direct grid connections, the site uses a large battery installation to store electricity and power the chargers.
According to the Swedish publication, the setup allowed the station to come online despite sympathy measures from Sweden’s electricians’ union, which has attempted to prevent companies from cooperating with Tesla as part of the broader labor conflict.
IF Metall press manager Jesper Pettersson indicated that the union was not aware that the Superchargers had already been connected and activated.
“We do not know the details around this. But it is further proof of how Tesla systematically finds loopholes to circumvent the sympathy measures through active strikebreaking. Every time this happens it gives us reason to sharpen our conflict measures,” Pettersson said.
Union representatives also noted that the Megapack appears to be charged using electrical cables routed through nearby terrain, though the exact power source remains under review.
The Megapack-powered site has then prompted questions from Swedish labor unions about how electricity is being supplied to the system.
IF Metall has submitted a report to Sweden’s Energy Market Inspectorate asking the regulator to review whether the electricity supply arrangement complies with national regulations. The Megapack is reportedly charged using electricity from a local company, though the provider has not been publicly identified.
Peter Lydell, an ombudsman at IF Metall, previously stated that Swedish law limits electricity trading to companies with proper authorization.
“The legislation states that only companies that engage in electricity trading may supply electricity to other parties. You may not supply electricity without a permit, then you are engaging in illegal electricity trading. That is why we have reported this…
“This is about a company that helps Tesla circumvent the conflict measures that exist. It is clear that it is troublesome and it can also have consequences,” Lydell said.
IF Metall and Tesla Sweden’s conflict has been going on for over two years now.
Tesla gathers Cybercab fleet in Gigafactory Texas
Elon Musk’s xAI, creator of Grok and Grokipedia, celebrates its third birthday
