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Tesla partner Panasonic’s US plans hint at possible Model S and X battery update
Tesla might be looking to expand its array of battery suppliers with the upcoming construction and operation of Gigafactory 3 in China, but its current exclusive battery supplier, Panasonic, is looking to double down on its partnership with the electric car maker nonetheless. In a recent statement to Japanese media, Panasonic announced that it plans to move its Tesla battery production facilities to the United States next year.
Panasonic already manufactures batteries for Tesla’s vehicles in the US in Gigafactory 1, though the cells it produces on the site are the 2170 cells being utilized for the Model 3. Tesla’s two flagship vehicles — the Model S and Model X — are still equipped with custom 18650 cells, which are produced by Panasonic in facilities located in Japan. Based on a report from the Nikkei Asian Review, these are the operations that the Japanese company will be bringing over to a “US-based unit starting next April.”
Considering that Panasonic is already producing 2170 cells for the Model 3 in Gigafactory 1, the company’s move of its Tesla battery production lines to a US-based facility could pave the way for a well-deserved and much-anticipated battery update for the Model S and X. The move, if any, provides Panasonic the opportunity to normalize its battery production for Tesla’s electric cars. It does not seem to be a strategic move for Panasonic, after all, to move its battery production operations to the United States to manufacture 18650 cells that are bound to be upgraded in the near future.
Tesla’s 18650 cells for the Model S and X, while not as energy-dense as the Model 3’s 2170 cells, still hold up well today. A recent range and efficiency test of the Jaguar I-PACE by German network nextmove, for example, showed that the Model X, which is equipped with 18650 cells, still seems to have superior battery tech than the newer electric crossover from the British carmaker. Elon Musk, for his part, lauded the Model 3’s 2170 cells in the third quarter earnings call, stating that the electric car currently stands as the “most energy efficient energy per mile electric vehicle out there.”
Tesla’s 2170 cells are hailed by industry experts as a difference-maker for the Silicon Valley-based company. Detroit veteran Sandy Munro, for one, noted after tearing down and analyzing the Model 3 that the electric car’s 2170 batteries are the best that he has seen to date. The potential of the 2170 cells could be seen in the Model 3 Performance’s recent Track Mode update, which allows the electric car to compete with the automotive industry’s best high-performance sedans on a closed circuit.
Elon Musk has noted that there is no such thing as a “full refresh” for its vehicles. In a statement on Twitter, Musk pointed out that Tesla’s electric cars are partially upgraded every month “as soon as a new subsystem is ready for production.” With this in mind, there seems to be little doubt that when the production of 2170 cells reaches a point where it is capable of supporting the Model S and X, Tesla will equip the vehicles with the larger, newer cells.
Both the Model S and Model X have defied the odds over the years, competing and even dominating their respective segments despite an abundance of skepticism and Tesla’s lack of experience in the auto industry. Considering that the vehicles are Tesla’s flagships, though, it stands to reason that both electric cars would be equipped with the best that the company has to offer — in terms of batteries, that pertains to the 2170 cells.
Tesla Cybercab sightings are broadening far and wide, well outside of downtown Austin, Texas, with autonomy in focus as the company plans to launch the all-electric, two-seater this evening in the Lone Star State.
Tesla is set to launch Cybercab to a small group of people this evening in a dedicated event in Austin, Texas. Public details on the event are relatively slim.
However, Tesla’s focus on Cybercab falls well outside of the downtown Austin area and is expanding well across the United States as things continue to move quickly with the company’s autonomous efforts in 2026. Today, various images of Cybercab fleets in interesting locations have started to circulate.
The most notable is a fleet of at least 20 Cybercabs at Miami International Airport in Florida. Spotted last night, the fleet is expansive and is indicative of a looming release of Cybercabs once regulatory boxes are checked off.
Tesla has already been operating the Robotaxi platform in Miami for several months, but this Cybercab fleet at the airport could be joining the ride-hailing platform as approvals arrive:
20+ Cybercabs spotted near Miami international airport. pic.twitter.com/ORLsw8yFhf
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) September 3, 2026
Another fleet of Cybercabs was spotted at the Devon, PA showroom just outside of Philadelphia. We have seen several Cybercab units testing around the Philadelphia Metro Area, which is interesting considering Tesla does not have any active Robotaxi geofence in Pennsylvania.
Cybercab at the Devon location in PA has multiplied over the weekend. Seeing a few more test vehicles in the lot 👀 pic.twitter.com/DhJT4P1EkU
— Billy (@billykyle) August 22, 2026
Philadelphia would be an ideal location to test ride-hailing due to its dense tourist population, large, sprawling city layout, and to compete with other ride-hailing companies that operate in the city.
Expansive fleets of Cybercabs will be popping up in and around major cities throughout the rest of the year, if we were betting on it. Tesla has made it obvious that the Cybercab rollout will be aggressive and fast-paced, but within reason. Tesla is still prioritizing safety, so these testing phases will likely go on for some period of time before more members of the public are able to snag a Cybercab for a personal chariot.
The Tesla Model Y L is arguably the most hyped trim of the all-electric crossover, other than the Performance configuration that comes with white-knuckle speed and sports car-level handling.
However, it is not all perfect. Tesla owners in China who took delivery of the Model Y L, denoted with an L to highlight its longer wheelbase, are experiencing what they are referring to as “collapsing” of the rear wheels, as suspension issues appear to be an issue with some of the builds.
🚨 Model Y L owners in China report rear suspension sag
• Six-seat long-wheelbase Y. Shanghai. On sale since August 2025
• Owners say the rear tire-to-arch gap shrinks after mileage or a full load. Some cases after about 9,000 km loaded. Others near 30,000 km
• Tesla service… pic.twitter.com/Lr6i5Tbi07— Joe Hansen (@joehansen) September 1, 2026
The gap between the wheel arch and tire has narrowed to the point that “not even a single finger” could fit, according to a report from Car News China. The failures are not tied to a specific mileage, as one owner said that after just 9,000 kilometers (5,600 miles), they noticed the suspension issue when their car was fully loaded.
Another one had the issue at 30,000 kilometers (18,640 miles) and noticed that the wheel gap shrank to two fingers, so not as drastic as the person who reported a similar issue at 9,000 km.
Tesla Model Y L is gaining momentum in China’s premium segment
Along with the visual recognition of the issue, others are saying the sagging is causing abnormal wear on the inside of the tires. Extra weight and instant torque already provide additional stress on the tires in electric vehicles during normal operation, so it is no surprise that this is another complaint.
There has been no recall issued by Tesla, and the company has not yet publicly acknowledged the issue.
Some are suggesting that owners use a “finger test” to self-diagnose whether there is an issue with the suspension. There should be four fingers between the tire and the wheel well; anything less than that starts to get dicey.
Tesla is starting to truly tease and hype its groundbreaking Cybercab event, which takes place tomorrow in Austin, Texas. It will be the first time members of the public will be able to ride in a Cybercab, a vehicle without any manual controls, on public roads.
Tesla has been dropping some hype on X over the past several days, but this morning, the excitement has truly started to build up for the event. Although Cybercab has been unveiled before, this is truly Tesla’s announcement that it is ready to start offering autonomous rides for public passengers in its new ride-hailing-geared vehicle for the first time.
The hype has started with a variety of different social media posts that are a true indication that Tesla is preparing for something big. Teasing so much of the potential of Cybercab, including its ability to truly revolutionize how people hail rides for local travel, is what the big idea for the event entails. The time that many Tesla owners, fans, and investors have been waiting for is potentially here:
— Tesla (@Tesla) September 2, 2026
The event has remained slim on details. Even invitees are still awaiting true details about what the event will entail, where they’ll go, and what is in store for the evening. This is pretty typical for an event run by Tesla; they keep things under wraps for the most part until the very last minute.
However, there is no secret about what the real intention of Tesla is for this event: it is going to be a huge reveal party for a vehicle that has no steering wheel and no pedals. It is a truly massive step for the company moving forward.
No steering wheel, no pedals
— Tesla Robotaxi (@robotaxi) September 2, 2026
Speculation persists as to whether this is going to be an event that simply announces that rides will begin with the Cybercab, or it will be something more substantial. Tesla has said in the past that they plan to sell the Cybercab to the general public in what could become a great way to earn passive income by adding it to a more global fleet of Robotaxi-geared vehicles.
Tomorrow, the show begins in Austin, and the Cybercab goes live at some capacity; we just don’t know exactly how quite yet.
Tesla Cybercab sightings broaden well outside of Austin with autonomy in focus
Tesla Model Y L gets suspension complaints in over odd issue China
