News
Tesla Model 3 spotted with “pedestrian noise maker” ahead of NHTSA mandate
It looks like Tesla may have already begun getting its newer manufactured vehicles ready for compliance with an upcoming National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requirement for electric and hybrid electric vehicles to make noise when traveling at slow speeds. In a video posted by Tesla community’s resident DIY expert, Erik, or otherwise known as DÆrik from his YouTube channel, the undercarriage panel of his Performance Model 3 has what appears to be a speaker grill – the front paneling is adorned with a series of holes in a hexagonal shape. Once the paneling is removed, three mounting points are revealed to be molded into the same area, hinting at a future device to come.
The video was made in response to inquiries about a photo of the Tesla’s undercarriage posted to Erik’s Instagram account where someone noted the series of holes in the plastic panel below the front bumper. Tesla’s parts catalog doesn’t currently show the grill cutout, but As Erik notes in the video, he found a Model S diagram three years ago showing a layout including a future noise maker labeled “Speaker Pedestrian Noise”.
We’ve reached out to Tesla for comment about the new “speaker grill” found in the underside of the Model 3 and will provide updates as we receive them.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsYwz0ygTB5/
Blind pedestrians rely heavily on auditory clues to anticipate traffic patterns and know a vehicle is near, and that means the quiet nature of electric and hybrid vehicles at low speeds may pose a greater danger to them than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Bicyclists and other pedestrians also utilize usual car sounds as part of their personal safety awareness, so there’s a population of travelers that could be significantly impacted by the influx of EV/HEV vehicles on the roads. The potential danger has not gone unnoticed by those in charge of public safety.
This concern was elevated to the federal level by the NHTSA, and the eventual result was a 2010 law (Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010) requiring electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturers to install devices which emit noise while traveling slower than about 19 mph. Higher speeds have tire and wind noise that’s sufficient for pedestrian needs. The implementation rules were finalized in February last year, and manufacturers have until September 1, 2020, to be fully compliant, with half of the vehicles equipped by September 1, 2019.
While the proposal may not be popular with all parties involved, the NHTSA points to its October 2009 report entitled “Research on Quieter Cars and the Safety of Blind Pedestrians, a Report to Congress” as a primary basis for its rulemaking. In the report, the agency found an increased rate of accidents involving pedestrians with hybrid-electric vehicles compared to ICE vehicles in roadways and zones with low-speed limits, during the type of weather or any time of day. By implementing the rules as passed, the NHTSA expects to prevent 2,400 injuries and reduce the $250-$320 million costs which result annually due to limited ability to detect quiet EVs/HEVs.
POPULAR: DIY Tesla Model S Pedestrian Alert: “Horn” for the Oblivious
Another coming requirement is that the noise emitted must be identifiable as a vehicle, a limitation that will likely only inspire creativity. If manufacturers want to take a fun route with the noise options, i.e, license the Jetson family’s flying car sound from Hanna Barbara as suggested by Erik, they’ll have to make sure it’s consistent among their vehicles – or at least consistent among package options. Also, drivers cannot be allowed to modify the sound themselves.
Manufacturers are free to modify the sounds from the factory end, though, an option Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk has previously capitalized on for other noise-centric features in the electric car company’s vehicles. However, letting drivers determine their car’s noise via app or button push is still in the air. The NHTSA will publish a separate document at a later date to determine whether driver-selectable sounds are a good idea, or at least compliant with the purpose of the law.
Watch the video below to see Erik’s Model 3 inspection:
Elon Musk
SpaceX considering confidential IPO filing this March: report
The filing could pave the way for a June listing at a valuation that may exceed $1.75 trillion.
SpaceX is reportedly preparing to confidentially file for an initial public offering (IPO) as soon as March. The filing could pave the way for a June listing at a valuation that may exceed $1.75 trillion, potentially making it the largest IPO in history.
The update was initially reported by Bloomberg News, which cited information shared by people reportedly familiar with the matter.
As per the publication, a confidential filing allows a company to receive regulatory feedback before publicly releasing its financials. Bloomberg’s source, however, noted that the timing of SpaceX’s IPO is still under discussion and plans could change.
SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A March submission would mark the clearest step yet toward bringing Elon Musk’s private space company into public markets. People familiar with the preparations said the offering could raise as much as $50 billion. That would surpass the $29 billion debut of Saudi Aramco in 2019, currently the largest IPO on record.
Major banks including Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America Corp. are reportedly positioned for senior roles in the transaction. SpaceX is also said to be considering a dual-class structure that would allow insiders, including Musk, to retain enhanced voting control.
Satellite communications provider EchoStar Corp., which holds a stake in SpaceX, reportedly saw its shares rise following news of the potential filing.
At a valuation exceeding $1.75 trillion, SpaceX would immediately have a larger market cap than all but five of the companies traded in the S&P 500 index. That figure would place it ahead of Meta Platforms Inc. and Tesla Inc. by market capitalization, trailing only a small group of mega-cap firms such as Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp.
The scale of the proposed valuation reflects SpaceX’s dominance in orbital launch services and its Starlink satellite network, which serves millions of users globally. The company has also outlined long-term expansion plans tied to higher Starship launch cadence, orbital infrastructure, and lunar development initiatives.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk hints Tesla investors will be rewarded heavily
“Hold onto your Tesla stock. It’s going to be worth a lot, I think. That’s my bet,” Musk said.
Elon Musk recently hinted that he believes Tesla investors will be rewarded heavily if they continue to hold onto their shares, and he reiterated that in a new interview that the company released on its social accounts this week.
Musk is one of the most successful CEOs in the modern era and has mammothed competitors on the Forbes Net Worth List over the past year as his holdings in his various companies have continued to swell.
Tesla investors, especially those who have been holding shares for several years, have also felt substantial gains in their portfolios. Over the past five years, the stock is up over 78 percent. Since February 2019, nearly seven years ago to the day, the stock is up over 1,800 percent.
Musk said in the interview:
“Hold onto your Tesla stock. It’s going to be worth a lot, I think. That’s my bet.”
Elon Musk in new interview: “Hold on to your $TSLA stock. It’s going to be worth a lot, I think. That’s my bet.” pic.twitter.com/cucirBuhq0
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) February 26, 2026
It’s no secret Musk has been extremely bullish on his own companies, but Tesla in particular, because it is publicly traded.
However, the company has so many amazing projects that have an opportunity to revolutionize their respective industries. There is certainly a path to major growth on Wall Street for Tesla through its various future projects, including Optimus, Cybercab, Semi, and Unsupervised FSD.
- Optimus (Tesla’s humanoid robot): Musk has discussed its potential for tasks like childcare, walking dogs, or assisting elderly parents, positioning it as a massive long-term driver of company value.
- Cybercab (Tesla’s robotaxi/autonomous ride-hailing vehicle): a fully autonomous vehicle geared specifically for Tesla’s ride-sharing ambitions.
- Semi (Tesla’s electric truck, with mentions of expansion, like in Europe): brings Tesla into the commercial logistics sector.
- Unsupervised FSD (Full Self-Driving software achieving full autonomy without human supervision): turns every Tesla owner’s vehicle into a fully-autonomous vehicle upon release
These projects specifically are some of the highest-growth pillars Tesla has ever attempted to develop, especially in Musk’s eyes, as he has said Optimus will be the best-selling product of all-time.
Many analysts agree, but the bullish ones, like Cathie Wood of ARK Invest, are perhaps the one who believes Tesla has incredible potential on Wall Street, predicting a $2,600 price target for 2030, but this is not even including Optimus.
She told Bloomberg last March that she believes that the project will present a potential additive if Tesla can scale faster than anticipated.
Cybertruck
Tesla drops latest hint that new Cybertruck trim is selling like hotcakes
According to Tesla’s Online Design Studio, the new All-Wheel-Drive Cybertruck will now be delivered in April 2027. Earlier orders are still slated for early this Summer, but orders from here on forward are now officially pushed into next year:
Tesla’s new Cybertruck offering has had its delivery date pushed back once again. This is now the second time, and deliveries for the newest orders are now pushed well into 2027.
According to Tesla’s Online Design Studio, the new All-Wheel-Drive Cybertruck will now be delivered in April 2027. Earlier orders are still slated for early this Summer, but orders from here on forward are now officially pushed into next year:
🚨 Tesla has updated the $59,990 Cybertruck Dual Motor AWD’s estimated delivery date to April 2027.
First deliveries are still slated for June, but if you order it now, you’ll be waiting over a year.
Demand appears to be off the charts for the new Cybertruck and consumers are… pic.twitter.com/raDCCeC0zP
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) February 26, 2026
Just three days ago, the initial delivery date of June 2026 was pushed back to early Fall, and now, that date has officially moved to April 2027.
The fact that Tesla has had to push back deliveries once again proves one of two things: either Tesla has slow production plans for the new Cybertruck trim, or demand is off the charts.
Judging by how Tesla is already planning to raise the price based on demand in just a few days, it seems like the company knows it is giving a tremendous deal on this spec of Cybertruck, and units are moving quickly.
That points more toward demand and not necessarily to slower production plans, but it is not confirmed.
Tesla Cybertruck’s newest trim will undergo massive change in ten days, Musk says
Tesla is set to hike the price on March 1, so tomorrow will be the final day to grab the new Cybertruck trim for just $59,990.
It features:
- Dual Motor AWD w/ est. 325 mi of range
- Powered tonneau cover
- Bed outlets (2x 120V + 1x 240V) & Powershare capability
- Coil springs w/ adaptive damping
- Heated first-row seats w/ textile material that is easy to clean
- Steer-by-wire & Four Wheel Steering
- 6’ x 4’ composite bed
- Towing capacity of up to 7,500 lbs
- Powered frunk
Interestingly, the price offering is fairly close to what Tesla unveiled back in late 2019.
SpaceX considering confidential IPO filing this March: report
Elon Musk hints Tesla investors will be rewarded heavily
