News
Tesla pickup truck will have better performance than a Porsche 911, says Elon Musk
Elon Musk discussed several aspects of the upcoming Tesla Pickup Truck during the recently-held 2019 Annual Shareholder Meeting. During the event, Musk talked about the vehicle’s release date, its design, its towing capacity, and its performance, which the CEO noted would be comparable or even better than a base Porsche 911.
Musk noted that the pickup truck would likely see an unveiling near the end of summer 2019, which is in line with his previous forecasts for the vehicle. The CEO also stated that the Tesla Truck is one of the coolest vehicles he has ever seen, pointing out that it won’t be a conventional-looking pickup that just happens to be electric. “We know what that looks like,” Musk noted, seemingly referencing the Rivian R1T, which features a conventional pickup truck design in an all-electric package.
The Tesla Truck remains to be dubbed by Elon Musk as a “cyberpunk” vehicle, which all but confirms that it will be loaded to the teeth with tech. This means that the pickup will feature some trademark Tesla performance as well, which Musk confirmed in the event. Referring to the vehicle’s driving capabilities, the CEO stated that Tesla is designing the pickup truck in such a way that its performance will be better than a base Porsche 911.
The Porsche 911 is an iconic vehicle, and using it as a benchmark for the driving performance of the Tesla Truck is a bold move by the electric car maker. The 911, after all, is famed for its capability to be driven spiritedly on long, twisting roads. The legendary German sports car is also known for its quick acceleration, with more conservative variants like the 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera (M/T) still being capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds.
While Elon Musk has all but confirmed that the Tesla Truck would be an incredibly quick vehicle, the CEO also pointed out that the upcoming pickup would be capable of towing heavy loads. Responding to an investor who inquired if the Tesla Truck will be capable of towing a trailer loaded with horses, Musk noted that “If the (Ford) F-150 can tow it, the Tesla truck can do it.”
There is no denying that Tesla’s pickup truck would likely be a showstopper when it gets unveiled later this year. It should also be noted that Elon Musk, as optimistic as he is, is known to be conservative with the specs of Tesla’s vehicles. Musk might have a strong tendency to overestimate his target timetables, but he is never one to exaggerate his vehicles’ capabilities. With this in mind, the Tesla community could be assured that the pickup truck will indeed live up to its name as a “cyberpunk” vehicle that will not look out of place in the Blade Runner franchise.
For all its tech and capabilities, the Tesla Pickup Truck will start at $49,000, according to Elon Musk in an appearance at owner-enthusiast Ryan McCaffrey’s Ride the Lightning podcast. During the podcast, Musk mentioned that the base pickup would have a starting price of $49,000 at most, though Tesla is working on offering the vehicle at an even lower cost. “You should be able to buy a really great truck for $49k or less,” Musk said.
News
Tesla Cybercab is changing the look of Austin’s roads, and it’s not even in production yet
Videos and photos showed the sleek, two-seat autonomous vehicles navigating traffic.
Even before entering production, Tesla’s Cybercab is already transforming the appearance of Austin’s streets, with multiple prototypes spotted testing in downtown areas recently.
Videos and photos showed the sleek, two-seat autonomous vehicles navigating traffic. Interestingly enough, the vehicles were equipped with temporary steering wheels and human safety drivers.
Recent Cybercab sightings
Over the weekend, enthusiasts captured footage of two Cybercabs driving together in central Austin, their futuristic silhouettes standing out amid regular traffic. While the vehicles featured temporary steering wheels and side mirrors for now, they retained their futuristic, production-intent exterior design.
Industry watcher Sawyer Merritt shared one of the vehicles’ videos, noting the increasing frequency of the autonomous two-seater’s sightings.
Previewing the autonomous future
Sightings of the Cybercab have been ramping in several key areas across the United States in recent weeks. Sightings include units at Apple’s Visitor Center in California, the Fremont factory test track, and in Austin’s streets.
The increased activity suggests that Tesla is in overdrive, validating the autonomous two-seater ahead of its planned volume production. Elon Musk confirmed at the 2025 Shareholder Meeting that manufacturing begins around April 2026 with ambitious targets, and during an All-Hands meeting earlier this year, Musk hinted that ultimately, Tesla’s factories should be able to produce one Cybercab every 10 seconds.
News
Tesla celebrates 9 million vehicles produced globally
The achievement, announced by Tesla Asia on X, celebrated not just the Shanghai team’s output but the company’s cumulative production across all its factories worldwide.
Tesla has achieved a new milestone, rolling out its nine millionth vehicle worldwide from Giga Shanghai.
The achievement, announced by Tesla Asia on X, celebrated not just the Shanghai team’s output but the company’s cumulative production across all its factories worldwide. The milestone came as 2025 drew to a close, and it inspired praise from some of the company’s key executives.
Tesla’s 9 million vehicle milestone
The commemorative photo from Tesla Asia featured the Giga Shanghai team assembled on the factory floor, surrounding the milestone Model Y unit, which looked pristine in white. The image was captioned: “Our 9 millionth vehicle globally has just rolled off the production line at Giga Shanghai. Thanks to our owners and supporters around the world.”
Senior Vice President of Automotive Tom Zhu praised Tesla’s factory teams for the remarkable milestone. He also shared his gratitude to Tesla owners for their support. “Congrats to all Tesla factories for this amazing milestone! Thanks to our owners for your continued support!” Zhu wrote in a post on X.
Giga Shanghai’s legacy
Tesla’s nine million vehicle milestone is especially impressive considering that just 207 days ago, the company announced that it had built its eight millionth car globally. The eight millionth Tesla, a red Model Y, was built in Giga Berlin. The fact that Tesla was able to build a million cars in less than seven months is quite an accomplishment.
Giga Shanghai, Tesla’s largest factory by volume, has been instrumental to the company’s overall operations, having reached four million cumulative vehicles earlier in 2025. The plant produces Model 3 and Model Y for both domestic Chinese and export markets, making it the company’s primary vehicle export hub.
News
Tesla officially publishes Q4 2025 vehicle delivery consensus
By releasing these numbers directly, Tesla establishes a clear, transparent benchmark ahead of its actual results.
Tesla has taken the rather unusual step of officially publishing its company-compiled Q4 2025 delivery consensus on the Investor Relations site. As per analyst estimates, Tesla is expected to deliver 422,850 vehicles and deploy 13.4 GWh of battery storage systems this Q4 2025.
By releasing these numbers directly, Tesla establishes a clear, transparent benchmark ahead of its actual results, making it harder for narratives to claim a “miss” based on outlier estimates.
Official consensus sets the record straight
Tesla’s IR press release detailed the consensus from 20 analysts for vehicle deliveries and 16 analysts for energy deployments. As per the release, full-year 2025 consensus delivery estimates come in at 1,640,752 vehicles, an 8.3% decline from 2025’s FY deliveries of 1,789,226 cars.
Tesla noted that while it “does not endorse any information, recommendations or conclusions made by the analysts,” its press release does provide a notable reference point. Analysts contributing to the company compiled consensus include Daiwa, DB, Wedbush, Oppenheimer, Canaccord, Baird, Wolfe, Exane, Goldman Sachs, RBC, Evercore ISI, Barclays, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Jefferies, Needham, HSBC, Cantor Fitzgerald, and William Blair.
Tesla’s busy Q4 2025
Tesla seems to be pushing hard to deliver as many vehicles as possible before the end of 2025, despite the company’s future seemingly being determined not by vehicle deliveries, but FSD and Optimus’ rollout and ramp. Still, reports from countries such as China are optimistic, with posts on social media hinting that Tesla’s delivery centers in the country are appearing packed as the final weeks of 2025 unfold.
The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 are also still performing well in China’s premium EV segment. Based on data from January to November, the Model Y took China’s number one spot in the RMB 200,000-RMB 300,000 segment for electric vehicles, selling 359,463 units. The Model 3 sedan took third place, selling 172,392. This is quite impressive considering that both the Model Y and Model 3 command a premium compared to their domestic rivals.
Tesla Cybercab is changing the look of Austin’s roads, and it’s not even in production yet
Tesla celebrates 9 million vehicles produced globally
