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Tesla sells out production capacity for Q2 2021, hinting at monster demand: report
Tesla’s Q1 2021 was one for the books, but the second quarter is shaping up to be even more impressive, with recent reports noting that the company had already sold out its production capacity for Q2 2021. This bodes well for the EV maker’s production and delivery numbers this year.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, EV blog Electrek noted that Tesla had informed its employees that the company’s production capacity for Q2 2021 was already sold out — and that’s with the quarter not even halfway done. This is very impressive, and it hints at the strong demand being experienced by the company’s all-electric vehicles.
https://twitter.com/davidzhao365/status/1379127259445874688?s=20
While the recent reports may sound optimistic, Tesla has been exhibiting signs that its production and delivery ramp for Q2 2021 would be far more impressive than the quarters that preceded it. Less than a week into the second quarter, for one, drivebys and drone flyovers of the Fremont Factory revealed numerous Model 3s and Model Ys ready to be shipped.
https://twitter.com/bentv_sh/status/1387253494042689538?s=20
The same was true for Gigafactory Shanghai. The massive facility, which now produces both the Model 3 and Model Y, has been a hub of activity in recent months. And just recently, a photograph of the site showed that Giga Shanghai’s holding lots were filled with thousands of Model 3 and Model Y. Just like their US-made siblings, the vehicles appeared ready to be shipped to their respective customers.
テスラ納車待ち民の聖地?に行ってきました!
黒M3Pがパンク(?)していたのは笑った😇
☡黒のパフォーマンス納車待ちの方、納車時に左後輪のホイール要チェックです!☡ pic.twitter.com/UTibNzZREp— ろくりん (@RockCircle6) May 5, 2021
Gigafactory Shanghai’s exports to other territories are also underway, with the first ship of Made-in-China Model 3s arriving in Southampton, England recently. Furthermore, posts from EV enthusiasts in Japan have indicated that a batch of Model 3s has arrived in the country.
🚢Tesla-Ship News🚢
🚢Glorious Leader, the 1st Q2'21 Euro 🇬🇧 Tesla-Ship has arrived & is unloading UK #MIC #Model3 🚗 in Southampton⚓️, England🏴🟠Follow all the other Tesla-Ships & Perspectives here:https://t.co/yg0ykmHBed pic.twitter.com/YWKjBkC7X1
— Morten Grove – Tesla-Ship Tracker now on Bluesky (@mortenlund89) May 5, 2021
Tesla did state in its recent earnings call that the company is experiencing something remarkable. As per CEO Elon Musk, Tesla is now seeing a shift in the customer perception of electric vehicles, and this has resulted in demand for Teslas to increase. This was notable in the first quarter, which is typically the softest in the year for the auto industry.
“We’ve seen a real shift in customer perception of electric vehicles, and our demand is the best we’ve ever seen. So this is — if you talk about we’re used to seeing a reduction in demand in the first quarter, and we saw an increase in demand that exceeded the normal seasonal reduction in demand in Q1,” Musk said.
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News
Tesla makes a change to its ‘American Heroes’ $500 discount

Tesla has made a change to its “American Heroes” discount, which takes $500 off the price of a vehicle purchase if you work in a certain field.
Tesla first launched the American Heroes discount earlier this year on May 22, 2025, and it initially started as a $1,000 deduction on the price of any of the company’s vehicles.
It formerly allowed military veterans, retirees, active-duty members, their spouses, first responders, teachers, and students. It utilized ID.me to verify their occupation.
However, Tesla has added a few groups of workers to this discount, according to language on its website:
“Tesla vehicles are perfect for everyday American heroes. Offer available to verified military veterans, retirees, active-duty members, their spouses, surviving spouses, first responders, medical providers, nurses, students and teachers verified through ID.me1. Adjustments applied when you place your order after verification. Eligibility criteria detailed at ID.me.”
The discount applies to all five Tesla vehicles, so it is not restricted to just the S3XY lineup.
The American Heroes discount is one of the several offers and incentives that Tesla offers on its vehicles. Currently, it is one of four offers Tesla has on its vehicles, with the others being:
- Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Trial: Three-month trial for those who use a referral code to buy a vehicle.
- Premium Connectivity Trial: One-month free
- Financing Offers: Tesla has various financing offers, including a 3.99% APR with $5,000 on Model S and Model X orders in the U.S.
These incentives help drive sales, but they also show Tesla’s appreciation for those who work in challenging fields. The discount has no expiration, as of now, but with this recent addition, Tesla likely has no plans to eliminate the program.
Tesla has occasionally launched discounts for military members near the 4th of July as well.
News
Tesla might be doing away with a long-included feature with its vehicles
It appears Tesla is mulling the possibility of not including key cards with its vehicles any longer.

Tesla might be doing away with a long-included feature with its vehicles, as it could be looking to phase out something that very few owners utilize.
Tesla Key Cards are included when you purchase your vehicle, and they assist in the initial setup process. However, after that, they are not super useful or relevant to the owner, as many rely on their Phone Key through the Tesla App to access their cars.
As such, it appears Tesla is mulling the possibility of not including key cards with its vehicles any longer. According to some language that has been removed from vehicle Owner’s Manuals that talks about the inclusion of key cards with the car upon delivery:
“Tesla provides you with two Model 3/Y key cards, designed to fit in your wallet.”
That sentence was removed from Owner’s Manuals, according to Not a Tesla App, which first spotted the change.
Tesla Model 3 owner implants RFID key card chip into her arm as ultimate hack to unlock door
Interestingly, the timing of the phrase being removed from Owner’s Manuals comes just after Tesla launched its “affordable” Standard Models, and could be a small money-saving measure for the company.
Key Cards have been utilized by Tesla for its cars since 2017, as they became an included accessory with the vehicle. They still have their place and are useful for other applications, such as Valet service and even to be used by car owners if their phone is dead or if someone else needs to get into the car.
They can also be purchased in the Tesla Shop for $40.
It seems as if Tesla is planning to have owners be completely reliant on the Phone Key, which is more useful and convenient than carrying around the Key Cards.
Although it is minor, it is yet another strategy Tesla is using to trim any sort of costs that can be eliminated and could save money in the long run.
News
Elon Musk confirms Tesla FSD V14.2 will see widespread rollout
Musk shared the news in a post on social media platform X.

Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla will be implementing a wide rollout of Full Self-Driving (FSD) V14 with the system’s V14.2 update. Musk shared the news in a post on social media platform X.
FSD V14.1.2 earns strong praise from testers
Musk’s comment came as a response to Tesla owner and longtime FSD tester AI DRIVR, who noted that it might be time to release Full Self-Driving to the fleet because V14.1.2 has already become very refined.
“95% of the indecisive lane changes and braking have been fixed in FSD 14.1.2. I haven’t touched my steering wheel in two days. I think it’s time, Tesla AI,” the longtime FSD tester wrote.
AI DRIVR’s comment received quite a bit of support from fellow Tesla drivers, some of whom noted that the improvements that were implemented in V14.1.2 are substantial. Others also agreed that it’s time for FSD to see a wide release.
In his reply to the FSD tester, CEO Elon Musk noted that FSD V14’s wide release would happen with V14.2. “14.2 for widespread use,” Musk wrote in his reply.
Mad Max mode makes headlines
One of the key features that was introduced with FSD’s current iteration is Mad Max mode, which allows for higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than the previous “Hurry” mode. Videos and social media posts from FSD testers have shown the system deftly handling complex traffic, merging seamlessly, and maintaining an assertive but safe driving behavior with Mad Max mode engaged.
Tesla AI head Ashok Elluswamy recently noted in a post on X that Mad Max mode was built to handle congested daytime traffic, making it extremely useful for drivers who tend to find themselves in heavy roads during their daily commutes. With Musk now hinting that FSD V14.2 will go on wide release, it might only be a matter of time before the larger Tesla fleet gets to experience the notable improvements of FSD’s V14 update.
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