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Tesla ramps hiring for Cybertruck production

Credit: Nattanan Sirivadhanabhakdi/Facebook

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Tesla skeptics typically have several talking points. These include the argument that vehicles like the next-generation Roadster, Tesla Semi, or Cybertruck would never enter production. These arguments, or at least those for the Cybertruck, would likely become completely null and void soon. 

Tesla’s third-quarter update letter indicated that the Cybertruck’s development had entered the tooling phase. During the Q3 2022 earnings call, Elon Musk noted that Giga Texas’ facilities are already being prepared for the Cybertruck. Drone flyovers of the Giga Texas complex and leaked images from within the facility later showed Cybertruck bodies being moved through the factory

“We’re in the final lap for Cybertruck,” Musk said. 

Job listings on Tesla’s Careers website suggest that Musk’s comments during the Q3 2022 earnings call were indeed accurate. As could be seen in Tesla’s job listings for Austin Texas, the company currently has several openings that are specifically listed for the Cybertruck. 

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These include job openings for a Dimensional Engineer – BIW, Cybertruck; Manufacturing Operations Leader – Cybertruck; Senior Equipment Engineer – BIW, Cybertruck; Dimensional Engineering Manager – BIW, Cybertruck; Equipment Engineering Manager – BIW, Cybertruck; and Senior Equipment Engineer Robotics – BIW, Cybertruck

Tesla’s Cybertruck-related job listings, as of writing, can be viewed here

While Tesla has been pretty conservative about the Cybertruck’s production and the company’s target ramp for the all-electric pickup truck, previous reports have pointed to the vehicle entering its mass production stage at the end of 2023. Citing two people reportedly familiar with the matter, Reuters noted that Tesla is looking to start Cybertruck production in mid-2023. The electric vehicle maker is also reportedly aiming to progress from initial production to mass production of the Cybertruck within a few quarters. 

The Cybertruck is arguably Tesla’s most radical vehicle to date. Designed with an unashamedly futuristic appearance and loaded to the teeth with tech, the Cybertruck has been described by Elon Musk as one of Tesla’s greatest creations to date. The vehicle would have to be as impressive as possible, seeing as the all-electric pickup truck market is now being saturated by early movers such as the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T. 

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Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Elon Musk

Tesla launches 200mph Model S “Gold” Signature in invite-only purchase

Tesla’s final 350-unit Signature Edition closes the book on two cars that changed everything.

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Tesla has announced a super limited Signature Edition run of 250 Model S Plaid and 100 Model X Plaid units as an invite only purchase in a bid to give its original flagship vehicles a proper send-off.

When the Model S first launched in 2012, the first 1,000 units sold were “Signature” editions that required a $40,000 deposit and cost nearly $100,000 each. Those early buyers were Tesla’s first real believers. This new Signature Edition deliberately echoes that moment, bookending a 14-year run with numbered collector hardware.

Both models are finished in an exclusive Garnet Red paint not available on any current Tesla production vehicle, with gold Tesla T badges up front, a gold Plaid badge and Signature badge at the rear, and a white Alcantara interior featuring gold Plaid seat badges, gold piping, Signature-marked door sills, and a numbered dash plate. The Model S adds carbon ceramic brakes with gold calipers. Every unit ships with Tesla’s Luxe Package, bundling Full Self-Driving (Supervised), four years of Premium Service, free lifetime Supercharging, and a Signature Edition key fob. Both are priced at $159,420, a roughly $35,000 premium over standard Plaid inventory.

The discontinuation is part of a broader strategic shift. At Tesla’s Q4 2025 earnings call, Musk described the decision as “slightly sad” but necessary, saying: “It’s time to basically bring the Model S and X programs to an end with an honorable discharge, because we’re really moving into a future that is based on autonomy.”

The Fremont factory floor that built these cars is being converted to manufacture Optimus humanoid robots, with a target of one million units annually.

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Elon Musk

Tesla FSD in Europe vs. US: It’s not what you think

Tesla FSD is approved in the Netherlands, but the European version differs from what US drivers use.

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Tesla FSD 14.3 [Credit: TESLARATI)

On April 10, 2026, the Dutch vehicle authority RDW granted Tesla the first European type approval for Full Self-Driving Supervised, making the Netherlands the first country on the continent to authorize Tesla’s semi-autonomous system for customer use on public roads.

As Teslarati reported, the RDW approval followed 18 months of testing, more than 1.6 million kilometers driven on EU roads, 13,000 customer ride-alongs, and documentation covering over 400 compliance requirements. Tesla Europe had been running public demo drives through cities like Amsterdam and Eindhoven since early 2026, giving passengers their first experience of the system on European streets.


The European version of FSD is not the same software US drivers use. The RDW’s own statement is direct, noting that the software versions and functionalities in the US and Europe “are therefore not comparable one-to-one.” We’ve compile a table below that captures the most significant differences between US-based Tesla FSD vs. European Tesla FSD that’s based on what regulators and Tesla have publicly confirmed.

Feature FSD US FSD Europe (Netherlands)
Regulatory framework Self-certification, post-market oversight Pre-market type approval required (UN R-171 + Article 39)
Hands requirement Hands-off permitted on highway Hands must be available to take over immediately
Auto turning from stop lights Available — navigates intersections, turns, and traffic signals autonomously Available in EU build — confirmed in Amsterdam demo footage handling unprotected turns and signalized intersections
Driving modes Multiple profiles including a more aggressive “Mad Max” mode EU build is more conservative by default and errs on the side of restraint when it cannot confirm the limit
Summon Available — Smart Summon navigates parking lots to driver Status unclear — not confirmed as part of the RDW-approved feature set; urban FSD approval targeted separately for 2027
Driver monitoring Camera-based eye tracking Stricter continuous monitoring with more frequent intervention alerts
Software version FSD v14.3 EU-specific builds that must be separately validated by RDW
Geographic restriction US, Canada, China, Mexico, Australia, NZ, South Korea Netherlands only; EU-wide vote pending summer 2026
Subscription price $99/month €99/month
Full urban FSD scope Available Partial — separate urban application planned for 2027

The approval comes as Tesla is under real pressure to grow FSD subscriptions globally. Musk’s 2025 CEO compensation package, approved by shareholders, includes a milestone requiring 10 million active FSD subscriptions as one condition for his stock awards to vest. Tesla hit one million subscriptions during its Q4 2025 earnings call, which is a meaningful start, but still a long way from the target. Opening Europe as a market for subscriptions, rather than just hardware sales, directly accelerates that number.

Tesla has said it anticipates EU-wide recognition of the Dutch approval during summer 2026, which would extend FSD access to Germany, France, and other major markets through a mutual recognition process without each country repeating the full 18-month review. That timeline is Tesla’s projection, not a confirmed regulatory outcome. As Musk acknowledged at Davos in January 2026, “We hope to get Supervised Full Self-Driving approval in Europe, hopefully next month.”

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Tesla’s troublesome Auto Wipers get a major upgrade

Tesla has quietly deployed a major over-the-air (OTA) update across its entire fleet, implementing a new patent that could finally solve one of the most complained-about features in its vehicles: the Auto Wipers.

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One of Tesla’s most complained-about features is that of the Auto Wipers, but they have recently received a major upgrade that impacts every vehicle in the company’s fleet, a company executive confirmed.

Tesla has quietly deployed a major over-the-air (OTA) update across its entire fleet, implementing a new patent that could finally solve one of the most complained-about features in its vehicles: the Auto Wipers.

Confirmed by senior Tesla AI engineer Yun-Ta Tsai on April 10, the improvement is based on patent US 20260097742 A1. It introduces an “energy balance model” that adds a tactile, physics-driven layer to the existing camera-based system—without requiring any new hardware.

Tesla drivers have griped about auto wipers since the company ditched traditional rain sensors in favor of Tesla Vision around 2018.

Owners routinely report the wipers failing to activate in light drizzle or mist, leaving windshields streaked and visibility dangerously reduced. Just as often, they formerly blasted into high-speed mode on dry, sunny days, screeching across glass and risking scratches or premature blade wear.

This is a rare occurrence anymore, but many owners still report the feature having the wipers perform at the incorrect speed or frequency when precipitation is falling.

Tesla has tried repeatedly to fix the problem through software alone.

Early “Deep Rain” initiatives and the 2023 Autowiper v4 update used multi-camera video and refined neural networks, with Elon Musk promising “super good” performance. The 2024.14 update added manual sensitivity boosts, and later FSD versions claimed further gains. Yet complaints persisted.

Elon Musk apologizes for Tesla’s quirky auto wipers, hints at improvements

Vision systems struggle with edge cases—glare, bugs, reflections, or faint mist—because they rely purely on visual inference rather than physical detection

The new patent takes a different approach. The car’s computer constantly measures electrical power delivered to the wiper motor. It subtracts predictable losses—internal motor friction, linkage drag, and aerodynamic resistance—leaving only the friction force between the rubber blade and windshield glass.

Water lubricates the glass, sharply reducing friction; dry or icy surfaces increase it dramatically. This real-time “tactile” data acts as an independent check on the camera’s visual cues, instantly shutting down false triggers on dry glass and fine-tuning speed for actual rain.

The system can also detect ice and auto-activate defrost heaters, while long-term friction trends alert drivers when blades need replacing.

By fusing vision with precise motor-load physics, Tesla has created a hybrid sensor that is both elegant and cost-free. Owners have waited years for reliable auto wipers; this OTA rollout may finally deliver them.

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